The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-12-15
I'VE : { ompany
By MARGARET cuoN HFRzoe Y Y
MARGARET CuION HERZoG

was too much Of an attraction to
leave.
!. She whipped up his piI1ows-ai.
though Nina had spanked them
into beautiful pufiness FIVE min
.utes before: smoothed his perfectly
smooth coyerlet and began to
make him laugh.
This last was the worst, Nina
decided in the kitchen, because she
herself had failed.
They were eating OF traRs inafha
bedroom Oracle and David -
Nina had just gone for hers. gheh
the doorbell rang. IT.
Nina went to answer Il. totally
tfnsuspecting, and found Richard,
with a large florists box, outside.
He started to speak, before she
could shush him, or shut the door
IN his 'face-or anything; and It
seemed to Nina, that his voice,
usually so low, was rauc0us and
loud.
well, my precious" was what
he said, aare you through playing
with rne?"
He must have felt less sure Of his
welcome than his teasing words
indicated. for he had put his foot
across the threshold deliberately.
PLEASE ichardl" She glanced
over her shoulder, nervously. $50
away, for Gods sake. will your"
She tried to push him out, but
he only took his free arm. and
held her. with a grip like steel.
Nina. I've had enough OF
this. )" he propelled her back
wards into the hall, and pushed the
front door to, with his foot. It
banged. My sweet-what do you
think I'm made OFT"
Nina's whisper had a little ter
an heavens name be quiet.
Richard. Let me 20. David's right
IN there, and :. :. and q friend :"
He dropped her arm instantly,
and Nina swung round In an agony
of fear.
AConprOnisIng Picture
GRACE was smiling at them
N from the 1iving.room door
way.
She might have Just that instant
stopped walking or she might
have been standing there.
She said: "Oh sorry lust
came to see If / could do anything"
Her smile was SO wide that her lips
scarcely seemed to meet over her
teeth. as she spoke. david and ]
were waiting for YOU"
Nina wanted to wipe that grin
off--or make it permanent with
one terrific blow to the jaw.
She and Richard were only an
inch or so apart. Her crimson
cheeks -. the florists box -. her
sleeve caught up over her elbow,
where Richard had held her .
Gould there have been amore conn
promising picture2
Richard said: Here, my dear,
take these -. thought they'd look
well with your color scheme. Sorry
to have barHed In like this, dear.
when you had guests. III pick you
up tor lunch some other time ~
He smiled &c smiling Oracle
You'll excuse me for interrupts
lng you-won't your"
why, of course! -. Say you're
Mr.. Challoner, aren't your"
Richard nodded. With fool proof
technique. he had put an arm.
quite openly. about his stepdauEh-
ter's shoulders.
well, why don't you stay, since
you're here, Mr.. Challoner? We
were having a little lunch with
David. He's home with q cold -.
/ guess you didna know, did you7n
ooh, Lord, help me to keep
my hands of her!" prayed Nina
:. white now, and trembling with
hate Of both of them.l
This is Miss Nolan, Richard"
Nina managed to get out some sort
Of an introduction, a trifie late.
oh yes -. Well Miss Nolan,
that's most frightfully kind Of you,
but / made It a rule, years ago, not
% burst in on other peoples par
lies :"
THAT" said Oracle, still with
her loathsome grin, els a very conn
nenaable rule. But do you always
follow it? ] mean. supposing
invited--to burst In on
someone else
She wasn't talking about the
Of course. but Richard
.huckled--to all appearances. per-
feetly at ease.
II don't ever allow myself to be
persuaded, Miss Nolan" he as
stired her. "Yol promised my
mother Nina, he said severely:
you've been holding out on me.
Why haven't ! met Miss Nolan be-
loregn
Gracie,s smile left her for the
first time.
sI'm-David,s friend. Mr.. ChaI-
loner." she remarked slowly. and
.urned on her heel.
Richard looked after her. and
then at Nina.
He had the audacity TO wink at
her as though they were actually
partners in crime together, as
though she hadn't hat ed and
Ioathed herself. because Of him and
put il all away-for everl
'Get-out!" she breathed, and
handed him his box Of flowers.
He put them down slowly.
Now, would that be wisefS he
nurmured, his eyes laughing &C
her 4. and then he went.
fcopyrsoAts 1887, Marcarst Hersoel