The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-01-24

reminded her. I'm here to din
ner-at his invitation"
"Then you asked for It'll"
"Of course l didl Nice guy, your
brother! ] ran into him at the
Chamber of Commerce this morn
ing and dropped a Eint-oh, the
meTest hint, of eourse!--that home
cooking tastes mighty good to a
stranger Ia ! 3 strange land. We
poor single men who have no nice
little sisters have to depend on
our friends for a bit of home now
and then"
She closed the door, stood with
her back to it, one. hand on the
knob.
Bob, you're acting very silly
about this; making it hard for
both of us. Or" she interrupted
herself swiftly, perhaps you've
changed your mind? About last
night, ! mean? Perhaps you're
willing for us just to be good
friends, you and Allen and l."
Allen and /, by all means. You
and |, no! I've a different rela-
tionship in mind for us, sweet"
us it going to be-warfare be-
tween us them"
Warfare? Now it's you who
are silly, darling" He took a step
toward her. Il told you last night,
and l tell you again now: it's no
use for you to hold out against
me; you'll marry me in the end"
Whether love you or not?"
Gosh, no! Loving me as mad
ly, as irrationally, as wholly and
entirely as / love you this min
ute" fsI
She shook her head stubbornly.
Il don't even like you how'll did
at first. You've spoiled it all
now"
A sudden reckless look crossed
his handsome young face. He was
across the room in two strides;
had caught her to him and was
pressing his mouth against her
own in hard, burning kisses. Even
through the thick tweed of her
coat she could feel the thump,
thump of his heart.
Don't dare to tell me I've
spoiled it," he said fiercely. Don't
dare to deny you're beginning to
love me, Sue, my Sue! Why,
you're my share Of the world,
the one perfect thing in this whole
upSidedown existence we call
life! We were made for each
other, you and II Don't you know
it, can't you see it, Sue mine?
You for me, and / for you-our
home, our children, our every
thing against the world"
Anger
CHE was shaken by the force
- of the most violent emotion
she had ever known. The pas
SIGN in his voice made her trem-
bic. the touch of his hard lips
on hers turned her heart to wa
ter. But clear above all other
feelings rose anger. poignant and
HYou're taking advantage of me,
Bob! It's unfair of you to surprise
me like this-pin me against the
door where / can't novel"
He stepped back. folded his
arms.
you're Free" he said briefly
Her breast rose and fell sharp
ly. For the time being! But must
always be on guard against
you? Must | reconnoiter before I
come into my own home, ask for
the guest list before | accept an
invitation to a party? If l can't
feel safe from you, Bob"
With me: not from me-" he
corrected. "Oh, my little love,
can't you see, can't you UNDER
stand that / love you, want you,
must have your"
II understand that you're a very
Self-willed and badly spoiled per-
son." Her voice shook a bit on
the words but she faced him
proudly. II have no doubt that
heretofore you have had only to
say must and what you've want
ed has dropped into your lap. But
there's no must about this, / as
sure you! don't love you. won't
marry you. | wish you'd 60 away
and let me alonel" Her own ear
caught the childish note in the
last words, and she flushed again,
hating him anew at this fresh
evidence of her unsophistication.
She flung herself across the 9c0m
and fairly ran into her bedroom,
Slap1naillg the door behind her.
IF he has the slightest decency
he'll scribble a note to Allen, and
| leave at once" she thought, her
hands against her hot cheeks. "It
he stays. I'll make some excuse;
say / have a headache. No,
won'tl That's as good as admit
ting that he has upset me-"
She got out of her day things
as swiftly as possible; bundled
her curls into a rubber cap and
| had a shower; dressed frantically,
trying to listen for sounds from
the living room. She was settling
her favorite velvet frock about
her slim hips when she heard her
brothers voice, heard the two
men laughing quietly at some
thing Allen had said.
Hateful, hateful situationl How
could she open her door and
walk out there, meet Bob's
amused eyes searching her face?
It had to be done, however,
unless she wanted Allen to come
in search of her. She summoned
all her pride and made a dignifieG
entrance, tiptoeing up to kiss her
brother with more than her usual