The Key West citizen., 1938-12-29
Chapter IS
Company For Charlie

SIldpLS4 81
Company For Charlie
THERE were still five or six cars
Il parked in front of the club.
The Shaws and Mrs. Crpington
left reluctantly in one. We
watched from the veranda while
they turned left along Officers
Row, the car lights growing small
er in the distance.
Elizabeth was looking at me ex-
pectantly.
"T'm going over to bachelor
quarters with Adam for a minute
to see Charlie" explained.
AS soon as had spoken / saw
that she was thinking with horror
of the hour. And bachelor quar-
tiers. AS a matter of fact ! knew
the army was still very strait Laced
about such matters. | hao never
seen Charles roomS-and for all
I knew there might be regulations
about unchareroned girls IN
bachelor quarters at any hour.
well come with you," she was
beginning resolutely, but plainly
remembering her fathers pc inted
instructions, when Adam neatly
solved the impasse.
THAT won't be necessary. We're
taking Mrs. Flower-the captain
is waiting for her there. You and
Annie run along home. and I'll
bring Kay shortly"
Elizabeth's face cleared and a
faint sigh e-caped her. betraying
. that she, too, was tired. She patted
my hand lightly. murmured al
most word for word Adams ex-
hortation not to worry about Char
lie. Then the little coupe mean
dered off toward horne.
rode with Barney the short
distance to the Officers Club. He
had been silent, almost painfully
patient. while the arrangements
were being made, ard | had seen
Adam angiously watching him,
wondering when the forced inac-
tivity would wear down his con-
troll.
II can't tell you how sorry !
am. Barney" | ventured as the
car drew away from the curb.
He was silent for the space OF
a minute.
Il suppose I'll begin to realize
il when | get by myself" he said
heavily. "Just now I'm numb.
She was a beautiful little thing,
wasn't she? So light, so delicately
made. $3.50 vital"
The words of Doc Moore trem-
bled on my tongue-the words OF
hope, of that long fighting chance
for life. in the small, vital body.
But did not speak them. sensing
that In his present stupor he was
feeling no pain, knowing that
there is no cruelty like suspense.
What would become of him If
she died? Would he care deeply
after the first sharp grief? Would
he let it ruin his life? Would he
build shell around himself, like
Adam? Or would other women
bring him forgetfulnesS?
Women found him irresistible
that much had emerged from
the evenings questioning. But
what was his attitude toward
them2 Tolerant. | decided. He
liked to be admired. he enjoyed
his success But they were not in.
dispensable to him He had chosen
to love the most beautiful. the
most popular. in compliment per.
haps. to himself And. having
chosen. having planned. he was
being thwarted by the ilcontro-
vertible fact of death
Bachelor Quarters
I'LL put the car away if you
4 don't miad." he said in the
same patient, courteous voice.
assented quickly and we drove
into the long low shed behind the
massive brick building where the
bachelor officers lived. As he
helped me out | could feel his arm
tremble slightly. His hand was
cold and unpleasantly damp. He
was nearer. then, than | had sus-
pected. TO collapse.
Mrs. Flower and Adam were
Wdtkiu.s lOI QS Va tAlC uilSGA CGttCQ
front porch. vacant at this hour
except for a half-dozen battered
armchairs and rockers. Only the
hall lights were burning down.
stairs, and as we crossed the worn
strip Of carpet and started up the
stairway our low-voiced murmurs
seemed unnaturally loud. Barney
stumbled once. and echoes rolled
back endlessly from the empty
corridors. Adam unobtrusively
helped him to negotiate the re-
naming steps.
Mrs Flower for once was silent.
She was carrying the black velvet.
wrap which was still knotted and
tangled and much the worse for
wear: the velvet was creased and
f1attened. and great gray patches
showed where dust OF the vacant
room had been mopped up onto
its retentive surface. II was rathe,
q shame. thought-the wrap 81"
probably a priced possession 80