The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-05-22
Chapter Nine
DIRK PROMISES


COMETHING moved in the draw.
- ing-room. A swift flame-like stir
beside the piano. Dirk went and
stood before the girl. Her eyes met
his. dark. unwaVering. the eyes of
a guilty child. defying censure, defy.
ing punishment.
She was the same, yet different.
Stripped OF the rouge and mascara,
of the tight red trousers. she stood in
her black dress with the bright ia
miliar shawl clipping from her
arms-here. The girl from the tents
in Jersey. So it was she he had seen
entering the gates two hours ago.
"Will you explain?" he said to her.
She answered in low voice.
Explain to whom"
ITO me-" he said. 81 didn't know
you knew my brother"
Must you be explained to-" she
said. why don't you ask him?"
"Why don't IL" Dirk asked grave
ly. But he could hardly explain
what he probably doesn't know has
happened"
She nodded. entirely agreeing with
him. Looking at her, he had a dim
sense that all this had happened be-
fore-sOme time. somewhere. Per.
haps in this very room. she marry.
ing Rupert. standing like flame be-
side dark bowl Of dahlias. defying
his questions. AT first-there in the
hall-he had felt that what he saw
was a dream. He knew now that it
was real. something he must cope
with as long as he lived.
She turned abruptly. and went out
into the hall. as if seeking Rupert.
Timothy was taking Rupert up the
stair. Slowly. At the top Rupert
looked back. looked down at Dirk
and the girl standing in the hall. He
moved a hand with heavy gesture
of waving. plodded on with Timothy,
disappeared.
The girl sat down on the lowest
step. leaning her head against the
carved oak balustrade. Now that Ru-
pert was gone, she seemed 70 grow
suddenly limp. suddenly tired.
Dirk thought of food. and men.
toned breakfast. She thanked him.
but she was not hungry He sat down
beside her. and she said,
"Are you going to tell him?"
"Tell him what?" asked Dirk.
about the circus. About-where
came from"
Doesn't he know?" asked Dirk.
"No-and | don't want him to. |
never saw him until tonight"
Then how"
at was a within. drunken whim.
l shouldn't have let him."
She was not answering the ques.
ton he had been about to ask. She
went on qaickly.
at was you | came here to see.
knew you were a lawyer 1 needed to
see a lawyer You won't tell him
about the circus? If you do he'll
throw me out"
But how did you know | was a
lawyer?" Dirk asked.
Chow" she said. an d a m G
Chowdhury. 1 heard her tell Tor.
robin. Torrobin is the man you hit
His nose was wrecked when he came
to. He said he was going after you
Chow encouraged him. / think she
was sore at you for some reason
and she told him who you were. She
told him lot about YOU"
"But how did She"
NOU were with others. Some oil
them had their fortunes told
She gets things out of people when
they're at all talkative. She proba bly,
thought she was going to tell your
fortune. too. And you wouldn't lei
her. She doesn't like that Torrobiu
may come here" she added.
Are you afraid?" Dirk asked.
"Only for you. He carries gun
Still. don't think he'd pull 1t on you
seeing who you are. and this big
place. and ALL" She looked about the
great hall. its tapestry-hung walls
its stone floor and Persian rugs. its
dimly lit chandelier swung from the
vaulted ceiling-alI old. all a little
worn or faded. but formidable.
"It's like a fortress" she said
THAT was what | thought when
first came. A refuge. a fortress.
And a gun in New York is different
you are not afraid for yourself?'
Dirk asked.
mot now. Not since | married
your brother And in this house. You