The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-07-08
Chapter Four
PARTY

iCT. LEONARD'S clock chimed
~ three measured times and its
sound travelled far over the frosty
air. Dale Shipley came downstairs
in hurry, yet h. seemed to be In
deliberate mood as he drew on his
overcoat in the little hall. He
glanced at his wrist watch-a quar-
ter to seven. Mrs. Somers," he
called.
His faithful factotum presented a
cheerfully rudy face from the
kitchen regions.
I'm going over to dinner with
Captain Reeves" Dale announced
"Yossir." Mrs. SCmers beamed.
I'm walking as it's a fine night.
Dale amplified 50 I'm giving my
self plenty of time"
Dale Slipl.y lived by himself al
Fielder Cottage and a little more
than mile away BY road. less IT,
one took the field paths. stood Fer
ney House where he was hidden TO
Zine.
i Ferney House at quarter to
4 seven knew none of the peace and
quiet of Fielder Cottage. Captain
and Mrs Reeves were two OF the
most popular people In the district
and they did considerable amount
of entertaining. bu somehow prac.
tice never brought Nellie Reeves
anywhere nearer t. perfection. and
on a day when people were expect
ed to dinner a tense atmosphere
reigned in the place almost from
breakfast time.
On this particular occasion mat
tiers were complicated by the fact
that there was a visitor staying in
the house Lois Everest. a friend
of Nellie Reeves. down for the hunt
ing. a polished creature from Lon
don. who at quarter to seven pre-
cisely was doing her heroic best to
battle in less than six inches of hot
water and shouting out dutiful and
unconvincing assurances through
the bathroom door that she liked it,
DESPITE the inauspicious ma
~ ture of these preparations ev.
erything miraculously came right
In the end. and by twenty past
seven when the first guest was an
nounced she W. shown in to q col
lected host and hostess sitting in q
charming drawing room.
And the drawing room of Ferney
House was -eally charming. Nancy
Featherstone knew the room of old
and had always loved its odd shape.
its great open fireplace and its
heavy black oak beams.
The instant she entered the room
her heart fell. He was not there.
She was not particularly fond OF the
Reeves. and had accepted their in,
vitation solely because she hoped
that certain person would be
there. And he was not. It would
have been physically impossible for
her. even in the most casual way.
to frame his name and ask whether
he was to come or not. She would
have to wait now and hope. And at
the age Of forty Nancy Feather
stone was getting tired Of waiting
and hoping.
Miss Everest - Miss Feather.
stone"
She was being introduced to
someone, an ordeal which always
made her feel awkward.
How d'you do?'
Just like the Reeves. she reflect
ed. to spring somebody really smart
from London on her without warn
ing. A backless frock and blood red
nails. the sort of things he would
fall for straight away. of course.
Doctor Chamber m"
Everybody smiled at the en-.
trance of Sydney Chambers into the
room. He was short and looked
comically schoolboyish In his tight
fitting. out-of-date dinner suit. Tub
by is the exact word to describe his
figure and his laughing face and his
happy staccato voice.
He visited Ferney House as often
as he decently could. "Dine where
there's plenty of money" was his
motto. then you get good food and
good wine, and you'll do your stom.
ach no harm"
"a glass of sherry. Doctor?"
Thanks"
Nellie Reeves busted herself with
the sherry decanter and the two
small dishes Of sailed almonds,
which had mysteriously turned up.
when all hope had been abandoned,
in the cooks bedroom.
WITH the wine talk began to flow
w more easily. and indeed CONVEX.
sation was never very difficult
where Sydney Chambers was pres.