The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-06-26


I'm glad you've come. He kept say
ing phone somebody named Joris.
and he couldn't remember the num-
Der. couldn't remember much of
anything. I thought it must be
doctor he wanted.
"You see, 1 didn't find him until
today. ! looked up 'Joris' in the
phone-book, ant all l coulL find was
a law-firm down on Broadway. but
being Saturday there was no one
there but the office-boy. He said he
would leave q note on Mr.. Dirk
Joris's desk. thought it might be
Monday before you'd get 1t. called
a doctor. He's in there now."
She had paused in the upstairs
hall.
do you know this young MANI"
she asked.
Dirk said that he did not, and
asked what the trouble seemed to
be. Apparently she was waiting till
the doctor should come out.
II don't know" she said. tits
a funny case. He won't tell who did
it i. +. who shot him. | mean. Says
he don't know. He knows, all right.
l don't like to say it, but the word
gal gster comes to my mind. Some
rival gang got him. and he won't
tell.
THE girl He had a girl with
him at first. She said she was his
sister, though she certainly didn't
look like him. She went away, but
| think she's coming back. She left
her clothes. She was trying to get
guitar pupils. too. don't know what
luck she had"
"HAD the boy been living here
IL when she Gamer" Dirk asked.
He'd been here just day. Told
me his sister was coming. After she
lef' l made p my mind he wouldn't
bring any more girls in"
"And did he?"
HE didn't. But once after she left
he came in tight. You see. had my
eye on him. He was a nice boy. So
polite. And pretty as a girl.
HE didn't have any job, l re-
membered. Not that that's unusual
: ow. Just stayed around home, and
smoked and read. Neve. had any
papers about l.. any letters, or that
sort of thing. looked once or twice
when he went out. Not that I'd have
read 'em. But you know in my
business. They took care of
their room themselves. And after
she left he did it alone. Cooked and
cleaned for himself.
THAT was how 1 didn't know he.
Vas hurt. But Saturdays l take
clean linens around. and l found
him. did what l could for him."
A door opened. A little gray man
with satchel came out. Mrs. Tur-
ner went along the nall to meet
him. They conversed briefly, and
in low tones. The doctor went down
the stair.
Its like 1 said," she told Dirk.
"But he's conscious still. You can
go in"
1t was a small apartment of two
rooms and kitchenette. A floor-lamp
Will a square of thin blue cloth
thrown over it burned dimly beside
II cot. Even from the door Dirk
recognized the cowboy who had
been Roddie. the clown. What was
it about that blond head, deep in
the pillow, what. in the expression
o the blue eyes as they turned to
him, that reminded him of Hope?
I'm Joris," he said in a low
voice. II came to see if there was
anything could do"
"Joris?"
The blue eyes, lifting to Dirk's,
seemed not t. see him. but there
was an effort to raise the head.
Dirk took thu chair beside the cot.
On the table beside him lay Hopes
red beret with the. frayed feather.
You're all right?" a whisper
from the pillows. 81 thought :"
What did you think?"
mo matter" He had relaxed into
the pillow. you see you had the
drop on me. / don't blame you. /
Lad no right there"
The sentences were short, with
little gasps between, but the voice
came clearly now.
Il didn't mean to shoot" he said.
you came so sudden. You pulled
gun. If I'd stopped to think. I
wonder IL you're real. keep see
ing you coming in with the
gun falling palmer than
l see you now. Would you mind
!. letting me touch you? There"
as Dirk put hand on his. You're
real all right. Would you
do something for met"
That's what I came for" said
Dirk.
fccsrisIt. 1855 KszEsrss BsU Rosstosl