The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-09-08

| MOOD on the Deach.
Cecily Stuart thrust her hands
deeper in the pockets of her rain
coat and tossed her head back as
though to absorb it all more fully.
Her footsteps quickened on the
wet sands. but she was reluctant
to leave the solitude and the
stormy scene.
1t brought back to her other
stormy days on another shore.
Days that seemed remote to her
now because then there had been
no urgency of time. They had been
carefree and filed with compan-
ionShip. She was suddenly lonely
for them, for Doug, for security
and freedom.
Oh, she had freedom now and
a kind of security, and as long as
she did not think of her tomorrows
she was happy enough. But she
could not long put off thinking of
tomorrows, because now she was
growing up. Now she had the shop.
but after that
The shop. She must get back to
it. Mrs. Wilkerson, a new guest at
the inn was coming in to get a nest
of baskets she had ordered and
they were yet to be vanished.
The silvery rain fell heavier.
Great drops splashed on Cecily's
face. Thunder rolled distantly and
Cecily, looking at the sky, thought:
I'd better get back to the shop be-
fore it begins in earnest. Not that
anyone will venture out today for
a book.
She left the beach, and, with a
sudden thought. turned toward the
inn. She'd leave word for Mrs.
Wilkerson that she would finish
the baskets the next day and de-
liver them. The varnish wouldn't
dry in the dampness anyway that
day.
Mrs. Keefer, by now an old
friend, was at the desk.
Well, Cecily, what brings you
out on a day like this?"
I'm playing hockey" Cecily
answered and shook some of the
rain drops off. II love this weather
and business was bad so I took a
walk. I'm on my way back now so
thought I'd drop in to leave word
for one of your guests that I'll de-
liver her order tomorrow. It's for
Mrs. Wilkerson."
Laura Returns
THERE'S no rush about that,
L Cecily. The Wilkersons paid
week in advance today so they'll
be here that long anyway. They
went out little while ago. Where's
Mrs. Atwill? haven't seen her for
a week"
She's been in Boston. I rather
thought she'd get back today. Well,
I'd better get along. Don't forget
the message, will your"
1t was mid-afternoon but dark
as late dusk when Cecily got back
to her shop. And, as usual when
there was a thunderstorm, the
electric lights were off. She lit the
kerosene lamps and the candles in
tall holders. She got out the bas-
kets and put on her smock.
Mice work." she murmured, in
specting them. Shed sold an even
dozen of the big fruit baskets
which she had painted with mod
erniStic designs. The profits had
helped to diminish the debt that
was nearly paid back in these few
weeks. When the autumn came,
she would have a few hundred
dollars clear profit if the shop con-
tinued to flourish as it had.
The thunder rolled heavily
overhead but she was happily un-
aware of it as she welded her
paint-bush and mentally COM
posed the glowing letter that she
was going to write to Doug.
Suddenly the candles sputtered
and there was a quick draft that
blew the papers on the screen back
of which she was working.
| "Yoo-hoo!"
"Laural Darling, never did ex-
pect you in all this!" She FASTENED
forward to take Laura Atwill's
drenched coat.
81 was anxious to get back,
Laura said, taking off her rubbers.
Boston was horrible in the heat
and hot rain and I've been think
ing about the shop all the while
I was away. Tell me the news
quickly"
"Then you'll have to come to
the back of the shop, Laura, for
I've got to get these baskets var
nished. Sold two of them to Mrs.
WilkerSon at the inn."
"a new customer" Laura said.
"Good! Who else, and what else?"
Everything has been up to
schedule but no new customers ex-
cept the WilkerSons. And she's
been wonderful but she takes up
too much of my time"
ooh, the Wilkersons!" Laura
said suddenly. 1.-THE woman who
dresses like Dietrich and the hus-
band who looks like a movie viii
lain!"
eyes, how did you know? They
weren't here when you went
away"
"They were here last summer.
remember them very well. OF
all places In Vickersport, they
went to Mrs. Jonathan Brewster
and asked her if she would like
to rent them her house for this
season. imagined"
"They don't look like the type
of people who'd be interested in
that house. Grand it may be. but
I say it's gloomy"
"Mrs. Brewster said they looked
to her like a couple of interna-
tional thieves and she was sure
they came just to see where her
silver was hidden"