The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-09-12

fectly comfortable"
Sure they are-under a bridge
table. Not" he added tardily, "that
wouldn't be delighted to have you.
But you ought to wear low heels; ]
can't stop in the middle of the game
and carry you home"
"These are the lowest ones ]
have" She looked wounded. well,
never mind"
He should have insisted on her
coming. of course, but he was too
completely Indifferent to exert him.
self. The realization nagged him
for several holes. and he dropped
two dollars before he could get his
mind on the game.
The course was beautifully kept:
great sprawling carpet cupped in
the hollow of the mountains hand.
Through occasional breaks in the
hills he saw distant valleys, folds
upon folds of dim blue plush. He
thought suddenly and unaccount-
ably of Carol. in that apartment
house that must be this morning as
hot as the hinges Of hell. Ben Tyler
had said she played pretty decent
golf; it was shame she couldn't be
the one who was enjoying this.
When he came back to dress for
lunch his conscience was once more
nipping at his heels and he attempt
ed. at the table, to still 1t with live
ly talk; all the intimate scandal that
was food and drink to Irma. She
sulked for a while and then remem.
bered the rest Of the dining-room.
It would never do for Mrs. LaConte
and the others to think she wasn't
happy. She laughed and chatted
and demanded further details.
which he invented shamelessly. -
How is business?" she asked
with metallic vivacity when the gos-
sip was exhausted.
Fair. I've taken on regular copy
writer since you left. Decided 1t
would save money"
LIE wondered why he had said
l. l. that. He never mentioned the
Office to Irma because it bored her,
and new member of the force was
less than nothing in her life. If II
hadn't been for the dining-room she
would even have disregarded the
information. but now she said:
whats his manner"
ats a She Her names Torrance"
81 thought men wrote copy"
'Not necessarily. This girls go
ing to be damn good. at about half
a mans salary"
Irma looked suspicious. as she
good-looking?"
He grinned suddenly. my Lord,
| believe you're Jealous! II you are
there may still be hope for me-"
Don't e half-wit. Is she?"
81 hadn't really thought" That
was a lie; he had considered her
beauty - obviously. it was true -
when he hired her. "I-yes. guess
she is"
Where did you get herT lrma's
tone was that of a prosecuting attor-
ney and he stared at her in aston
ishment.
Look here" he said with a laugh.
tive had two or three dozen girls
in that Office since / started. Why
pick on Carol?"
well, you've gotten to first
Names" Irma pointed out. and he
cursed his carelessness.
81 called her that in the begin
ming. She's a friend of the Tylers.
in ASHORE. Went to school with
Cornelia Farrar and a lot of other
girls in town. Why shouldn't cali
her by her first manner"
WELL" Irma said fatty, you
needn't go falling in love with her.
1t won't get you anywhere"
He grimaced. "Are you telling
me? I can't even imagine a mans
trying to make her: she's not the
type"
He turned the suggestion around
and smiled at It Fall in love with
Carol Torrance? With Carol.
The smile vanished slowly into
gravity. She was out of his reach.
but it was easy enough to imagine
some other mans falling in love
with her.
He left Rockbrook in the middle
of the afternoon. lrma said he might
just as well have dinner there and
drive home "in the cool of the eve
Ming" but he declined 1t made him
too late getting home. he said. and
he would start the week all tagged
out. This way he could have a late
dinner downtown. then go to
bed Immediately afterwards. She
shrugged resignedly.
In full view Of the squadron she
linked her arm in his and went with
him to the car. He kissed her duti.
fully and the car roared OF. as IT,
1t too were chafing to be gone.
For two more weeks at least he
would live in peace. even though It
was the peace Of loneliness. He won
dered briefly II Carol was spending
her own weekend In solitude, and
hoped she wasn't.
Copyright. 1885, By Moridm SimsJ