The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-01-09
Chapter %
EXIT

"NoEpyobably have three hundred
aHafsixty-fve experiences like
that a year." Allaire said. Il don't.
Well. where would you like to go?"
"Go?
She shrugged white shoulders.
"You showed me your town. l can
do no more than return the compli-
ment. How about the Pillars Club?
cocktails, dress shirts. and subtle
puppyish remarks?
Willett stood up. What the hell
was he doing here anyway? He had
nothing in common with this girl of
private cars. stone mansion, and sill
yer evening gown.
What was he doing here with the
stink of the yellow river still in his
nostrils and the toughest. dirtiest
job of his career ahead? Hike. you
busted engineer. you can't blame the
girl for not being an angel. Angels
live in heaven, not in stone man
sions.
Entertaining evening! Sorry. gov
ernor His jaw almost clicked.
mot going?" The girl sounded a
little startled.
Il don't like it here" he said
bluntly. 81 don't like anything about
this picture. didn't come here to be
impressed by flunkies and chande-
liers; l came here to see a swell
girl.
And what do / find?-somebody
sitting on a throne surrounded by
mirrors and fog. Well. sometime
when you have nothing else to do.
drop over to Carteret, Virginia, and
take a look at a new marker in the
churchyard. 1t says: The storm is
over now and so forth. but don't let
that fool you.
"He was a man trying to beat
tough game. and he's through for
ever now. but you had an entertain
ing evening, so that squares every
thing"
She was on her feet too, pale with |
the bloOdIess touch of anger.
mo one ever talked to me like !
this BEFORE" she said furiously |
And you can't talk to me like this
now. You're running what's left of
something that was once very fine.
dislike fools. but | can't stand |
roughnecks. feel cheapened."
TOOL! Roughneck. Sure, he was a
L fool But what did she know of
rOughnecks? Standing there lovely |
and cold. telling him he was "a He
suddenly took her arms and she felt |
the pressure of fingers like steel.
For a moment she was rigid. furi |
Gus. in his grasp. and then she sud-
denly went plant and yielding. Her
head dropped back, her eyes closed.
and something bright stole slowly |
down her cheeks.
"Oh, don't" she whispered. Don't |
please. Terry. you're hurting me-"
Stricken at this new and bewilder
ing side of her. he released her and |
stood back. She sank into a chair,
her head averted, and the only sound
in that room was the ticking Of the
brassbound clock as she methodical-
ly rubbed a hand up and down one
arm.
That's the end of everything"
she said tensely. Il once thought the
happiest moment of my life would
come with the Slorning when | saw
you again. And now-I don't want
to see you-ever-because you ran
out on me when | needed you. want
ed you-and you're rough and wild
] needed you!"
Willett stared at her. She'd need
ed him. But-why-? And she
thought he'd run out on her. What
should he do now?-Burst from the
cocoon Of her contempt and spread
the gaudy wings of the heroic but
terfly?
Tell her he'd stalled the police in-
vestigation. told the court to go to
hell. sweated in Jail. stood in a little
stone room with the lash on his
shoulders and the rain rustling out
side the walls?
He'd be likely to tell her that now,
even If he wanted to- Hah! A couple
Of "hahs." A couple of deep-chested
rumbling laughs.
LIE didn't know where the butler
i L came from. The girl must have
rung. or maybe the butler was SEN
sitiye to mental telepathy.
"Mr. WilIett is leaving" the girl |
said quietly.
WilIett picked up his hat. He
looked at her again.
Goodbye" he said. Sorry. but
maybe it's just as WE'LL"