The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-05-26
"All right, then. Ready?"

| ~ SoISh IAO GIN . eye. ne went
then. leaving with her a reassurins
smile. Her eyes continued to rest
on the door when he had closed it..
Rupert's voice called her back.
Wont you sit DOWN."
| She took chair close to the door.
Again he glanced at her. surprising
revulsion in her eyes. He was con.
scious for a moment of his I'M
combed. unshaven state. aware too
that he could not have looked much
better last night. Why. then. had she
married him? Or was the revolted
look mere acting? She was a
brown. small pixie of girl, a type
he did not care for.
"You realize" he said. that was
not sane last night?"
Rather surprisingly she answered.
Eyes. realize"
"Then you realize. too" he added,
that it won't hold. What are your
terms for getting out quietly?"
She was silent.
"You need money" he explained.
How much do you want?"
She answered.
IL need money. yes. And think
you should pay for your prank.
But | don't want to get out .
quietly. or any other way. l want
to stay here"
tits out of the question:" said
Rupert. I'm talking about annul-
ment."
81 understand. You can have IT
annulled if you want to. 1t wasn't
my idea to marry you. but | did it
in good faith. And went in and got
my trunk. I'm all unpacked, and
it will be hard to move right away"
you were rather sudden about
getting your trunk, weren't you?"
WHO had told her to do that?
w 81 think not. had no idea that
you intended to put me out. | sup
pose you don't know what it feels
like not to have a home, and then
suddenly to find one"
81 suppose not" agreed Rupert.
"But l believe you have a home
elsewhere"
IL had home" she corrected. 81
cut all ties when | came to New
York. My father is a clergyman
as l told you last night one of
the old-fashioned sort. He wanted
me to stay at home. and | wanted to
go. was here teaching music"
81 see. My brother has looked into
your story. have no reason to ques.
ton anything you say. even your
statement that our so-callea mar.
riage was not your idea. But it's out
OF the question for you to stay here.
pending the annulment. or after it.
If | give you money you can find a
home. Suppose l pay you five thou
sand dollars"
She looked at him, silent. gone
rather pale. Apparently the sum
spelled wealth 20 her. Rupert. who
had been ready to bid for his free
dom on an ascending scale. realized
that he might have had it even more
cheaply.
"You agree" he said. ito leave. If
give you check for that amount"
She agreed. when may | have
it?" she asked.
He looked at his watch.
'At four o'clock" he said. 81 will
come to your room then with a wit
ness. | will give you the check in
return for your written agreement.
She rose. and Rupert who had not
sat down. opened the door for her.
81 may stay tonight" she asked.
He agreed to that. After all. she
could not cash the check until tomor.
row.
A gust of feminine voices assembled
from the hall below. Dirk's voice
responding. Callers. obviously. Ru.
pert watched the girl go down the
hall and disappear into the tower.
roonl Dirk had been right, he was
thinking. Dirk had appeared oversee
licitous about the girl-it was natu.
raj. of course. convinced as he was of
her innocence-so he-Rupert-had
shut him out.
But Dirk had been right in his de.
auctions. and obviously in his find.
ings. too. The girl was respectable
tRupert's mind veered slightly from
the word "decent") and inexperi.
enced to the point of naIvete. She
would make no trouble.
They would dispose Of her, per.
haps less expeditiously. but certain.
ly as effectually. as one clears a stray
cat out of the house.
He must dress now. and drive into
town to look over the marriage-rec.
ord and bring Connolly back with
him to witness the agreement.
(COsyiShs. 1888. Ks,Ea,ss Ben RoSstosJ