The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-10-03
A Nsw NeOsl By Msriss St@s
Chapter A
DOCTORS HELP

DLAkE entered the once on sat
- urday morning like man who
walks in his sleep. There was a
quick lifting of heads as he entered
the room; a wave Of sympathy beat
against him. and almost submerged
him. II they knew, he thought,
they'd despise me instead. >. He
smiled slightly in response to the
welcome and let his eyes. move
swiftly from one face to the other.
The sight of Carols face almost
broke him. He went to his Office and
sat with his head in his hands, see
ing her face and thinking. In spite
Of himself, of the last three days.
But-not even pity or remorse
could temper his love for Carol. In
stead of loving her less. he felt as
il their joint knowledge and respon.
sibility had bound them together
forever, and his hunger for her was
intolerable.
But he could not force himself
upon her yet; the memory OF her
horror was too fresh. He had the
feeling that the very sight OF him
was uncomfortable to her. and his
heart was racked by the thought OF
her, chained to her desk like a still,
trapped animal.
On a sudden impulse he turned
to the telephone and called DR.. Free
man.
"This is Blake Thornton" he said
abruptly. Il wonder IL I might talk
to you a few minutes?"
Eyes, indeed" DIR. Freeman said
promptly. "If you hadn't called me
/ intended to call you in q day or
two"
what time would suit you?"
There was an interval during
which DR.. Freeman consulted his
appointment book.
How soon could you get here?''
"In ten or fifteen n inutes."
"Good. I'll see you then. I'm op.
Grating at eleven"
Blake wondered, sitting in the
luxurious waiting-room. what sort
of man Freeman was, and how much
he could expect in the way of un'
Outstanding. He rose eagerly at the
nurses summons, and entered an
immaculate consulting room.
DR.. Freeman shook hands. and
Blake liked the firmness and sure
ness OF his grasp. He was a big
blonde man. with beautifully KEEP
hands and a soothing manner thai
might hide a great deal Of force.
"Sit down." he said gravely. THAI
was tragic business
Blake looked squarely into hi;
eyes. "a lot more tragic than yor
know. That's what wanted to tall
about"
Freeman nodded and leaned bacl
in his chair. Il knew, o. course. Thai
there was something back Of 1t. Hel
type usually clings to the last shred
OF life, no matter how much unhap
piness il holds"
Freeman's quiet tone gave hin
hope. He said bluntly:
II had just fled suit for divorce
I managed to keep that out of thu
papers. l went down week ago t.
ask her to divorce me-"
DR. FREEMAN nodded. He coul,
~ guess at great deal more. HI
said Unexpectedly:
You're to blame, but not In tn
way you think. Your fault goes bacl
a great many years"
Blake said defenslvely: "Yo
mean in marrying her at all?"
mo. That needn't have been dis
astrous. Your mistake was In humol
ing her; in not demanding more O
her."
Blake's mouth was thin. "I'm sol
ry. wasn't cut out for a tyrant."
"Oh, my God!" Freeman groanet
There's a middle ground. And be
sides. a woman of her type needs
tyrant; she should have married
Frenchman-or a Spaniard. Amer
can husbands ruin her sort"
The interview. Blake felt, wa
becoming incredibly cold-bloodet
They were dissecting Irma like
pair of medical students. And the
reason OVERRIDE his reluctanc,
Wasn't this what he wanted; WASH
he fighting for his life?
Freeman went on. very gravely.
can guess. OF course. what you mui
be going through. and I'd like to hel
you. Your responsibility for the ira
edy Is not nearly so direct as yo
think. 1t lies mainly-you'll forgi'
me, hope-in your wife's own cha
acter. AS you probably know. 81
was at a time Of life which som
times does strange things to wome
particularly where there Is te
dency to neurosis. Their viewpoi
becomes distorted. and they exa
gerate every misfortune. A spoil'
child who has Deen discipline
sometimes resorts to the same de
perate means"
Blake's anger faded and he felt
quick liking for the man who wi
holding out a hand that might pi
him from the depths in which
struggled. He said quietly: