The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-09-24
=. Chapter SO
FROM BLAKE

= !. 80 &C.. T.. ~ FROM BLAKE
n NDyou ordered a plfiing dinner
: of sliced chicken and iced cof-
fee" s. bGf - -s4ef
Blake would never have believed,
until tonight, that so small and un-
important detail had lain all these
months in his memory. Had he, he
wondered. been falling in love with
Carol even then?
But l didn't get by with it. 49,.
Utter nonsense, all of it. Nonsense
so uncharacteristic Of them both
that they chung to it desperately.
fearing the days ahead when they
would be too beset for lightness.
And after dinner: What now? An.
other mower"
She knew his thoughts. can't see
you and hold you there, they said;
let me take you home where / can
be alone with you.
I'D fall asleep, I'm afraid"
81 hoped you'd say that. l won't
stay long; you must go to bed ear
ly. -"
Broken sentences that said only
half their thoughts. She sat close to
him in the car and remembered the
night when she had shrunk from the
touch of his shoulder. Have lost all
shame, she wondered. and knew that
shame had no meaning and no place
in a feeling as big as this.
Inside the apartment they came
together as soon as the door had
closed behind them. She slipped her
arms beneath his topcoat in order to
be closer to him. and thought with
passionate tenderness: he's so terri.
bly, thin! If only could take care Of
him-now.
She drew away finally and snapped
on a light. 81 must call Marge and
see how little Harry is"
81; "Yes. Let me have your hat and
coat"
He put them away while she
called Margery's number. knowing
as If by instinct where they be-
longed. Poor fool that Irma was, she
thought, to have trampled under
foot such capacity for tenderness
and care.
Harry" she said eagerly. 1t was
back upon her now: all the anguish
and dread and waiting.
Eyes. That Carol?" Harry's voice
sounded as If he had run all day.
Eyes. II there-any news?"
mo. Just about the same. 80"
But he's no worse?"
"No, thank God. I've just come
back from there and they say we
ought to know - something - by
morning"
"Will you call me then-either
here or at the office? don't want to
bother you"
#"Right." Harry was trying hard.
"And thanks, Carol. for everything"
For nothing" she protested.
Goodnight. Harry"
Blake said anxiously as she
turned against his shoulder: "You
don't have to come tomorrow If you
don't feel lik It."
%"Of course l feel like 1t. There's
nothing l can do unless he-gets
worse"
"He won't" Nothing so tragic
could happen. Blake felt, in a world
as golden as this one. Now come
on and sit down a minute. then I'll
go and leave you in peace"
J S She said with deadly seriousness:
at don't believe I'd ever be entirely
at peace while you were away"
His face glowed. my darling!
That's the loveliest thing you could
possibly say"
They went back. during the next
hour. to the early months OF their ac-
auaintance, recalling foolish. dis.
,iointed things that had suddenly
taken on a tremendous significance.
AT ten o'clock he stood up re-
luctantly. 81 said an hour ago that
I'd 90 home. Youll-go straight to
bed?"
#"Yes." His concern was like q
fieecy blanket around her.
He said eagerly: Can ! stop for
YOU in the morning."
Zone of them. she thought. must
cling to common sense. Darling,
YOU'D better not. 1t will be hard
enough to hide it in the office with
out inviting suspicion"
@"I guess you're right" He grinned
the endearing. smallboy grin. "I'll
snarl at you before the whole force
ifyou ash u
, She laughed. eYon needn't go that
far. For a lamb like you that would
be equally suspicious"
Size kissed her hungrily and final
" let her go. Goodnight. Oh. dear
God, love you SOL,