The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-01-08
Chapter 81
SToPovER

STOPOVER
DA VESTS rather vapid name
IN OF "Debutante Ii" for his private
car had been a polite, nose thumbing
gesture of his own toward his wife.
1t was no secret that he had named
the car after her.
Eleanor West had been a princess
among debutantes in Washington
gay social and diplomatic circle. She
had been possessed of a cultivated
beauty and a finishing school vi
vacity. and when she reclaimed the
position that had been hers before
she married Raybrrne West. she was
older in years. not in values.
She still cultivated her beauty as
siduously and the effervescent and
innocuous Vivacity bred of French
governesses. exclusive finishing
schools. and bachelor cotillions was
still the foundation of her charm.
She blended the mode OF life of
two generations. She patronized the
arts. gave elaborate balls, and led
fashionable drives to provide starv.
Ing Zulus with collar buttons.
On the other hand. she held gay
youthful cocktail sources. skirmished
provocatively with handsome young
men, and followed occasional affairs
to their logical conclusion.
"You won't enjoy it at ALL" Puff
told Terry darkly as they had bite
of supper in smart little restaurant
near DUPONT Circle. you can have
a lot more fun stringing along with
me tonight. have a swell party on.
Lots of fun"
This is just a stopover, Puff.
have business in New York. and all
my luggage is in hotel up there"
What hotel?"
Willett didn't see what difference
that made. but he told her.
well. we can have a lot of fun in
New York. too. know that town like
the palm of my hand"
I'm not looking for fun exactly"
"You never have, | think" said
the girl High time you were get.
ting on to yourself"
They went out on the sidewalk
and called taxis. In the door of hers
Puff paused.
eff you don't. find Allaire," she
said. 81 live at the Mayflower. big
boy" She smiled at him. Call, come
in person. or send out thought waves
We can have lot of fun"
She was gone. Terry looked after
her moment Pretty girl with dark
hair seeming to endow her eyes with
that violet color-and so what? Good
luck to the lieutenant from Fort
Myer whose saber had been junked
by Congress. Then he climbed into
his taxi and gave the address Puff
had furnished him.
The West home was a stone man.
sion on Massachusetts Avenue with
a courtyard guarded by a wall and
two large black drawbridge-like
doors. one labeled "In" and the
other Out"
Terry got out before the lighted
portico and regarded the place curl
ously a moment. He never would
have thought that girl had so much
money. Funny world. Some people
sweat all their lives and stayed
broke. and others bought a gross of
sea breezes and a deck chair every
time the sun got too hot.
THE butler who answered the door
l. looked a little surprised. 1t was
that interlude before the dinner hour
and this young man not only had no
evening. clothes. but there had been
DO word to expect him. He would
gee if Miss West was at home.
Willett came into a broad hall lit
by great crystal chandeliers shining
down on parquet floor. He sat down
in chair and twiried his hat around
aimlessly in his hands.
Then the butler returned and ush-
cred him into small reception room
"a strange room for that cold man.
sion of stone and crystal.
There was a warm loungy air about
1.-THE kind of place that reminded
one of a corner of a smoking room on
a luxurious ocean liner-the small
sailing ship model on the mantel.
piece. the dark rug, and an imper.
ceptible feeling of vibration that
emanated from the solid firmness OF
the furniture. the slow-ticking brass
bound clock. and the regularly
spaced dimmed lights supported by
little rods of grilled iron from oaken
walls.
miss West will receive you here.
sir" said the butler.
THANK you very MUCH" said vii.
lett politely.