The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-06-27
Chapter 40
BAD NEWS

Cnapter 4U
BAD NEWS
THE boy went on, haltingly, "Tell
i her, will you? Tell her l was
going back. Tell her I'm sorry for
:. everything. She'll understand.
You'll be good to her won't your"
eyes," said Dirk. "rll be good to
her" He added, There was some
thing you wanted me to do"
"Of course, 1 seem to forget
things. She sent me some money
when she :. went back. It's in my
clothes. Take care of the doctor ;.
will you =. and whatever else
There's about ninety dollars. l
was going to use it to -. go home"
"Ill look after everything" Dirk
said.
Sand you won't E. You see, down.
stairs they think .. They think
my names something else. l forget
what. But E. let it go at that. ]
don't want her :" Names
slipped from him. II don't want my
sister mixed in this. She's i. F..
She's in high place safe place
-. with you"
II understand. Is there anything
more?"
There's :" with an effort.
'There's -. box here. A little J..
metal >. box. In her bureau. Moth.
ing much. Pictures of home and
the folks. We've torn up :. every
thing else. She'll want that. And
my watch"
"You know, with you sitting
there -" (Dirk's hand still lay on
his) Knowing you're real :. I'm
feeling :. better" He smiled. why
shouldn't / :. get we'll? Why
shouldn't >. go home"
why not?" Dirk asked gently.
IF | could sleep haven't slept
-. real sleep -. since it happened.
feel sleepy now =. and easy. Stay
here, will you -. . till l go to Sleep"
'Tll stay" said Dirk.
The house was dark when he came
from the room at last. Mrs. Turner's
door stood open. She said, when Dirk
had told her,
HE lasted longer than the doctor
said he would. The doctor said he'd
be gone by midnight"
1t was we'll after midnight when
Dirk, lifting his hand from Roddie's.
had gone to the telephone down
stairs and talked with Miss An.
drews. She was to tell Mrs. Joris
that everything was all right. that
he would be home soon. He had re-
turned to the room then. had sat
awhile longer. He wanted to be sure
that Roddie was asleep.
ibid he tell you who did it?"
Mrs. Turner was agitated and
curious. Her face looked bloated. as
If she had had a few moments ner-
Gus sleep.
mo-" said Dirk. "He only wanted
me to look after his things. His
money and his clothes: And to pay
the doctor"
swell >. j wondered about that.
And who's to claim him?"
She was following Dirk down the
hall. Dirk treasured her. I'm to
look after everything" he said.
HOPE took the news stoically. He
IA saw the light burning In her
room and went in.
HE was going home" she re-
peated softly. HE told you he was
going back home"
"Shall l wire them, Hope, dear?"
mo, I'll write. A letters better.
I'll write today"
"And Roddie. -. Do you want him
to go . homer"
{ HE was going back" she said,
because he needed to. But now )"
She looked up at Dirk. us there
room for him here%
The question touched him. He
thought how large was that plot
where Rupert lay. and in the spring
how green and filled with flowers.
There's room," he said.
And she,
"You are tired. You must so to
bed"
The dawn was whitening over a
white world. They parted silently.
Neither knew that it was Christmas
Eve.
Hope was showing Dirk the con
tents Of the metal box. They had had
dinner together in the little boudoir
OH the south room. Old Timothy had
placed the table in the circle Of the
bay-window with its cushioned win
6ow-seat. They had wa ,ched the
moon come up, silver-white over
the white snow.