The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-11-05
chapter
You're Bad For Me-

AO-~ ~ $3.50 = - 49,
DICHARD made cocktails, as q
N chemist mixes a formula
slowly, and with elaboration.
They might not have been so very
much better than an expertly
thrown together drink, but it Gre
ated an atmosphere.
There" he said at last, lifting
his glass of amber fluid to the light.
"A UotTe SGnte 80. ma belle"
He looked at her steadily as he
drank.
"You know, Nina" he came and
sat beside her on one of the love-
seats, "you shouldn't send young
men out into the night with heaven
in their eyes :. unless -"
"Unless what?"
unless you mean what you say.
Why is that chap good for you,
Nina? You don't want him."
She flushed. al
"Sol You were listening"
81 overheard. Why" he per-
sisted. sis he good for your"
why" she countered, "don't
you think want him?"
He smiled slowly. "Well, don't
think I'll tell you why, just yet,
but Pm-quite-certain my dear.
Now, will you answer my ques-
tion?"
Nina put her glass down, because
1t was shaking.
He's so sort of oh, | don't
know, natural and wholesome, |
suppose you'd call it and Just
mad enough to be entertaining"
Richard was still smiling as he
said: you know, Nina :. ! think
! could be-most awfully-good
for you. too"
She said, quickly, softly: You're
bad for me, and could have bitten
her tongue.
He took her hand, and traced
with his finger. little blue vein at
her wrist, TO where it disappeared
up under the lace cuff.
He didn't say anything :. which
was much worse than if he had said
lot. He chose to leave her little,
impulsive remark sizzling in the
air, between them. The longer they
kept silent, the larger il grew.
I'll have another" said Nina at
last, just to say-something. But
when he brought her a fresh
drink, she couldn't touch it.
He began to talk then, pointedly,
Of other things ;. the way people
do. when there Is something 10 be
covered up. It didn't occur to her,
that he might be doing it on pur-
pose :. only that he was trying
to help her out
The room was full of il. Even the
old English clock in the corner
licked it out relentlessly: you're
bad for me. You're bad for me-"
Nina felt that it might Just as well
have spilled the whole works:
You're bad for me because love
you, and shouldn't"
Where we're her wits? She felt
that If she couldn't think of some
way to un-say it, she would 60
mad.
When Honey came in, a few
minutes later, she had an idea.
Hello, angel. You look divine
-. | was just telling your hus-
band here. that he's bad for me.
I'd already had my share of cock
tails. and he comes along and
forces more on me-"
But when she glanced at Rich
ard. she remembered the old adj
age about letting well enough
alone. He was looking frightfully
amused.
He said: SWELL. now, that rather
takes the wind out of my sailsl
You see, | was holding her hand,
Honey, and thought she meant
that. 4
He went out to finish dressing.
Button My Shirt
ION, Nina darlingl"
~ Coming, Honey :"
Honey began giving her direc-
tons before Nina was halfway
down the stairs from her room on
the third floor.
"Fasten these back garters, will
you, like 8 lamb? / can hardly
breathe. let alone bend, in this new
girdle Marie has disappeared,
as usual. just when | need her"
Honey was standing, plump,
pink cherub. in the middle of her
ornate room.
"And, darling, open the wall
safe, viii your ! never can think
OF the combination when I'm in a
hurry 4. 4. oh, and tina. reminds me,
hand me my combination. viii you,
Nlnal that white one. Richard
viii be out Of his dressing room
IN minute. He has no idea how
fat really am, and ! don't want
him 10.