The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-12-20
Chapter 40
Cold Fury

NINA followed the be1lboy to
y the elevator. and when they
alighted, she followed him down
long corridor, that Nina knew
from past experience led to the
corner suites, overlooking the
ocean.
Richard opened the door, and
showed her into fiower-filled sit
ing-room.
One window was open, and a
lovely, misty, salty breeze blew
through the white net curtains.
They sailed way out into the
room, when he opened the door,
and then fell back with a little
slap, when he shut it.
The chandelier was unlighted,
but rose-covered table lamps cast
pleasantly softening light over
the regulation hotel furniture.
On a commode at one side Of
the room stood whisky, glasses, ice
and carbonated water.
Nina didn't say a word until
Richard had tipped the boy, and
he had departed.
She didn't loosen her coat. or
take off her gloves.
(Which is Honey's room, Rich
ard?" she asked quietly, looking
at two closed doors.
He came to her smiling, and lift
ed his brown hands to relieve her
of her fur.
Nina moved away from him.
II wouldn't say" he remarked
smiling. shat you were exactly
polite &. after ! have adjusted
every light. and arranged every
rose, to please you. -"
Which is Honey's room. Rich
ard?"
Nina was clutching her antelope
handbag so hard that she never
could brush away the fingermarks
afterwards.
"Your room Is over here. my
dear" he answered: and he lifted
her suitcase and walked toward
one of the doors. Il hope you'll be
comfortable"
wait, Nina. wait and make
sure. You'll feel horribly degraded
and embarrassed il you have made
a mistakeIl
'sAnd Honey's room?"
'Honey?" said Richard slowly.
"Honey-is-in-Tuxedo tonight,
Nina"
Thought so she whis-
pered. almost to herself.
And the faint sensation she had
felt down at the reservation desk
seized her anew. =. Only more
violently.
Her knees were no more sup
port TO her than rag dolls +. :. and
all her insides were sawdust.
She put her two arms over the
back Of a tall wing chair. and
leaned against it. to steady her
self.
An That Nfattered
IN a minute, when she could, she
4 would walk across the room
and 90 out.
Nina" Richard was saying to
her. you surely you didn't
think ! was going to stand this
treatment from you--indefinitelyl
-. You didn't--Inean me to, did
you-sweet7"
She only looked at him.
II didn't matter what he said,
now. what she said all that
mattered was that she should pull
herself together enough TO get out,
to get downstairs, and make ar
rangements to catch train back
10 David.
She wasn't even thinking of this
thing that Richard had done to her
her thoughts, nunhed, dazed as
they were-had leapt ahead to
David what he would think Of
her note-whether there was any
way he could check up on her and
find that Honey was not here. be-
fore she could get back TO him and
tell the truth.
In her fear and weakness, Il was
as though Richard didn't exist.
He walked over TO the door. and
then came around back of her.
You were just--frightene0, my
little girl frightened to take the
step, so ! took ii. Don't think
didn't understand, he laughed
softly. and now he was so near to
her, that she felt his breath on her
neck. :. "And don't think that
making me wait hasn't driven me
half madl You sweet funny little
devil--you knew it would. :"
She wheeled about and struck
him 50 sudden. and so violently,
that she looked down az her