The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-10-04

10 AWhsper. Y III
~ He leahne back then and tool
d my hand between both of his.
.0'fI'm still scared" he said husk.
| lily. you've been unconsciou:
| for eight hours. Your eyes were
open and staring and you didn't
seem to breathe They said you'd
be all right, but I've been
here all night: swore I'd never
leave you again if"
Tears welled into his eyes.
"Don't-please don't" begged.
| at wasn't your fault. And feel
quite well, really"
| But he went on as if l had not
spoken.
Il knew what a fool I'd been
when / read about Sandra in the
afternoon papers. / was in Penn
Station waiting for a train that
would have brought me here this
afternoon. went to Mitchell Field
instead and found an army pilot
to fly me out here. And then
was too late. They were carrying
you out to the ambulance when
my taxi pulled up. They thought
at first YOU. skull was fractured
raat mop sef hair was ap that
saved yodLL75U ] III !
~ 'You can tell your redheaded
grandchildren that" l murmured.
+ He tried to iaifgh, but It wasn't
a very successful effort.
A nurse came in then and took
my pulse and my temperature
and engaged In a brief argument
with Adam in which he lost, of
course.
He stood by the bed for a mo-
ment. looking down at me intent
ly as if to assure himself that
was really there.
Go to Sleep" he said huskily.
then. vanished through the door
the nurse was pointedly holding
open.
No Curiosity
IT ATER in the morning Captain
Jones came in with strange
gray-haired officer whom l had
never seen. He proved to be the
senior surgeon. just returned
from. leave. He was friendly and
reasSuring as he felt gently of my
aching head, examined my eyes
and asked me what seemed sridic-
ulous questions until / remem-
bered that they do that to. foot
ball pIayefs.t who have been
! knocked out.
| My neck was stiff TOD, and for
a moment | couldn't think why
until 1 remembered, those steel
hands. .i'4'1 81
The senior surgeon nodded
when | told him about it, but
when he spoke It was across me.
to Captain Jones. --,.---,s--...
Take a look at these bruises, !"
he said dryiY, irNothing phony
/ about them.sH Captain Jones, !
saw with surprise. was very red.
''And you might read that chap
ter on .'Maiingering' in :Ford's
Military Medical Administration
mot that you'll find much appliea-
tor for ii in peacetime." he add
ed more tolerantly. but it's in
tereSting reading, Surprising to
what lengths people will go TO
fake a disability. He says. if | re-
member correctly. that copper
penny. bound on with a cloth
soaked in vinegar. leaves very
fair imitation of a bruiSe-"
II was about then that | began
to get The drift of the converse
.::Cn.
You're talking about Sandra,
aren't you?" | demanded. and
then remembered something. so
that was why she got the vinegar
from the mess hall-and the tow
Ell Felicia, said leoked as. il JEFF
had been polishing brass with
The surgeeasslooksas at me
| ~ ANY ny idea az a;SNbyf iigbo Should
! want want, to fakeoa black sea he
@9es. 6aaisysss4o tsiae9oht a
grudge on 5ehsfm gIaal f found
that out. ! dom feel 50 soTTy for
her now. She had p5tsntiaIities.
didn't she?"
"She had indeed" He paused,
looked from Captain Jones to me
in some embarrassment 'Of
course / was only teasing the
captain here for not having dis
covered the fake when he first
examined the body. Anyone
might have overlooked il. Matter
of fact, he's had a good bit on his
mind this past fortnight. Three
violent deaths. and his wife very
i'll In. Chicago. She's all right now.
I'm glad to say, and the mother
of fine boy. The scamp arrived
ahead of schedule, otherwise I
wouldn't have been on leave"
congratulated the captain and
saw that he looked nicer. when he
smiled. Then the surgeon deliv-
cred his opinion that I was in my
right mind and had nothing to
worry about. X-rays taken dur
ing the night showed no frac-
tnre: my coma had probably been
due ninety per cent TO shock. ]
should remain In bed for; q few
days to give any mild conclusion
time to subside.
| They went away, and ] partook
sbaringly Of a modest Mneh. Aft
efwsrd I slept In my dazed men
tai state | had no curiosity about
the nights events. 1t was easier
10 lie there, safe and thankful,
thinking of nothing but my aches
I'D nains and the blessing Of be-
80 alive