The Key West citizen., 1939-10-10


mood.
She ran down the steps and
along the walk, the breeze whip
ping her fragile frock. She leaned
back against the rail and looked
at the stars. Then her arms felt
cold and she turned to 60 back.
She took a step and halted. her
heart in her mouth g4te
There on the back steps of the
club, peering into the /, oom
through the window where she
had sat. was a single, furtwe fig
ure. A long, lanky figure with a
hat pulled over its face. She
watched it bend and straighten.
Locke!
She trie d to run. The wind,
catching her skirts, impeded her
progress. Angrily, she kicked them
out Of her way, clutched them so
that she could run. She was angry,
excited
She dared not call out. There
was something - everything - in
the line of that figure that told her
he did not want to be discovered.
When she was almost at The begin
ming of the dock. she did call:
"Yoo-hoo!"
She saw him straighten. turn to-
ward her.
"It's Cecily!" she called back.
She was thinking: If he knows
who / am he won't ru.. away.
She began to run blin dly.
Throwing all caution, all pride. to
the winds. If he went away she
would never see him again. What
difference did it nj a ke If he
thought she was throwing herself
at him?
She saw him turn back to look
in the window, saw him raise his
hand. He was signaling to her. Her
foot found the first step.
Then she stumbled. Her high
heel caught in the wooden step.
She let herself fall, instinctively
saving herself from ',yrenching her
ankle.
When she scrambled to her feet.
he was gone!
Lost
CHE hurried up the steps, looked
- right and left frantically on the
veranda where he had been. Their
she ran to the corners, peering into
the darkness. There was no sight
of him to be seen.
She saw her coat where she had
left it over the back of the chair
near the window. She reached in
and got it. wrapped it around her
shoulders and took a path off the
side of the clubhouse.
She walked as far as the road
and then turned back. She was
thoroughly chilled. She wanted a
hot drink and to see Laura.
The music has stopped. She
heard the roll of the drum. That
meant the supper dance was fin
ished and she wanted to find Laura
before the couples paired off for
supper. It was a good two minutes
after the roll of the drum that she
got to the clubhouse door.
She found the lounge rooms de-
serted. The crowd had not yet left
the dance floor. Cecily made her
way toward them.
When she got to the door, Mr..
Lochran, chairman of the dance
committee, was leaving the or
chestra stage and the dancers were
turning to each OF her, looking
down at the floor, separating care
fully, picking their steps.
What's the matter?" she asked
man near her.
"Mrs. Goodale has lost a valu-
able necklace"
Lost it?"
eyes, She. just missed it. The
committee is going to search the
floor while we have supper"
Cecily wet her dry lips.
Laura. Where was Laura?
Cecily turned just in time to see
Laura slipping in the same door
through which she had come. Geo
lily made a quick slide on the poll
ished floor and caught Laura by
the arm.
Where have you been?" shs
whispered.
II went out went to the
car. couldn't find my vanity and
thought I'd left it there. What's all
the fuss here? What's the matter2"
Cecily dragged her aside, out of
the way of the people leaving the
dance floor. as gt
Mrs. Goodale has lostaher en-
erald necklace"
Laura's mouth dropped open.
Lost it?" she breathed with the
same emphasis Cecily had put on
the word.
That's what she says" Cecily
said, keeping her eye on Laura's
telltale cheeks where the quick
color came and went swiftly.
We'll then, why not? What's
being done about it,"
THE committee is going to
search the room. Laura Atwill,
have you seen anyone here tonight
who wasn't invited?"
Don't ask me, Cecily," Laura
pleaded. 81. / think I'll 90 along
and leave my wrap. I'm starved.
Philip was looking for you a little
while back. He SAYS YOU'RE having
supper with him."
"All right" Cecily said, turning
away, u can do with something
hot. I've been out having look at
the moon and I'm frozen"
"How was the moon?" Philip
asked, guiding her to a table in. a
far corner of the lounge where
Gloria and Tony and the boys had /:
already corralled supper for them.
Gold. Very cold. / hope you
don't mind if I keep by coat on
while get de-frozen?" i
II want you to be comfortable
he answered gallantly.