The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-06-04
Chapter 90
RODEO

DIRK was to wonder in the sue
ceeding days if Hope had some
how OWNED his arrangement with
Martin, for she went nowhere during
the day.
Nothing happened. Certainly the
watchers at the gate were discover
ing no reason for being there. Dirk
thought of discharging them. still
calling himself fool; then, in re-
curing mood of caution. permitted
them to remain But he made up his
mind to keep them only a month
longer.
One evening. coming home early.
and entering the library. he found
Hope at the telephone. She put the
receiver casually, though quickly.
into place, greeting him in a low
voice. The room was almost dark.
and he could not see her face.
Take me to the rodeo?" she asked.
Dirk, drawing off his gloves. was
aware of tension. a disquiet, in the
room. He asked when the rodeO
was to be.
ut begins tomorrow" she told
him. Madison Square Garden. The
two weeks before the hOrse-show. |
want to go the evening of the twenty
fifth. and Rupert may not be in
town. He doesn't want me to go
alone"
She was moving about the room,
had lit a copperyshaded lamp to add
its glow to the freight, was draw,
ing the dark green curtains at the
windows, rearranging the bowl of
marigOlds on the table with swift
brown fingers.
She stood presently beside the
hearth, looking down at the Goals,
drawing her skirts away. The
war t h and light of the room
seemed to come from her still, red
figure, rather than from the fire.
Dirk could see her face in the small,
silver-wreathed mirror on the man
tel. She was smiling TREMENDOUSLY.
81 know you think it's comical,"
she said, "Rupert's not wanting me
to go alone. He doesn't know, of
course, how much I've knocked
around by myself. Unless :" She
gave him a quick look. Unless
you've told him. Have you?"
- Dirk answered in a low voice,
How could tell him what | don't
know"
"But you know" she said, about
the circus"
"The circus, yes. But l promised
not to mention that. Do you think
l would break my wOrd?"
She was silent, looking at the fire.
Dirk put his answer more positively.
81 have told nothing. | shall tell
nothing. You may trust me-"
He had not moved, nor she, yet
suddenly they seemed close. Some
barrier had melted between them.
some tension eased. She was turned
away from MIN. but the little mirror
showed him her face moving convul-
sively. She seemed to be striving
for composure before facing him
again. Presently she looked up and
in the mirror caught Dirk's eyes.
A look of horror broke across her
face. She bent over the fire.
Horror smote Dirk also. Horror
that she should catch him spying on
her. or seeming to spy.
He went to her side.
"If there's anything :. Listen to
me. Hope. I'd do anything for you.
Anything on earth. Do you under
stand?"
She looked up at him, smiling
now. her words a little shaken.
Understand? OF course" she said.
ask something of me-" he in.
sisted Anything"
81 do. Take me to the rodeo."
The moment was gone. She was
laughing now, smoothing her hair
at the little mirror, fer they heard
Rupert in the hall. She must always,
thought Dirk, be smooth and beauti.
full for Rupert.
= AS for the rodeo, he said he would
order seats.
1--WE already ordered them," she
answered. Il was ordering them
when you came in"
SON the twenty-ifth it seemed SC
~ likely that Rupert would be al
home that Dirk exchanged Hopes
ssseats for a box, and invited Isabel
In the end Rupert went with them
& Hope had seemed gayer with
Dirk since their meeting in the
library, and at the same time more
intent on avoiding him. The night II
the rodeo she left him entirely to
Isabel. sitting on Rupert's other
hand, keeping Rupert'S substantial