The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-09-16


and she laughed down at Us. her
black eyes dancing, very gay and
pretty sight
'NcVct." she said. have / seen
sucn Drawn and muscle outside
the llfe-saVers az Atlantic Cityl
am 1onored 10 be escorted by the
t"0 huskiest men on the beach.
Gentlemen, the TOP Of the morning
10 you"
Hugo Redeemed. Miss Wills"
he began formally Il have a good
deal T. say TO you, and this beach
IS trifie crowded VIII you try
some lunch al the hotel cafe?"
She nodded cheerfully. falling
into step between Us as we made
our way along the boardwalk.
But thore Just one point" she
observed you know my name.
bat don't know yours
Hugo drew out a chair for her.
That's easily remedled," he an
sWerad still with a certain con-
S'ra,nt In MS manner. Il am Hugo
Stern. and this is my friend Archi-
oa'd Lumsden'
She exclaimed sharply. Hugo
Stern? Whv you're not Hugo
Stern the author? | think your
books are WONDERFUL but your
herolnes are terriblel Your con-
tempt fol nv sex is spelling your
work You'll never achieve true
balance untll you make vOur hero
Inc real, human woman Take
"a p !
actions and reactions Take me. If
YOU lIke-I'm an ordinary, com
oletclF healthy. aveTagelY intelli-
gent temale-unp;ck me, turn me
inside out and see what I'm made
Of Then write your next book. and
it'll be a classic.
Il am honOred." said Hugo
graveIy but I'm afraid our time
is too short. Now, if you're ready.
Nj wills think we ought to
get down 10 business"
I'm \ Moral Coward
IN ONF moment all the youth and
gaiety drained from her face.
She looked down, shading her
eyes, and noticed that the curling
lashes that yelled them were
chestnut-red and fiery tipped like
her hair You had better know at
once. = she said, very low. that I'm
moral coward I've been fooling
up to now. putting off time. trying
TO avoid hearing what | was afraid
TO hear But | guess III have to
face It. Mr.. Stern. where did you
get that One-cent piece?"
Just minute" said Hugo. His
face. too, was white under the tan.
and the lines Of his jaw were set.
There are one or two names that
| want to mention to you before
we start any explanations. | am
aware that you know Baron Stahl.
but | should like to hear II you
have met certain Mr.. Venner, a
banker, and a gentleman who calls
himself Vladimir Rakovsky?"
SIc looked up at him quickly. q
hint Of fear in her eyes. and slowly
inclined her head Il have never
met them " she answered, but ]
know them by name"
And Monsieur Rene Geiss?"
pursued Hugo. his eyes never
leaving her face You probably
know him better as Shevr. TIE car
toonlst"
"Shcvr?" she echoed. "v'Ay. Of
course I've heard Of him. BIT I'm
happy 10 say I've never mo- ain.
and hope I never will. His work
makes me siCk!'
And now one last name. Miss
Wills. have you ever heard OF Pat
O'Donnell?'
At once light and color flashed
back into her face "Pat?" she
cried DO you know him7 Oh,
where is he, Mr. Stern? Is he
here in juan"
lie shook his head. Wen come
- that later he told her gently.
Now for the immediate bust
ness"
Tie pulled his wallet from The
pocket Of his bath-robe, extracted
the ono-ccnt piece. ard laid it on
the table between them, and al
once She fumbied in the depths Of
her b,g blue satCncl and produced
It's twin
i '..a'CH you MI. Stern she
a-' W. an attempt al smile,
~, say Una, 'teF Ups were tTein-
Bling My uncle gave these coins
>.>.'' 7'.u '''e "'IC'l we were
sa.ad'.
your story IN turn" he said. Your