The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-09-09

SIIldE Us "OulQ lldbC LO1Q ~ oil
way if / had been able to realize
that the lean, friendly man in
uniform with the silver eagles on
his shoulders. the man who had
danced with me, played bridge
with me and told me funny stories
about the service and about West
Point, represented an authority
that went beyond the county.
even the state. An authority COM
plete within the boundaries Of his
garrison and ansWerable only to
a couple of superior officers and
to the President of the United
States.
knew that, in a general way.
through my unforgettable expert
ence of murder at Fort Ravens.
But it was difficult to feel the
wholesome awe that the normal
civilian has for the customary
forces of law and order. Besides,
he was Julia's father. and Julia
was prepared to pull the wool
over his eyes in an effort to pro-
tect Jeff. She knew the service
better than l did, and my SYM
pathies were all with her. If pos
sible, / wanted to leave this for
her to handle.
Profound Amusement
IT was possible. Colonel Pen
L nant did not ask me again
when l had last seen Ivan alive.
He accepted my evasion as an an
sWer. And if my conscience
troubled me a little I comforted
myself with the unspoken graft
tude in Julia'S eyes.
For her father turned to her at
once.
What happened when the sing
ing broke up?"
Julia shrugged. avoided his
eyes.
Gerald and l decided to turn
cartwheels. It seemed like a good
idea at the time" She smiled
family. 81 didn't notice what the
others did"
"And when you came back,
Katherine?"
"They were still turning cart
wheels. And jeff was asleep on
blanket"
saw then that it would have
to come out-about Sandra and
Ivan on the barge. But perhaps
we could avoid the suggestion
that JEFF had known anything
about it.
"See anyone else?"
/ remembered the chaplain
plodding down the beach and /
told them about that.
Then Sandra and Ivan must
have been together" he said. And
as that seemed to require no an
swer 1 was prudently silent. An
instant later-"Where is Sandra?"
by now she's probably Mrs.
Jefferson Tack" said Julia. in
voice she contrived to make
casual except ior a break at the
end. A break in her voice that
was the first break in her COM
posure since l had taken her to
my rooms and made her lie, white
and fearless, on my couch while /
looked at her helplesSly and tried
to think of something comfort
ing to say.
They had sent for us both then
to come back TO the colonePS
quarters; and with relief and ad-
miration had seen her pull her
self together and assume a fair
imitation of indifference. But it
could not last much longer.
Her father was regarding her
with profound amaZement.
What did you say?" he de-
manded.
l broke into nervous speech.
relating my story of Sandra'S
early call and her sudden deter
mination to get married. The two
men listened without comment.
but when I had finished Colonel
remnants normally genial face
expressed angry disapproval.
Why wasn't / told Of this?p he
asked coldly. .
answered, stammering a little,
that | had considered il none of
my business, which was true
enough, but did not salve my
sense Of guilt for the other things
I had not told him. l had never
seen his official manner-had not
realized he could seem so for
bidding.
Julia came to my defense.
I'VE tried to stop them. but they
had already gone" she said duly.
Parents can be surprisingly
blind. He seemed unconscious Of
her personal tragedy in his own
sudden wrath.
'I'll have a word to say to
Lieutenant Tack about this" he
announced grimly.
But it wasn't his fault" Julia
protested.
"Of course it was his fault.
Sandra'S a levelheaded girl. He
got tired of waiting. the i'm
patient young pup. Upset every
one-plans, arrangements" I may
have been wrong. but I thought
he was cropping for grounds for
his anger. And he produced them
/ triumphantly. wait until Mimi
hears of it-She'll be wildi"
He rose from his chair. the in
vestigation apparently forgotten.
and started for the door.
! To be continued