The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-10-12
Chapter 81
End Of The Season

End OF The Season
Mt NOON, Laura came in alone
"A ~cecily," she said without
preamble, Donald Is waiting fol-
me az the inn. We've been to see
Locke and want you to 60 and
See him yourself"
~W-what will I say to him?"
81 can't tell you. You'll know
what 70 say. can't say anything
else. But please believe that you
can trust Donald"
as Is everything all right?
] mean you and Donald-?"
Laura smiled broadly. Every
thing Is all right between me and
Donald. And. Ceci1y -"
Eyes"
Don't expect men to have faith
and remainder thas women. need
f." she said graphically. While
Ceciiy was trying to formulate
questions. she turned and was
gone.
They kno1l" Cecily said softly.
Her knees actually knocked to-
gether as she approached Locke's
cabin. Her pulse beat wildly In her
throat and her back felt spineless.
She pushed on. Her rubber-soled
shoes made her approach on the
porch noiseless. She raped on the
door, her feeble knocks sounding
Like thunder in her ears.
-Come inI" Locke called cheer
fully.
She pushed open the door. He
was sitting before a typewriter.
Papers Uttered the table.
%Oh, heiloP he said. Excuse
the litter" He collected the papers
hastily, sweeping them up from
his only other chair. II didn't ex-
pect company. ] was er :.
writing some reports"
Cecily stood backed against the
door. Now that she was here she
couldn't find any words in her dry
throat. She felt rigid. paralysis in
her limbs.
won't you sit down? 1 might
even invite you to lunch it you'll
Please. Lockel"
He saw that she was trembling,
made a step toward her.
mo. please" she said. Don't
come any nearer"
What's wrong?" he asked, his
face gone somber.
you know" she accused.
Perhaps I don't" he said slow
~. "Or perhaps don't want TO be-
heve il. Why did you come here?"
She swallowed. unable to say II
Her eyes. dark and steady. did not
leave his face.
do you want to hear me say
that am a theft" he asked, his
voice controlled. And when she
didn't answer:
''Or did you come TO tell me that
lam one?"
NO." she whispered.
His face relaxed then. His voice
was very gentle when he said,
did you come. to warn me. Ce-
eily?"
PernapSs
"And for what else?"
ITO hear you deny It" she said
50 low that he could hardly hear
her.
Only Your Heart
LIE LAUGHED. with no mirth.
l. \ "A woman's faith is beauti-
ful thing"
Laura had told her she must
have faith.
will you tell me who you are?
What you're doing here?"
He shook his head slowly.
I'll believe you, whatever you
say" she pleaded. 81 don't seem to
have any pride left. don't know
what you're thinking at this mo-
ment-l don't carel ] may never
see you again but want you to
tell me the truth. I want you to
deny itl''
He turned away from her, forag-
ing among the papers for crum-
pied package Of cigarettes. He lii
one deliberately. put II down on
the edge Of the table and came to-
ward her.
This time she did not-could not
resist when he tilted her chin as
he had before. looked into her
eyes and sn1iled slowly. wFyay. I,
-I'll tell you nothing. Cecily.
For your own good.
She waited Tor him to say more.
His hand fell away from her
chin. His eyes went to q point be-
You'd her..
She was thinking: This Is the
end. my darling. you must speakl
You're tearing my heart to piecesl
Now know why women stick to
their men whatever they have
done. Only speak,
THE only thing I wanted 70
steal was your heart" he said al
last.
Instead. you found an emer-
aidi"
His only answer was a lifted
eyebrow.
"And then you W ere afraid
Well, the emerald is back whert
Il belongs Now you can COL Gel
cut OF Vickerspora never want
% see you aeainl" .
She found the door : knob
wrenched the door open and rar
out before he could see her tears
She stumbled on the dusty road
running. -.
The motors were Still arriving
81 Darelea. They were parked two
deep in the drive as. Tar bac!. o!
the garage as the foot Of the gar