The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-08-26
Chapter Eight
Number Three

JULIA grew almost cheerful as
" we played bridge with Adam
and Gerald. Around eleven jeff
came in, spoke briefly and went
up to his rooms. Julia threw down
a half-played hand.
"Now l can go home" she said
and stood up.
HAS Felicia come back?" l
asked Adam.
Il haven't seen her. She must
be doing the town."
Then | think Julia should stay
with me. I'm sure the War De-
partment would frown on my I'M
chaperoned state"
Julia hesitated. I'll telephone
Mimi" she said and went inside.
She came back presently to re-
port that, although Mimi was still
out, Sandra had urged her to stay.
She, Sandra. was going right to
bed; and the cook was there, in
case she needed anything.
Never mind manners" Julia
observed to no one in particular
"Pll stay"
1t must have been some hours
later that / woke from a deep
sleep to see Julia bending over
me.
Someone at the side window"
she whispered. What shall we
do?"
4 listened and heard it too. A
scrabbling sound and then finger
nails rasping on the screen.
sat up and put my feet on the
floor. | had no plan. The rooms
around us were unoccupied, eX-
cept for Felicia Bridewell's, and
had not heard her come in. If |
screamed probably every man IN
the building would come streak
ing down in their pajamas and
the prowler would fade into the
night, leaving us to make lame
explanations. That might require
living down. On the other hand, if
Icould quietly summon Adam
The fact that did not know
the location of his rooms occurred
to me before was halfway to the
corridor door. don't know what
] would have done, for at that
moment ! heard a most reassuring
"Damn!" in stage whisper from
the window: and a second lat
er-
"Kayl For heavens sake wake
up and unlatch this screen!"
For a moment | thought ! was
back in college. My senior year
/ had room on the ground floor
and its window stills were worn
smooth by girls who had over
stayed their late permission.
The voice was unquestionahly
feminine My mind registered that
fact with relief an instant be-
fore 1 identified it.
Felicia! What on earth are you
doing?" / demanded.
I found the button of the light
switch and clicked it, glimpsing
a blurred white face at the win
dow an instant before it ducked
out of sight.
turn of that light" pleaded
the voice. Let me in before some
one sees mel"
Alarmed, | turned it off. Julia
was already at the window, I'M
fastening the latch of the screen.
1t stuck little, but between US we
managed to free it and push it
outward.
Give me a hand" groaned Fe-
licia. I'm so worn out and weak
] couldn't climb over a PIN"
Felieia's New GirdIe
I COULD easily believe that from
! the dead weight she proved TO
be, and the way she WINGED when
she got her knees on the sill. Even
then | could see that there was
something wrong with her sill
houette. outlined against the OK
ford gray night. She wore no hat,
and her hair, usually so sculp-
tured, was in a state. And the
arms at which we were Juggling
were bare to the shoulders.
We dragged her in somehow
and she revived enough to pull
down the shade.
Nov you can turn on the
light" she said grimly.
l found the switch again and
flooded the room with light.
"Welli" said Julia. You have
been on a partyl"
Felicia blinked at us and for
once made no retort.
She was wearing a very hand
some full-length girdle. pink satin
and lace, with a little Scalloped
skirt, like those you see in adVer-
tiSementS. This one was whiInsi-
eally embellished with thousands
Of the little burrs children call
beggar lice. She was further
clothed in what had once been
sheer silk stockings but which
now only partially covere d
scratched legs and a pair of very
dirty knees. Shoes she had on
also, though one of them was
without a heel, so that she listed
badly to starboard. But that was
all. No further stitch of raiment
concealed the havoc of scratches
and bruises on figure that other
wise did full justice to the girdle.
Julia had collapsed on the near
est bed and was making choking
sounds that threatened to increase
IN volume. ! went over to her and
put my hand over her mouth