The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-01-26

friend to be doing this--anything
so intimate as this-for the old
boy. Webb ought to, or Bill Seaton
half dozen others. But it Just
happened that T."
Bob, will you stop babbling
and tell me what is wrong with
my brother A1len?"
'Nothing's wrong" he replied
doggedly. "You certAiny can't call
it wrong when guy marries the
girl he lowest"
An electrified silence fell upon
them both. Sue sat gripping the
arms of her chair as if they only
could support her in the face of
this devastating news. Bob. with
worried glance at her pale face
and big dark eyes, bent to lay
fresh log on the fire.
"M-n1arried?" The word came
out in the merest essence OF Sues
charming voice. ALLEN married.
and without telling me?"
'Jt's your own fault, Sue," he
said bracingly. "You wouldn't let
him tell you. Why, I've heard him
trying to myself" he went on.
''I've heard him rag you about his
getting on in years and needing
wife"
''Ragging-yesl He's done that
for years. But meaning it oh!
you're Raging yourself, Bob! It's
your funny idea of a joke to come
in here and give me a scare!" Her
piteous glance begged him to adj
NIT it was intended for joke.
When he merely eyed her SYM
pathetically, the back Of her hand
crept up to her mouth. Broken
sounds came from behind it.
"Now, Sue, now, Suel Pull
yourself together, sweet 1t had
to come, you know. Allen was
bound to marry one of these days.
you must know that! And it
seemed to him--l don't agree
with him, but he claims he knows
you better than anyone else does
it seemed to him easier to get
the whole thing over with before
he told YOU"
Happy AS A Kid
THE tears ran unheeded down
L her small face. "But he didn't
tell mel He-he sent you to do it,
Oh, Buddy, Buddy! To think
you'd do this to mel"
He knelt beside her, wiping her
eyes with his own big white
handkerchief.
He didn't send me at all, Sue.
1t just happened that THAT /
was in, his Office this afternoon
when they-when he came back.
He was happy as a kid, and at the
same time all shot to pieces about
how you'd take the news-if you
know what mean. And. con-
found it! it seemed sort of
shame to spoil things for him
right off the bat. So | offered
| said | was on my way here any
way and I'd take the edge off the
news for him.
She held her head very high but
he could see her swallowing rapid
sobs. ..--.---...-..
"Sue, get hold of yourself!" he
urged. they'll be here any min
ute now. You don't want Allen
you don't want her to find you
"J-just a minute, Boil" For
one breathless moment she leaned
against him, the dear little dark
head he loved pressed close to his
heart. He frightened an arm
about her comfortingly. Give me
just minute!"
Presently she freed herself,
mopped valiantly at her wet eyes.
"Who--who is it, BobP BabS?
No, it can't be Babs. She's been
with. me all afternoon. Ellen
Massey? Who. Bob?"
'It's a girl in his Office, Sue; a
pretty girl. an awfully nice girl. !
expect, or Allen wouldn't be so
keen on her. It's y. Patsy Muir
ray, dearl"
Patsy Murrayl
The name brought to Sues
mind a blurred recollection of
tall. somewhat striking looking
girl, one of the several secretaries
employed by Aliens firm. Sue
seemed to remember a good deal
of lipstick and of manner. and
little else.
Married herr" she asked In
bewilderment. "But why any
Patsy Murray, Bob? Why not Bar
bara, or Ellen-someone of our
Town set?"
He shook his head. He had in
truth been perplexed by a sight
Of the new Mrs. Allen Davenport.
And yet in way he could under
stand that to staid and conven-
tional Allen, a girl like Patsy
Murray might be provocative in
her very difference from the
groomed and polished sisters and
young daughters of his set.
mo one ever knows why one
person marries another" he Of
fered. THE point is, Sue, that
they went to Kansas City and
were married this morning; that
he's bringing her for dinner
and mighty soon. too" he con-
cluded warningly
"Oh-nol" The protest came on
a long sigh. mot so soon. Bob!
Not for a while-not until | can
get a little used to the idea"
TN" he glanced at his watch
-"about fifteen or twenty min
utes, | should say. Brace up,
sweetl Go battle your eyes in cold
water you don't want her to
know you've been crying about
it, do your Or Allen either?--and
get into something a trifie more
festive than that suit, and be all
ready TO welcome them. Want me
to stay2" he offered a trifie re-
luetantly.
'No--oh Bob, yes. | do-yes.