The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-10-03
Meet MI. L!.oellinvur
81 Marie BHZdrd

AV6b Wi
9 Blizzard
| felt infinitely weary and the pros
pect of sitting up in drug store
eating ice-cream seemed a waste
of precious energy.
The clerk said, "What'n it be?"
They played handles over their
sodas. Gloria tried a trick. building
a structure of matches. Tony stared
out the window. Suddenly she
grabbed Gloria's arm.
There he isl" she said.
who? You nearly ruined my
beautiful edifice, just when I had
at leasta hundred matches -"
"The man that got off the bus!
Look, over there by the gas station.
The one. in white fiannels Isn't he
cute?" ''@
Cecily put down her straw and
followed Tony's stare. She had to
bend her head to see past the glass
jar in the drugstore window to the
brilliantly lighted gas station.
And there. calmly leaning
against the gas pump. looking as
though he'd stepped out of FASH
ion page, his long legs in spot
less hannels, his broad, lean shoul-
ders smoothly encaSed in rough,
careless tweeds was Mr.. Lochin-
var.
"The brute!" Cecily muttered
under her breath.
You're In Love-
IGECILY'S dustcloth flicked an
~ grily over her bookshelves. Her
gestures were more energetic than
thorough. Resolutely. she kept her
eyes from the street.
She inspected the hearth, found
a few escaped wood chips and
brushed them up. Then she stood
poised in the middle of the room
and swept it with her gaze.
Laura said, "You might borrow
a step ladder and have go at the
ceiling. It's the only point you've
missed"
Cecily found an ash tray that
she had overlooked. She took it to
the back and scrubbed it, polished
it with cloth and, bringing it
back, plopped herself down dis
conSolately in big chair.
Laura said, 81 don't mean to
probe, darling, but would you like
to tell me what brought this out
burst on? You've been cleaning
the daylights out of everything
around here. That's a well-known
feminine gesture for getting things
off your mind"
There isn't anything on my
mind" Cecily said miserably.
Laura shrugged her shoulders.
'Then, let's just call it one Of
those days. It's after six and !
don't suppose there'll be anyone
along now. Why don't you run
along? I'll stay around for another
half hour"
ut is after six?" Cecily asked.
Then suddenly she dropped her
head down on the arm of the chair
and tears spilled over.
Instantly Laura's arms were
around her: Laura's voice made
soothing sounds. The Sobbing in
creased and when Cecily had cried
herself out, when her nose was
pink and her eyes swollen, she let
Laura battle them with cold water.
Il feel better now" she said,
making an effort to recapture her
dignity. II suppose you think I'm
acting like little IDIOT"
mot at all, dear. Only haven't
the least idea what it's all about.
I'd like to help you if you'll let me-"
Cecily tried to speak. She
wanted to tell Laura about the
state of her jumbled mind. II
wasn't easy; Cecily had never
been part of her code to keep
things to herself. But the code was
an old one that belonged to that
part of her life before she had
grown up.
tits about Locke" she blurted
out.
IT thought so. You're in love
with him, aren't you, Cecily?"
Il don't know" she replied, try.
ing to be honest. Perhaps you can
tell me-"
Laura shook her head slowly, "If
you are, won't have to tell you.
Do you think he's in love with
your"
Cecily nodded negatively and
two big tears spilled over again.
'Of course he lsn'tr 1 guess i was
just silly to imagine that he felt
anything for me-" 81
But why be so unhappy about
it? Nothing has happened.S
But it hasl Don't you see,
Laura? You don't take this Brew
ster matter Importantly, but have
tol don't know anything about
Locke. He hasn't even told me his
name. Locke? What kind ola name
is that2 And :. and ] have some
thing to confess. When heard he
had gone off suddenly to Bangor
oh, you know what was thinking
II was afraid that he was guilty.
! went to his cabin"
"Cecily, you didn'tI'
81 know it was a dreadful thing
to do, Laura. but I simply had to
know. And at his place ! found
something"
Laura's eyes were round as sau-
GERS. "Guns?"
Cecily had to laugh. mo, Laura.
nothing like that. But / did find
English-made suits-not the sort
of thing he wears around here-a
pigskin bag that shrieked Bond
Street and I. and two black pearl
studs"
$50, is that supposed to make
him out an international crook?"
Laura demanded matter of-factly.
Cant a man ovvY1 studs and deca,,f