The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-07-23
Chapter II
Swell Fight

OUCA EASHb
HERS was, Rose reflected, not
II an unusual story. A run away
marriage at seventeen to boy
of twenty. Too much love, too
much qdarreling and too little
money. Disillusionment and di-
vorce at nineteen. A determine
ton to make all men pay for the
hurt one man had caused her
Burning her fingers, learning
hardening. Working as model in
wholesale houses, then shops
then salons. Learning clothes and
how to wear them. The growing
greed for possessions. Then Her
man Cornwall.
Herman had been a sagging
paunchy fifty. He had fat hands
and light, suspicious eyes. But ne
had enormous amounts of money
and he wanted to marry her. Well
she'd stuck it eight years. At first
the clothes, the summer house
the winter house. the servants
the travelling, had made it worth
while. Then they hadn't. There
were men who attracted her. but
her greed for possessions pre-
vented her from attempting this
sort of escape, for Herman was
very watchful and Herman was
exceedingly jealous.
If she hadn't mixed her drinks
that night and told him she'd
never consent to have a child,
never under any circumstances
His scourging denunciation struck
fire to the pitch-soaked kindling
of repression in her and she had
shrieked her hate at him.
He permitted her to divorce him
at Reno after she'd signed a set
Element. Such little settlement
considering Herman's vast wealth
Rose belted the robe tighter
about her lovely slim waist and
sought the healing solace of {
warm scented bath.
A little later, hearing her come
down the stairway, Jan slipped
into the kitchen and waited until
the front door closed. Lance rang
his buzzer and she trotted up to
him. dreading to face him.
did Rose just go out?" he de-
manded the moment she entered.
"Yes. To the Club, probably. It's
a grand day for swimming and
summing"
Lance looked as if he hadn't
slept at all. "She promised to take
me for a drive" he muttered.
"She must have forgotten or may
be she went to get the car"
Lance"
SWELL what is it?" he asked ir-
ritably.
Nothing, l guess"
ooh, / know what's eating you
You think I'm a fool. You and
Norma. You don't know, either OF
you, what it is for a man to hun
ger for beauty .. to ache to hold
woman like Rose in your arms
Sure. I'm a fooll | know it." He
wheeled the chair around so hi:
back was toward her. His face
so perfectly planned. thin and hol.
low now. yet still possessed of {
pale, compelling beauty, twitchec
with feVeriSh emotion.
Il wonder, Jan, if those doctor:
who patched me up knew every.
thing. Surgery is advancing every
day. There might be a man some.
where in this world who could dc
something with these knees OF
mine. Damn it, Jan. l want tc
livei Why do l have to be con-
demned to this chair for the resi-
of my life?"
Compassion
TEARS pushed hot against heI
l. eyelids while assior
wrung her. There was nothing tc
answer. She wanted to 60 over tC
him and put her strong. young
arms around him. but she SenseC
he wouldn't want this. 1t was moi
her arms he wanted. She went
out quietly.
Johnny came out of his room, {
sheepish look on his face. "Jan
forgive me for last night. viii
you? I'm sorry as the devil
You're Just too good for a guy
like me-"
81 think so. too" she agreed
with him serenely. II accept youl
apology and forgive you. Now
run along and toot your horn
I'm busy"
He hesitated, opened his mouth
shut it. Her composed smile, hel
careless, indulgent one. dismissed
him and his offense as completely
unimportant. He desired. sudden
ly. to grab her and kiss her. dis
turb her. He was furious with her
He ran down the steps anC
slammed the front door.
Opening the linen closet at the
end of the hallway. Jan took ou
clean sheets and a pillowcaSe anc
went up on the roof to change
Derek's bed. She found Neptune
paws tucked under him, curled VI
on the blanket asleep. She huggeC
his limp. warm body. slid her fin
gers through his furry ruff. ther
set him down on the rag rug be,
side the cot. He yawned anC
stretched and blinked amber eye.
before Springing up to his favor.
lite place on the parapet overlook.
ing the beach front below. As Jar
lifted tie top blanket tc shake il
she noted il was plentifully deco
rated with Neptune's silky hair.