The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-09-21
Chapter 30
The Next Victim


~ sun-bleached hair and turned
70 busy herself at the mirror. But
even under the layer of powder
she was applying her cheeks were
slow in cooling, and her hands
trembled as she tried to shape her
mouth with lipstick.
That doesn't mean anything"
she said at last in a strangled
voice. Il don't pretend to know
whats behind it, but you needn't
believe everything she says. She's
not afraid of him. She's not afraid
Of anything. She hasn't got sense
enough to be-she thinks she's too
good"
She paused, smoothing her lips
with her little finger, and l pom
dered that remark. It was odd
that she should think that of San
dra, too. It agreed with a vague
feeling l had formed.
"And l don't believe he'd ever
lay hand on her, no matter what
she did to him." Julia went on
valiantly. "She used to get into
the most terrible RACES at him
when we were kids. I've seen her
kick his shins and scratch and
claw and bite. / used to think she
was trying to get him to hit her
so she could tell and see him pun
ished. But he'd just shield his face
with his arms. and when he got
chance he'd grab her wrists and
hold her until she'd begin to cry
and say he was hurting her. Oh,
she was always DEVIL"
We went back to the party after
that. and Gerald and | rallied
around jeff. | don't know that |
was entirely convinced Of his in
nocence by Julia'S eloquence, but
! was willing to reserve judg-
ment. And l particularly hate to
see anyone boycotted at party.
He was smoldering with irnpo-
tent, miserable anger. Even Ger
aid could not draw him out of it.
could not make him smile, or talk.
But we did our poor best to seem
to enjoy his company.
Sandra. on the other hand, en-
1oyed a great success. Under
standably so She was not only a
bride; she was that rarer thing, a
bride with a black eye. Perhaps
the black eye did not contribute
to her popularity, but it certainly
brought her attention. She danced
with the chaplain several times.
and the delicious spectacle of that
picturesque pair almost cleared
the floor. Couples Withdrew to the
side lines, the better to observe.
or retired frem the big living
room to the safer obscurHy of the
hall or the library. there to let
loose their laughter
1t was strange, hysterical par
ty. and Mimi gave the impression
OF mentally hopping her brow as
/ took my farewell of her well
after midnight.
The poor child" she said char
itably of Sandra. IF she had told
me | might have postponed the
reception-though l think that
would have been bad. too, don't
you? After the hurried-up wed
ding and all Perhaps she did the
only thing she could. Certainly
she carried it off very we'll. I'm
afraid jeff was the more upset
though I'm sure no one thought
that is. of course it must have
been, an accident. Sardra said SO
herself
Beside her Colonel Pennant
was ominOuSly silent.
No Sound To Tell
I REJECTED Gerald's half-heart-
L ed offers of further amusement
and undreSSed and fell into bed
as soon as ! reached my rooms. /
was exhausted and must have
lone right to sleep. for / did not
hear Sandras come in; did not
know, when something woke me
a couple of hours later, whether
she had come to bed at all.
Hay still in the cryptic darkness,
wondering what had disturbed
me. listening for Sandra's breath
ing in the other bed. For a mo-
ment heard nothing, then saw
that there was thread of dim
light around the door into the sit
ting room: and presently / detect
ed faint little sounds of someone
moving about in there.
She was restless, decided. and
had gone IN there to keep from
waking me. had left the door
open when l went to bed, to en-
courage what little breeze there
was that hot night. l toyed with
the idea of getting up and opening
it again, letting her know that I
was awake. But to do so might
dlspel the laSSitude that would let
me drift back to sleep. And as l
still looked at the door the rim of
light around ii vanished and there
was silence. Had she gone back to
JEFF, after all, or was she lying
on the studio couch. in a darkness
peopled by unhappy thoughts?
There was no sound to tell me-
no click of the door. no stirring of
springs under a restless body.
Perhaps she had gone to sleep. In
the night and silence my own eyes
closed and presently I ceased TO
think.
1t was broad daylight when l
had the answer TO my question.
awoke late and dressed hurried
ly TO get to breakfast before the
mess hall closed. ! noticed, be-
tween brush strokes, that San
dra's bed had not been slept in,
but / had no occasion to 60 into the
sitting room until, dressed and
ready for -hreakfos% I 13ashlfS