The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-09-12
Chapter IL
LOchinYar In Person


HECILY picked up her cup. It
~ danced on the saucer as she
put 1t back when he had spoken.
Philip Callen?" she repeated
slowly and with assumed sweet
ness. "Shall tell you my name or
shall make up one, too?"
Don't you like it?"
'Tt's too common. So many peo-
pie seem to have it. I won't insist
on your telling me. ] don't wish to
probe" she added sedately.
He leaned toward her ani-spoke
In a theatrical whisper:
Fhankee, lady. You've treated
me right and I'll do the same. I'm
a bad man from the wild West! I'm
wantedl The posse is after me for
holding I'D the stagecoach from
Beverly Hills to Los Angeles! But
] got a head start this mawnin'
Where am II"
Cecily laughed at his nonsense
and then, catching herself, she
said sarcastically, "Congratula-
tons, Jesse Jamesl This is the
rockbound coast Of Maine"
my, my, how time does fly! But
look here, ma'am. my name isn't
Jesse James"
I'm not good at guessin 6
games" she replied.
Now, let's us think Of some
thing more attractive. How about
Lochinvar? He was gallant West
erner."
"A bold one, too" she agreed,
and saw that it was nearly ten
thirty.
She got up.
I'm afraid that l can't offer you
my hospitality any longer" She
had forgotten that she hadn't Of
fered it in the first place.
He picked up hat that looked
as though it had seen rough trav-
cling across the country by pony
express.
Il don't like to turn you out into
the night. May I offer you a small
lnan?"
Cecily took two dollars from her
purse and held them out to him.
He looked at them slowly. Then
he looked at her face and some
thing warm came into her breast.
She thought: He likes mel
He bowed deeply and, with the
gesture. he took the bills, slipping
them careleSsly into his pocket.
Thank you" he said simply.
Merely a loan, of course"
He bowed again. Cecily could
have sworn that there was -four
ish to the manner in which he
swept his hat raklshly onto the
side of his head as he went off to-
ward the inn.
She closed the door in back of
her and set out homeWard toward
Darelea. forgetting the ball of
white yarn.
Unreality
THE rain had cleared away in
l. the night and the bright morn
ing sun fell on Cecily's eyes. walk
Ing her TO the day and a realiza-
ton that she anticipated that day.
She lay quiet for a few minutes
assembling the memory that elud-
ed her yet quickened her senses.
She felt eager and suddenly alive,
as though she wanted to go out to
meet something.
II was new feeling that per-
vaded her. and with it came a rush
Of clear thinking, of suddenly see
ing herself as she had been dur
ing the last weeks. She realized
that she had insulated herself
against the change that had come
into her life since the day that she
had learned she was no longer f.
nancially independent. She had
accepted things without making
them a part of her The only thing
that had been real was the found
ing of the shop.
She had refused to make herself
a vivid part of anything that was
happening to her. Everything had
had the quality of unreality..
And principally among these
was Philip Callen. Z
Philip Callen, even now, was
sleeping under the same roof. An
imposter-because he was there as
a guest. her aunt's welcome guest
because he was her "fiance."
Cecily thought: ! must do some
thing about it. ] will tell Aunt
Olivia the truth.
She was suddenly ashamed that
she had permitted the thing to get
on as il had. Yet. she reasoned
justly. il had done no harm. Philip
Callen had added UNNECESSARILY
10 the gayety of the household. He
made himself a useful and pleas
ant guest and he was we'll liked.
Allene Bixby made no secret
that she had crush on him. Karen
Willoughly had already invited
him-with Cecily, of ccurse-for a
weekend at her parents home at
southampton later in the season.
Cecily had decided to let it 90
on. Philip would surely not re-
main at Darelea for more than a
few days and when he left, it
would all be a forgotten incident.
A feeling of dislike and dis.rust
Of him thrust itsels into her
thoughts. She wanted to be fair,
and searched her mind for the