The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-12-14
Chapter %
Walk In The Woods

49, ~ WYE
MICHAEL, coming home after
1'A a narrowing day at the Office,
decided to leave Christabel at the
garage nearest the campus and
walk across to the Horseshoe. AS
he explained to Tuck later, Chris
labels congenital defect had
cropped up again. Her congenital
defect was a certain tendency
toward collecting, In some mys-
terious and wholly puzzling man.
ner, rust in her gas tank. No one,
not even the blackest and most
greasy mechanic could explain it.
When it happened, when sufficient
Of the rusty particles had climbed
warily into her bronchial tubes,
Christabel coughed and choked
and spluttered like an old lady
with the asthma and finally re-
fused to go until some ministerine
spirit had blown down her throat.
Michael passed through the pine
grove and turned to the right on
the path that led directly to the
back gate of the Murchison house.
AS he did so he saw before him on
the path the flutter of light skirt
and thought instantly that it was
Tuck, come to meet him. But be-
fore he could make out the identity
OF the skirts owner she had left
the path and turned off among the
trees along the river bank.
So Michael turned off the path
too, into the trees at the left, and
lodged quickly from tree to tree,
trying to keep Tuck-as he thought
in sight and not letting her see
him. Apparently she was out for
an afternoon constitutional. From
where she had left the path it was
ne lrly quarter of a mile to the
edge OF the river. but she traversed
II quickly - now and then he
caught the CLEAN of the sun on her
dress as he followed warily. At last
she reached the edge of the wood
and was walking out in the open;
and Michael halted as he came to
the edge of the shelter, and stood
there behind a big pine watching
her, for he had realized at his first
clear glimpse of her that this was
not Tuck. but an older woman with
whitening hair - Alix LiSSey. He
was about to turn and slip silently
off to the path again. having nc de-
sire to talk with her or be seen by
her; then he saw what she was
doing.
Miss Lissey was making her way
through the underground and over
the rocks very slowly: bent double
as if she had lost something and
was looking earnestly for it. But
the strange part of her searching
was that she was doing it with one
of those large reading glasses to
be found on most elderly desks
Sermons in stones and good in
everything. Michael muttered.
Once in while she got right
down on her knees and surveyed
the rocks with extreme care: and
again she would stand and stare
ahead of her for several moments
before progressing a step.
Now what in the devil" Mi.
chael asked himself. rubbing his
chin. lis she looking for?"
He moved silently along the
wood as Miss Lissey moved. It was
slow going. Eventually she hao
reached the end of the stretch Of
ground In which she seemed to be
Interested. Here larger gully
came down into the river. its bank:
thickly wooded, and she did MOI
descend into it, Rather she dropped
the glass into her pocket and went
out to the very edge of the river
cliff, which here was sheer anC
stark. gray rock dropping straight
into the river. She shaded her eye!
and looked up. stream. along the
bank. She looked down stream
Then she peered earnestly acros.
the river. deep and swift here. anc
widening after the rapids above
Her pose was one of complete alb
sorption. of tense interest.
Michel moved restlessly anC
stepped on 9 twig.
Spying On Me-
1T CRACKED like the sound of q
i shot through the still afternoon
and Alix Lissey swung round from
her contemplation Of the land.
scape. Her hand was pressed to hel
breast; her face was chalk white
There was utter horror in her eyes
She saw him. Afterward he re
allied that she could not possibly
have recognized him In that mo
ment; what she saw was man, Z
blur Of white face and dark clothes
lurking there among the trees spy,
ing on her. The sight unnerved hel
completely She put q shaking
hand over her mouth, but she made
no attempt to run; rather she stood
there as the rabbit might have
stood, confronted with a snake
Michael remembered that. too. al
terward.
He stepped out from under thu
trees
Sorry il / frightened you, Mis-.
Lissey," he said apologetically.
She stared at him.
81 thought you were my wife
out for walk. and ! followed you,
he explained, as she still seemed
unable to talk.
She dropped her hand. Tn,
rouge on her cheeks stood out II
two brilliant hectic spots.
rIt's a beautiful day. isn't it,
Michael continued. stepping on
beside her. She drew q deep breath
and Strengthened her shoulders.
Il thought you were "A bear.
she said angrily.
"Bear7 Are there bears in thes.
uvoods7"