The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-06-30
G.,ps.. 1Dee.tRera
q O nv MAR6ARET BeII HOUSTON


him love me, and Roddie would be
safe. Roddie would have every
thing he needed .. and with Ru-
pert's influence and knowledge OF
the law.
Later realized how wrong it
was to bring my trouble into your
house, to make it yours and Ru-
pert's. But then was thinking only
of myself and Roddie.
"And when you came home, and /
saw you agaii-most Of all when we
sat together on the stair that night.
l came near telling you everything.
Something about you made me want
to trust you. confide in you. Only I
was too tired to straighten it out in
my mind-to make it clear. I
thought, Later
early next morning went to
the hospital, and they let me see
Roddie for just a minute. told Mary
/ had been to church. and I had.
There was a service at the hospital.
"I went and got my trunk. too.
with the money Olga had lent me,
and l telephoned Pipolo in Atlantic
City. told him where l was staying.
Nothing more over the phone. He
said he would meet me. as he
promised. would send for me.
HE sent a taxi for me, taxi
owned by friend of his. That was
the night of The Black Swan I
told him that night about my mar
riage-not how it had happened,
only that had married. and whom.
Pipolo warned me not to let Tor
robin know.
"Pipolo had sensed that Torrobin
had some deadly hold on Roddie and
me, and he feared. since l had mar
ried well, that he would try ex-
tortion Of some sort.
"That was why ! hadn't wanted
1t in the papers-my marriage, I
mean. That was why was glad l
had used the name of Hope. Tor
robin had never heard that name.
"Torrobin did not show up at the
hospital while Roddie was there. He
was probably nursing his bruised
face. Pipolo - knowing / had a
secret-asked me il l had made
clean breast of everything to Ru-
pert, and when, said no. he was
troubled.
81 was troubled. too. It began to
look as If marriage might not prove
a solution. Yet Rupert seemed to
want me to be happy. to be trying
to please me. l still hoped l might
win him.
THAT night the taxi-driVer
thought some one was following us,
and later he told Pipolo that a man
came to his house and questioned
him. accused him Of wrecking his
car. Pipolo supposed it was some
scout of Torrobin's. but the descrip-
ton Of the questioner sounded as if
it might have been you. ] couldn't
believe it was you. But began to
to be afraid. Afraid that Torrohin
might have been to you with the
truth about Roddie. and poisoned
your mind against me-"
DIRK laid an arm about her.
- "And so you didn't confide In
me?"
81 didn't dare. didn't know what
you might do. how you might feel.
My whole thought was to get Roddie
well, and away. I didn't need
Pipolo's money that night, and l
was able to pay back what Olga had
given me. I had deposited my check
from Rupert, and l had brought
money for Roddie's operation. and
care"
"You had money on you." Dirk
said, ain addition to the jewels? I'd
have been more worried still If ]
had known. 1t was I following you.
I think you know my motives now. ]
had Just got home. when you came
to the gate and waved, and went
of alone in a taxi, and later picked
UP man -"
"Pipolo," she said. HE was stay
ing with his brother, Tony Fazzini.
But I hadn't the jewels on. I had
taken them of and given them to
Rupert. All except the coronet, and
it wasn't real. Roddie thought it was
1t dazzled him. knew it would"
She smiled. $50 I kept it on, and
the dress. too. I wanted Roddie to
see them. / wanted him to see me
all prosperous and happy-the last
thing before he went under the
ether. was so afraid for him.
THAT vas why I had gone to
church the day before. and prayed
and prayed. don't think I had ever
prayed till then"
| (cOswisAt. 1855 Aa,ssrst Ball Hosstos)
Hope explains the secret stair