The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-11-19
Chapter 23
Dinner At Cracie's

Dinner At Cracie's
IT HOPE they like me-" Nina said
l rather timidly, for her, and
backed away from his enfolding
rumpling arms, in the nick of time.
The very first thing she noticed,
when Jack Knight opened the
door, was that the two girls behind
him were in evening dress.
The tall one, in black, had all the
earmarks of model so chic
and svelt was she and the short
er one, in flesh-colored crepe, must
certainly be Oracle, from David's
description of her.
Nina felt like a sophomore from
Peoria, in her simple, little Hattie
Carnegie creation. 9And she had
tried to be so thoughtful
Hi, there, David! and Nina >. i.
hellol Gosh, I'm glad to meet your!
The shorter one, who 1UuS
Oracle, came forward with wide
smile.
Nina relaxed little. It was 60
ing to be easy.
Oracle took her arm and whirled
her off to the bedroom a tiny
apartment, very taffeta and lacy.
The bed was piled high with big
dolls and little cushions.
Every chair had either a white
fur cat, or a black fur scottie; and
the drassing-table mirror was
jammed with cards, clippings and
snapshots.
It looked like the kind of room
you see in the movies, where two
pretty girls in black indies, plump
themselves down on the bed, and
''tell ALL"
From the moment she went in,
Nina had the feeling they could
have a lot of fun together.
Oracle was undeniably attrac-
tive, in a dark, pert sort of way.
She had hard, bright eyes, and a
comical little nose, and curves that
could not fail to be pleasing TO the
masculine eye.
Her fiesh-colored evening gown
was not calculated to conceal them
:. but it was smart and perfectly
all right.
Nina might have chosen it, her
self, if it had been her type. It had
cost $I6.50, she found out later.
Oracle stared at her, as she fixed
her hair.
You don't mind if / stare, do
you, Nina? I've been so darn Curl
Gus about you. You know when
David told us about going around
with a new-twist, / knew you
must be good The boys got
eyes in his head -. But had no
idea you'd be this goodp"
Hey, hold on! You'd better wait
till you know me better, Oracle"
ooh, Wen get along. I'm not
worried about that. David'S a great
kid, isn't he, Nina? Crazy about
him?"
"Umhum. You bet / ami"
Come on in, you look great.
Jacks an awful ass, but you'll like
him and Francine and Bill are
swell, too.
"She models for a Wholesale
house, and they're that way about
each other, like you and David"
Nina felt sure she and Oracle
were going to get on.
Jack, The SchOOlboy
@GOSHl The victuals -" Gra-
" Gle showed her into the Iiv-
ing-room and disappeared.
Her living-room didn't have as
much definite character as her
bedroom.
There was a red lacquer secre-
tary, and a black velvet hanging
on the wall, with statue and a
fountain painted on it, in oils; and
the most ingenious collection of
cigarette boxes and ash-trays, that
Nina had ever seen. The rest of
the room was nondeScript. SInky
chairs, chintz curtains Just a
cosy, comfortable room.
The windows looked out over
the Hudson river, and that was
the best thing OF all.
The model, Franeine, was Ian
guidly beautiful, and beautifully
languid. Bill was just nice young
man: and jack Knight . we'll.
Nina knew that she was going to
like him. too.
He was probably about Is. bat
remained - and would remain
the perennial schoolbOy.
His thin blond hair receded in
two great bays from his pink fore
head. II came way down in a little
pointed peninsula. in the middle.
He was very thin. but for some
reason. his neck and jowls were
plump-eNtremeiy.
He wore q watch fob with
strange gold insignia dangling
from it. and a large seal ring.
The cut OF his suit. and the Selecs
ton Of his shirt and tie indicated
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