The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-06-03
Chapter Nine
Brenda Butts In


Il think I'm going to pull it off
this time, Judge, in spite of you'll"
1--WE brought reinforcements,"
said the Judge coolly. Brenda. /
won't stop to present the enemy
to you. You'll find Alaine's room
at the right. in front. Go right up.
will you. my dear?"
Brenda was divided between
laughter and embarrassment as
she ran up the stairs. Alaine
Alternately, she judged, was not
yet twenty; mere girl, and yet
she was the mistress of her own
house; the mouse into which a
stranger was forcing her way.
She raped gently at a half
open door. Alaine called:
If it's you. Miss O-mond, you
might as well 60 downstairs again.
I've made up my mind this time
and nobody can stop me-"
Brenda walked in. The pretty
room looked as if a cyclone had
recently had its way with it.
Clothes were StreWn on chairs
and the bed, drawers were open.
a desk spilled its letters and sta
tionery onto the floor. And in the
midst of the confusion stood
Alaine, her dark hair ruffied about
her head. her brown eyes gleam-
ing with anger. She was evident
ly in the act of dressing. for she
wore only a silk slip and her
stockings.
Brenda said casually: 'Your
lip rouge isn't on straight. Your
mouth is one-sided."
Startled. the girl glanced into
the mirror. repaired the damage
carelessly. Then she turned on
her visitor.
You're Miss Durham, aren't
you? May l ask -"
What I'm doing here? Trying
to keep you from making a fool
Of yourself. darling!"
The brown eyes blaZed. 81 see
Judge Harper's fine Italian-not
SO fine at that! - hand in this.
Well. it's no use. my dear Miss
Burnham. As you can see. I'm
practically packed. and my hus-
band-to-be is downstairs.
Brenda coOlly removed pile
OF undertakings from a chair and
seated herself.
ooh. you're far from being
packed. should think it would
take you at least an hour. judg-
ing by the way this room looks.
While you're about it. suppose
you tell me about this man you
call your huSband-to-be?"
Alaine inquired reasonably:
why? Why should I? What bust
ness is il OF yours?"
Put it down to natural curl
osity; or to my being Burn
ham," Brenda told her soothing
1y. We've 2ot to talk about some
thing; it might as we'll be Mr.
Barton. That's his name?"
The little ruSe worked. Alaine
said sulkily: mo. Barrow. Ed
ward Barrow but everybody calls
him Ned. He's really swell.
Brenda. I'm going to call you
Brendal If you think you know
me well enough TO come up here
like this. surely l know YOU well
enough to call you by YOUR first
nameD I've treated him like
yellow dog. whistling him on and
driving him off. But this time he's
not going to be driven off. sent
for him. and I'm going to marry
him. At the City Hall Just as
soon as | get my things packed.
Damn these shoes!"
Put EN- heel to toe-not both
high heels together" Brenda ad-
vised. you shouldn't be putting
those shoes in with that chiffon
dress anyway. Take 'em out and
put 'em in the other bag"
Too Much Bossing
A LAME obeyed without ques-
Nov why" Brenda vent on in
the same friendly tone, ARE you
marrying Mr.-er-Barrow?"
Because -" the dam burst
and the waters of wrath poured
out torrentially. Because Alb Abb
ernathy has no business to say
how low my new frock shall =
cutl Because I've stood all the
boSSing from him I'm ever going
to! I'll have you know I'm one
hour and six minutes older than
he is anyway, and if that doesn't
give me right to make decisions
about this place / don't know
what doeSi It's a lovely frock,
too" she went on, pointing to the
crumpled mass from which she
had Just removed the pair of
shoes. Il paid more for it than
for any dress I've ever had since
/ grew UP. ! showed it to him
when it came home, if il comes to
that Was it my fault if he
thought the V was in the back
instead of the front? And then
this noon when / was trying it on
you know the University dance
is next week! of course Alb
would have to come marching up
stairs and see me!'
She paused. necessarily. for
breath. Brenda waited and pres
emily Alaine went on with some
thing resembling genuine relish.
MY dear. there was the father
and mother of a rowl / thought
] knew all the cuSs words Alb had
at his command but he intro
duced some really new and inter-
eSting ones into his diatribe.
That's right. isn't it? Diatribe? Or
do I mean dyastole? -. At any
rate. we fought like a pair of Kill
kenny cats, and / went down and
told Ned If he'd get the license
and come for me I'd marry him
this afternoon. And I'm going to-"
she concluded firmly.