The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-01-08

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received" business was quite evi.
IDENTIFY an ornate function.
1t seemed a long time before AL.
laire finally appeared. 1t was quite
a time. Willett had started his third
cigaret. But suddenly she was there!
She made him think of a slim shaft
OF silver as she stood on the thresh.
old. an evening gown Of something
simmer ing clinging closely about
her. For a moment neither spoke.
They looked at each other almost as
IL searching for something.
Silver is cold color and so was
an intangible current in the air
like a draught coming from some
unknown place. Terry sensed that
Immediately. He had a crazy idea
that he was being inspected like a
! prize Oull. The girl made no move.
Hello" he said. and grinned.
Surprised to see me?"
The girl nodded her head grace.
fully.
u didn't believe it at first" she
safe calmly. "Of all people-the en-.
gineer. What are you doing in a
civilized part OF the world? Why,
I'D rather imagined you'd be in dark.
est Africa by now"
OF
South America"
Pretty tar she agl eed. ito rum"
CHE came into the room and ex.
- tended hand. A French diplo.
mat would undoubtedly have kissed
it; there was something of that in
her manner. Willett held it, unre-
sponsive. in his. Her dark eyes, ca.
pable of saying so much, seemed only
politely expectart.
"Yes," she said. withdrawing her
hand. Il had thought of you In dark.
est Africa in pith helmet. smuggling
whiskey from a demiiohn over your
shoulder and Economically defying
the jungle to put up thirty-story
grass hut for the Timbuctu Waist
Garment Company, Incorporated.
Do sit down."
Willet sat down. He felt vaguely
disappointed-there was something
vibrant and lively missing here. Sur.
prise, he could have understood, but
not this total lack of spontaneity.
Il ran across your trail today"
he said finally. "Met your father on
the Washington train."
"He often uses the Old Domin.
ion,'" she acceded.
There was another silence. Well,
that was that. Her father often used
the "OId Dominion" Good thing that
was settled.
II thought I'd follow you up" he
resumed.
Ibid you? I'm very gratifed, but
-why?"
Why? Perfectly natural question
OF course. but this barrier of GOODNESS
was beginning to annoy him. She
seemed a part OF the cold reserved
beauty of her home.
Il wanted to see you again. After
ALL" he pointed out. with a brief.
appearing smile. you saved my life"
He'd had his life saved and saved
lives himself five or six times In the
course of his hectic racing existence.
1t hadn't been anything particular
noteworthy until this girl had GOV.
cred him.
She flushed slightly. but said moth.
ing. Again he was disappointed.
Did you get off all right?" he
asked abruptly.
Every well. thanks. Mr.. Fox saw
to it admirably"
George is good at that kind Of
thing"
i don't know what I would have
done without him. He stood by won.
derfully." She waved hand to dis
miss the subject. "Well. Mr.. Willett,
what lies before you now?"
He didn't answer Immediately. He
was trying to figure out this strange
behavior.
You know" he said slowly, "you
act as though you'd seen me once
In your life"
f Allaire gave a surprised little
laugh.
"How slany times. exactly. have I
seen your"
Once" said Willett. cit didn't
make much impression on you"
1T was most entertaining eve.
ming. "she corrected.
Entertaining EVENING" It had been
vital evening in his life, that's
what 1t had been. And she called II
entertaining. She really was snootyi
A rich girl who had stepped of
the sightseeing bus to take a little
side excursion of her own and be
vastly entertained while all the
forces OF life passed before her eyes
In quick succession - lights, and
shadows. and death.
He wasn't chauffeur being inter
viewed for a position. He felt like
that man Perry on the train had felt
seven kinds of fool.
"Entertaining?" he repeated. "You
may have thought 1t entertaining,
but wasn't so damned amused"
Copyright. 1855. By David GortaJ