The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-10-05
Chapter 81
A Secret

IN GJCCECk
4 AURA opened her eyes and the
sunlight striking the eyeballs
struck darts Of sharp pain straight
through her skull, making the pit
OF her stomach feel squeasy. She
stretched her aching legs out ex-
perimentally and the hard cot be-
meath her felt like board. She
twisted her head around to look
at the unfamiliar room.
She saw that her shoes were
neatly placed under the chair. Her
white coat was folded and placed
over the back of it. Her pocket
book and wrist-watch lay on the
top. She picked I'D the watch and
.squinted at it. The effort to see
pierced her head with another
pain.
II must have stopped, she
thought: it can't be after twelve!
She sat up and called weakly.
~Yoo-hooi"
I'm right here. Laura. Stay
where 70 are and I'll bring you
up VI ted.
Laura stayed where she was,
suddenly longing for the tea.
In less than ten minutes, Locke
SAID. "Okay to come in?"
~Okay."
+ Good" He parted the curtain
and brought her a tray on which
there was a steaming cup of tea
and two pieces of quite present
able toast.
Get this under your belt and
you'll feel better" he said.
Laura slipped the tea gratefully
without speaking. Then she broke
of a corner of the toast, found
that II was good and devoured the
rest of it.
You're right-my belt does feel
better now" she said.
Lets have look at the head?"
She bent her head forward
obligingly and Locke, with gentle
fingers explored the lump at the
back below her ear. sIts gone
down but il was a nasty one! Might
have been much more serious, too.
Do you see any spots before your
eyeS2"
Laura blinked. mo, feel fine.
was dizzy when ! woke UP but
the tea worked a miracle"
Take your time; there's no
rush."
"Oh. Locke. I'm SO sorry. This is
your only bed. isn't it?"
mot at all. have a good blan-
ket and the whole outdoors. Sleep
ing under the stars is an old habit
of mine. I'm afraid that you
weren't very comfortable"
1t was grand of you to let me
have it. Shall we talk about last
nigft2"
There doesn't seem to be any,
thing to say. guess we covered it
all pretty well last night. You say
you haven't the least idea how it
was done? You saw no one? You
were coming along the road lust
this side Of Soderson's when sud-
denly you Want out cold and you
didn't come TO until found your"
That's right. Don't you think |
cocld have stumbled over
stana2"
"fall OIL your face and have a
bump on the back of your head? 1t
isn't likely. Laura. That has all the
earmarks of a man aimed blow.
Now ran you see why | had to
take you into my confidence and
why you can't say anything at all
about III We've got secret. Laura.
End | want you to promise that
i.neLer no circumstances will you
breathe II to one person. Say Moth
1nS-no matter what happens! [
may be wrong. but ] don't think |
am. and I'm counting on you to see
me through Will you?"
Darn Sweet Girl
ct all sounds fantastic, Locke,
but I'll yes. I'll see you
through"
They shook hands solemnly.
"Now I've got to get to the viii
lsge. Cecily win be worrying
about me. I'm sure she expected
me early this morning. I'll tell her
] oversight"
Think we ought to bandage up
that head?"
Good heavens. no! don't want
70 60 back to town looking like the
spirit of TO-"
I'm walk as far as the junction
OF the road with you. You look
pretty white"
Laura looked at herself in the
mirror from her handbag. 81 look
quite blooming, or at least l will
when get some rouge on. No one
would ever know what feel like"
Locke was troubled. "You ought
20 drop in and see the Doc"
Nonsense! What's little blow
on the head2"
I'm afraid I'm going to have
trouble before Pm through, Laura,
and ] don't want to have any with
you"
You won't" she promised.
Laura, :" Locke appeared
20 be embarrassed. Cecily's Locke!
t'Yes?p
'You know what you might be
getting in for. don't your"
You're a darn sweet girl. Mrs.
Atwill."
Laura sent him out with the tray
and got UP. She tidied her hair as
best she could, got her shoes on
and went into the small kitchen
TO wash. Then when she was ready
and steady, she said. I'D better be
getting on back"