The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-09-23
Chapter 80
BURSTING DAM

6OhS ING OHm
IT was time, finally. to meet Mar
gery's mother. There was no
change, DIR. Howard assured them:
nothing unnecessarily alarming.
They could do nothing here: he
suggested supper and bed and a
sedative for them all. He would call
them instantly if there was any
change. -.
Harry nodded. 81 guess you're
right. Well-thanks, Doctor"
DR.. Towards fine tired eyes
smiled. Nonsense. Go home and get
some sleep" He disappeared.
BLAKE was there in less than fif-
Teen minutes after Carol telephoned.
She saw him from the waiting-room
and stumbled down the steps to the
sidewalk. t -
He sprang from the car and put a.
steadying hand under her elbow.
eyed her with quick. raven0us look.
"Are y0u exhausted?; he asked I'M
evenly.
Not quite" She smiled. at him.
FRI be all right as soon as | get
home"
He asked about Harry, and she
told him what the doctor had said.
He had, she realized, no intention of
leaving her at the Sherwood. He
swung the car into a parking space
and helped her carefully out. then
went with her to her own doorway.
She handed him her key with tired
gesture that shook him from head
to foot.
He was coming in with her and
she had neither strength nor will
to stop him. Thank heaven. she
thought irrelevantly. took time to
make the bed and put 1t away. :. :.
He closed the door softly and led
her to the couch and took off her
hat.
Lie down." he ordered. land I'll
fix you a drink"
She said, Fix two" and closed
her eyes and listened to him moving
about in the kitchen. This might be
disaster. she knew, and could make
no move to prevent it. The apart
ment was warm and still and sleep
dragged at her eyes and her mind.
Sleep. and the intimate sound of
Blake moving about in her kitchen.
He came back with two tall glasses
and bent over the couch. She opened
her eyes and sat up to take the
glass.
you're a life saver" she said in
adequately. in an effort to push back
the impending crisis. I'm not used
TO being up at five o'clock"
Don't get up" he said roughly.
"Here," and slipped another pillow
beneath her head. She lay back and
slipped her drink. and he sat in a
chair and devoured her with his
eyes.
$ She shivered suddenly. as II
cold wind had dashed her. Being
rather alone has its compensations.
hasn't it?" she whispered. ITO care
- that much for something is
frightening. The more things you
love. the greater your hostage to
fortune. -"
Ills eyes were on her face. She
IL looked white and tired and life
less: a stranger would have thought
her without charm or colcr. But her
very exhaustion aroused in him an
uncomfortable tenderness.
"No," he said harshly. Just being
able to love that way-even if you
lose the thing you love; even if you
never possess it's worth all the
suffering 1t entails"
The air was vibrant. and the thing
/ that filed them was physical force.
drawing them together. He thought
4 desperately: You can't say it-you
rant! And tried to summon COM
! monplace remark that would break
the spell. But the spell was too
strong upon him. and in the end it
was his self-control that broke. He
heard his own voice, shaken and al
most inaudible.
"Oh. God. it's no use! | love you.
carol-love you. -.
s He realized suddenly. hearing
what he said. that the words had
set his spirit free. They heard the
words together. throbbing in the
r. like the echo of a carlton, and
hen the torrent poured over them.
She closed her eyes and heard the
cbo die away. He sat motionless,
waiting for word or sign. not