The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-07-20

WONAA &c I'LL ~ 6C@ OAS VI 0Co
Tide for night, to get away from
turbulent surf and turbulent hu-
mans.
Holding up the skirt with one
hand, she hurried downstairs to
the group in the living room,
stopping on the bottom step for
proper effect.
Johnny, faultless in tuxedo,
stared at her, then scowled. you
look like a sweet girl graduater
he declared. at just won't do,
Jan. Not for the sort of places !
60. Can't you borrow one of Mrs.
CornwalPs evening gowns? She
wouldn't care" He paused at
the stricken look on her face.
II thought ! looked rather
spiffy," she stammered.
Derek reached her in three
long strides and slipped an arm
about her waist. "You look beau
tiful," he asserted. ''Prettier than
any picturel"
"You look lovely" Lance chimed
in, regarding Johnny angrily.
No, don't" she contradicted,
her voice wavering or tears. Il
look like he said" She buried her
face in Derek's nice, big shoulder.
Johnny shifted position, a little
ashamed yet stubborn and deter
mined to justify his statement.
1--WE told you and told you," he
began. But you won't listen to
me"
shut up" Derek growled.
you've been crude and rude
enough for one time"
Johnny tossed his topcoat and
soft black hat to a chair and
stalked up to him, head jutting
forward, a bull answering the
taunt of the toreador. Why don't
you mind your own business, fell
low? I've known Jan lot longer
than you have and she knows
good and well what I'm talking
about She could buy herself
some decent clothes for what she
spends on paints and canvases
and all that junk And take your
hands off her, you you beach,
comberw
Six For A Quarter
IAN felt Derek's muscles tauten
- as he let go of her. She grabbed
hold of his clenched fist with both
her hands. ooh, stop it, stop i'll
We're all behaving like children.
Go along, Johnny, and get some
body else to go out with you.
Some girl who wears the proper
clothes"
"Now, Jan, that's no way to
act" he argued doggedly. 81 wish
I hadn't said anything at all.
Come on, we'll go somewhere"
II won't 60 anywherei Never,
never, never! I'm Just the maid
around here. that's all. and since
you know so much ABOUT my af-
fairs, Johnny, I'll just tell you
again that l couldn't buy any
thing even if l wanted to- Clothes
don't grow on bushes and they
don't sell evening gowns in SAL
wage storesI"
To her dismay she felt tears
turnbling down her face. She
whirled like a wild thing and
scampered up the stairway to her
room. A minute later the door
opened and Derek came in. He
watched her a moment, lying
small and hurt and huddled on
the bed, the white tulle billowing
around her like a cloud, all of her
sturdy, valiant competence dis
solved in young tears. Compass
sion moved in him, showing aside
the dark bitterness that was al
ways with him.
He sat down beside her and
pulled her up in the crook of his
arm, considering her as If she
were child in need of comfort
ing. With a big, clean handker-
chief he wiped away the tear
stains on her hot cheeks and
smoothed the hair back from her
forehead with a cool hand.
Jan, If you aren't too proud to
60 there, I'd like to take you
dancing at the ballroom on the
pier. I've got about a dollar
think it's enough?"
"You-you can buy six dances
for a quarter" she quavered.
He laughed. "Sir dances for a
quarterl Why, honey, can dance
the Soles off your slippers for a
dollarl Come on, fix up your face
and comb your hair while / dress
up like a city slicker for you"
She pushed her hair back of
her ears and lifted her chin. 81
don't want to go anywhere. /
won't have any fun. I'll keep
thinking how silly / look in this
awful dress. I'll be all right,
Derek. It's sweet of you to be Sor-
ry for me, to ask me to go, but
you needn't have-bothered."
Listen" he told her, his eyes
compelling, despite what anyone
tells you, Jan, clothes don't make
the woman. You're sweet and
dear and too darned self-sacrific-
ing. Now you get ready, because,
woman, ! will be obeyed!"
While she worked at the obey
ing orders she heard Rose coming
upstairs, heard her call down:
%I'n be with you in a moment
Johnny. Let's take my car"
But Jan didn't care. Let him
take Rose to swanky places, Her
heart sang and her pulse danced.
Derek had said. you're sweet
and dear"