The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-09-28

4 IdtllGl QllJ1Cdodilt LII a lew ll411~
utes. Lady Rathbone was so deter
mined to make it unpleasant"
Olivia said thoughtfully, at all
seems very strange. Lady Rath-
bone was certain that she had left
her pin in her jewel case. She told
me it was family heirloom, in
addition to being worth a consid-
cradle sum. ] don't believe that
she would be so ungracious, or so
unbalanced in her point of view,
to state the case wrongfully."
"On the other hand, Olivia"
Helene said reasonably, Mrs.
Brewster was equally certain she
had. She knew her guests and she
knew her servants. And she had
every right to believe that Lady
Rathbone was mistaken. Why
should we all be disturbed about
it?"
eve shouldn't" Olivia agreed.
'We've had a very pleasant eve
ming, up to point, and suggest
that we forget it. It's all quite i'm
possible. Things like that just
don't happen in Vickersport. {.
Anyone feel like a little bridge
when we get homer"
Tony said softly for Cecily to
hear, SIN glad didn't give way
to my impulse to explore the
ladies' dressing room before din
ner. I'd be sure to be accused.
Would you say I had any of the
earmarks of a Raffies?"
Gall of them" Cecily retorted
obligingly, "even to getting sus-
picion away from yourself. Didn't
you announce before we left that
you had missed sapphire brace
let? That's supposed to be part OF
the plant"
Tony brought her full glance to
bear on Cecily. $50, it is" she said
slowly. $50 i: is. Things like that
don't happen in Viekersport!
Maybe we'd better look into it
when we get back"
"Count me out. AS a detective,
Pm very good librarian" Cecily
said. She disliked any echo of the
unpleasantness. 1t made her feel
as though she wanted to get into
tub of water and wash away the
thought of it.
The big house at Darelea looked
pleasant, warm, inviting, after the
strained atmosphere they had
left. The brief charm of the Old
World 1uaintness that Cecily had
enjoyed earlier in the evening
was dispelled by the ugly sus-
picion that had invaded it later.
The girls went upstairs to leave
their wraps.
Philip and Manuel were already
getting out the bridge tables and
cards.
When Cecily came downstairs,
Gloria was saying, Lets have
little gayety to get the cold out of
our bones. Could we have high
balls, Mother?"
Olivia nodded to Philip who
went to the dining-room and re-
turned with a tray of bottles and
glasses.
Tony came running downstairs.
81 found my bracelet" she an
nounced. "Itwas lying right on my.
bed. can't imagine how Iscould
have been so careless as to leave
it there! I'm rather fond of it.
It's an expensive trifie."
Il told you you'd fird it." Philip
said. bringing her glass. ,
Cecily shuffled the cards. Nov
everything is all right" she said.
"Shall we cut for partners?"
Nothing Wrong
tCECILY opened her. eyes,
~ stretched, curling her toes like
cat, extending her arms in a
rigid movement. Then she lay re-
Taxed. Her eyes felt clear, re-
freshed, as though thc early morn
ing sunshine. warm with crisp
edges, were a celestial bath.
Out of doors, she heard the
proud cackle of a hen, the tinkle
of cowbells in the meadow beyond
the pines. The cry of seagulls rose
on the clear air. The sweet smell
of hay mingled with the lavender
scent of her bed-sheets.
NIGEL NIGEL Nicep she said, as
though she were biting into the
word with pleasure.
She turned her head to look at
the clock on her bedside table. It
was only seven.
For few moments she thought
Of the night before, of Lady Rath-
bones cold, angry face. Then she
dismissed it. Surely. in the clear
beauty of this newday, that would
be righted. There was nothing
Iswrong--could be nothing wrong
on day like this-that the day
would not clear up.
She let her thoughts swing in
the inevitable circle back to yes
terday.
1t was no good trying to stay in
bed any longer. Cecily hoped
out, grasped the foot-rail of her
bed, bent, twisted her body in ex-
ercises like a dancer limbering
up. Then she plunged her arms
into the cold water she had poured
into the washbowl and splashed il
on her face. She dried It hastily.
rubbing her skin until it glowed.
Hunger FASTENED her as she
dressed. / would have made a good
pioneer wife, she thought. I like
to get up early in the morning. I
love the out of doors. I'd get meals
| on time lust because I'm always
| hungry.
Mrs. Batson was not in the
kitchen. Wouldn't be TO. an hour.
Into small tin pail Cecily poured
a glass of thick cream from the
crock where it had been left at
dawn. Then she went out to the
barn and foraged in the hay. She
| found q .half-dozen eggs, still
warm. and put them in a paper
! bag.
| With her booty, she struck out
| the back way toward the beach.
In long strides she covered the
| SUan0fh StOros crrorol,lod Yrv> !,