The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-12-30
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school in Omaha last year and she
wanted to keep in practice"
when was this?" Adam asked
sharply. Il mean, how long did
she have it?"
Il don't remember-two or three
weeks. What are you getting at?"
Adam told him about the note,
and we sat there glarin' at one
another in utter hopelessness.
I'm Omaha last winter, too" ]
pointed out. "She couldn't-surely
she wasn't Leslie Curtis?"
Adams shrug expressed COM
plete baffiement.
who else would be likely to
use it," he asked Charlie. do you
know where she kept it?"
Il saw it in her fathers den to-
/ night-where we put our caps. I
don't know-mayEe her old man
used it, or her mother. Or she
would have loaned it to anybody
who asked her. She waS-gener-
Gus"
The telephone was ringing in
the downstairs nall.
Orderly gone to bed?" Adam
asked. "I'll get it"
We listened to his quick steps
on the stairs, then sat in silence
waiting, growing more and more
constrained. Adam did not return
and it came to me that he was pur-
purposely absenting himself.
My mood grew bleak and the
silence unbearable. Charlie got up
and began to prowl around the
room, kicking magazines out of his
way. Presently he stopped behind
my chair, not touching me.
Men Are Like That
THERE'S not much l can say, is
L there?" he asked finally.
NO" | said. .There isn't" felt
completely calm and unmoved.
There isn't a girl in thousand
could understand" he began.
Cynically admired his APP
proach.
"And I'm not the thousand and
first" | added politely.
saw, Red, don't be so hard" His
hand touched my cheek expert
mentally.
"PleaSe!"
Involuntarily ] sprang to my
feet and faced him across the
empty chair. hadn't actually de-
cided what to do-there had been
no time to think about it; but I
found was taking off his ring.
! felt rather silly holding it out
to him, being melodramatic. And
he looked so angrily stricken by
the gesture. -.
He made no move to take it, and
my hand dropped to my side. He
turned and walked away from me
toward the bedroom door. 3 4
Come here" he said roughly
over his shoulder Il want to show
you something" He stopped, bar
ring my way for moment. cts
in a mesS-you can see wasn't ex-
pecting you. So maybe you'll be-
lisve / really keep it there"
He stepped aside and let me
look.
The tall mahogany chest Of
drawers was in Undesirable dis
order. All kinds Of male apparel
overlooked the half-open drawers
and cascaded to the floor. The sum-
NIT resembled a section Of strait
fed rock. layer upon layer of mis-
cellany. And above 1t, ii solitary
dignity, was my picture.
He must have detected traces of
softening. for he broke into eager
speech.
'Tt wasn't important. Red. Men
are like that. She was--attractive."
He swallowed painfully. looked
as if he were going to cry. ~ was
fond Of her. too. in way. But she
never had your place."
] stood there. the ring clasped
loosely in my hand. half believing
him, rejecting that some men are
like that all their lives, and won
dering il ! could face it.
lie misinterpretci my silence.
If you're just mad because /
gave her the typewriter"
Gave it? thought you said you
loaned 1t TO her."
"Well--same thing. / wouldn't
have asked for It back. The poor
kid needed one and you said your
self it was a wreck.
Maybe some of you remember
how you felt about your first car
the car you named Betsy 30 you
could exhort II by name up the
sleeper hills: the car that got to
be a member Of the family, with i
stout heart under its battered tin,
with feelings that could be hurt
when a newer model passed Il.
The car that was driven for so
many years that turning il in was
like trading Aunt Jane or Grand
pa for a younger. haadsomer rela-
tive.
Those OF you who remember that
feeling will understand about the
and why I had not let
the salesman take it and give me
the allowance. I reminded myself,
now. ttat I had sold ii to Charlie
he had even insisted on paying me
i've dollars on account. The
was his property 10 dis
pose of as he chose. II was ridicu-
louS of me 10 mind.
But | did mind-for the monet
| minded frightfully. The smoid-
ering fire of resentment and hui
initiation which | had kept under
outward control all evening broke
suddenly into flame at this further
evidence of his perfidy.
fcopVFishf. 1883. virriatd RaasonJ