The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-10-06
Chapter 80
Odd Behavior

Odd Behavior
COMING toward them was tht
~ slight figure of a woman lean.
ing on the arm of tall young man
her face turned up to his.
Laura and Locke.
AS the two couples approached
each other the air was electric.
Cecily could feel Donald Hem
ingway stiffen. She was conscious
OF feeling two things in herself al
once: relief TO see that Laura was
safe. a quick stab of jealousy.
Laura's face had been turned ur
70 Locke's. the way that she
Cecily. had so often looked at him
Whatever Locke's reaction, none
Of them could tell.
Laura was nonplussed. She was
startled 10 see Donald there so I'M
expectediy. Cecily's presence hao
destroyed completely her joint
plan with Locke to tell her another
story. Waves of fiushes rose in her
cheeks. giving her look of blatant
guilt.
Hello She said. There was so
little else to say.
Hello" Cecily said.
Mice day for walking" Locke
commented. <.'-- -
They might all have met casual
~ on Fifth Avenue. Cecily said,
"Oh. Locke -. / -. don't believe
you know Mr. Hemingway"
- They bowed to each other.
Oh. If only | could call a taxi
and get into it. Cecily thought.
Why doesn't somebody say some
thingi Whv did people have to
look guilty?
Laura surprisingly, broke the
silence. Il was just coming in"
she said. at was such a beautiful
morning | couldn't resist the i'm
pulse to take a long walk. had
no idea il was so late. Then
then =. /. / happened to turn my
ankle and and Locke came
along and offered m his arm"
"Ohi Is il turned badly?" Cecily
inquired quickly. solicitously
Anything TO ease this strain. "Mr
Hemingway dropped in to take
you 10 lunch and | | thought
that we might walk out and pick
Yo'i IN at YOUR place"
Cccilv was thinking: Never
mind ihat YOU know Lauru hasn't
turned her ankle. Paw no atten-
ton 10 the thought that Laura's
eoit"ge was in another direction
''Oh. thank YOU. Donald I'm
Tn afraid that | can't lunch with
you today"
Donald murmured that he was
so-rv.
Cecilv thought that perhaps the
for Of them would spend the rest
of theiF lives. as an inanimate
group standing there by the road
side And how could she spend an
other minute there when she
couldn't meet Locke's eyes?
She had met them once and for
the first time since she had known
him. his lance had dropped be-
fore hers. After that she couldn't
loa': at him.
Funny how quickly a thought
can dart through your mind. You
can think: Laura is in her early
thirties. but she S as pretty as
young girl and men like Locke
could like girls like Laura. He
might have been attracted to her
all the time that he was coming
20 see mel
At last they began to move
along Donald walking as though
his legs were sticks and his mind
waS fixed on mortgages Mortgages
r. fnrecloSe. Cecily thought
Then Locke said. SISTER Anne!
Sister Annel What do see in the
distance? AS I live and breathe.
chHriot! Now. milady you shall
ride"
Specifies E.
GECILY YVES never so glad to see
~ anything in her life as the
ancient horse-drawn lumber wag-
on that hove into view and drew
up beside them.
Hi. Dodl" Apparently Locke
knew all the natives. We've got
a lady here who h an injured
ankle. Do you think you could
balance her on that plank that
serves as your carriage?"
Dod reckoned he could.
Very tenderly. Donald giving
no help. Locke assisted Laura to
a comparatively safe spot on the
single plank between the rear,
wheels.
when you get homeland you
must 90 home directly-put that
ankle in water as hot as you can
stand il and keep off il for the rest
OF the day. It'll be all right tomor-
row. I'm sure"
Cecily. anxious to escape, said.
81 had better 90 with Laura"
Laura said. ''Oh, il isn't neces-
ssry. Cecily."
ceeily couldn't believe her ears
"But I ="
'Locke's right. really ought to |
rest and III be good as new to-
morrow. You'd better get back to
the shop. Cecily."
Since I'm leaving you IN good |
hands. I'll be getting back to
work" Locke said, as Laura drove |
on. And with no more than a.wave
OF his hand he turned and walked |
back the way he and Laura had |
come.
Pinch me-" Cecily whispered ]
when she could get her voice. /