The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-12-01

l
after a. moment. "When is DR.
Murchison coming back?"
81 don't know. As matter Of
| fact, I didn't know he was going
He's rather a queer duck. Re.
served.s His wife could tell you
She's a good looking woman,
Michael said.
l. tim. She's very vivacious."
There was another silence. Then
"You may think ! appear unduly
interested in the Murchisons." Mi
chael said, "but l heard a very
strange rumor the other day. I've
been thinking as we sat here that
! ought to tell you about it. 1t isn't
the sort of thing -" he paused.
"Rumor? About the Murchi-
sons?"
about DR.. Murchisen. heard
| that Murehison was quite ladies'
man at heart. underneath his cyni-
cism, and that he had :. taken a
lady with him on this trip"
| McBain stared at him incredu-
lousy, then snorted angrily. Il
never heard such nonsense in my
life" he said. "He was the last man
in the world to have that said of
him. He wasn't in the least in
terested in women. I'd be willing
to take my oath that he has never
looked at a woman other than his
| wife. Since he's lived next door to
me for three years, and since I've
| been working with him constantly,
I think I am qualified to judge"
"It's strange how rumors start"
''Did your informant go so far
as to mention the name of any
woman?"
mo. Perhaps he didn't mean to
be taken seriously. He was prob
ably angry because Murchison had
plucked him. I'm glad you've put
me straight"
McBain subsidized into his chair.
II should like to deal with any such
scandal-mongers," he said. IF
you hear any more rumors, refer
the person who starts them to me,
will you, Forester? / can't have
a respectable colleagues charac-
ter set upon like that. And, it's
damned bad for the University"
High And Low
MRS. DEANE'S voice broke in
At1 upon them. won't you gen.
tlemen come to supper, please?
It's almost ready" She held the
door open invitingly.
The table, under the shaded
candles, was dark shining pool,
upon whose surface lace and sill
yer made intricate patterns. At
one end, Mrs. Murchison was sit
ting with the score cards spread
before her. She added them and
checked them, and as the rest sat
down she looked up and around
the table until she saw Devoe.
Jared" she called. "you seem
to have two score cards. Neither
is signed, but they are both in
your very writing"
He went around beside her.
THAT'S mine," he showed her. 1T
looks as If were low. doesn't it,"
perhaps the other one is mine"
said Mrs. McBain suddenly. 81 do
believe I forgot to sign il"
"It must be; there seems to be
no other here for you. Then that
is all. l am ready, Mrs. Deane."
Mrs Deane handed them over to
her husband. "You read them out,
please" she said. Numbers al
ways confuse me-"
He peered at them closely. "Dr.
McBain seems to be high" he said
after a pause. "And-really, my
dear, does one always tell whose
score is low? It seems hardly the
part of etiquette"
"You don't need to read it out"
said Tuck despondently. II know.
It's NINE"
The rest Of the evening went;
banteringly, lightly, yet to the
three who had come to watch. to
listen and to gather impressions,
every sentence, every smile, was
Questioned closely and remem-
bered. And Just as supper was
over Mrs. Deane's rambling
tongue touched upon the most sur
prising thing of all.
She looked across the table at
Mrs. Murchison, at the moment
sparkling up at Michael, and said
calmly, 81 do wish. you'd worn
your necklace, Mrs. Murchison. I
do think it's so beautiful"
There was something in that
dark face that reminded Tuck Of
the episode of the pipe.
my necklace?"
eyes. the lovely diamonds you
wore on Christmas Eve, at the
faculty dance. I don't suppose you
would wear it at an informal party
but" her voice went on and
on. Tuck's eyes went quickly to
every face around the table. Dun
can Murchison was stony, i'm
movable. The McBains, sitting
next him, were untroubled and
went on eating calmly. Jared De-
voc was smiling at his cousin. Old
Mrs. Devoe sat unwinkingly, her
fork poised in her hand. But Miss
Lissey was staring at her plate,
her eyes shielded against the light.
Mrs. Deane finished.
ooh" Mrs. Murchison said with
out excitement. Those weren't
diamonds. Mrs. Deane. Only bril-
liants, they are. could not think
what you were meaning. Surely,
if you liked it. I will wear it
again."
Mr.. Deane coughed behind his
hand. ''They were very fine bril-
liants," he said. my wife called
my attention to them. Twelve Of
them, was it not? On a .chain?"
YES, I believe that is right"
She put her hand to her throat
suddenly. II got them in Paris a
year or two ago.
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