The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-10-02
Chapter 80
What Safe Place?

7 SHUFFLED through the papers
l on top OF the table: opened
the table drawer. l even delved
into the wasteoasket. But it wasn't
there; it wasn't anywhere in the
two rooms or in the small bath
room.
l gave up the search, finally.
JEFF must have taken it after all.
I felt a fash of resentment. He
hadn't trusted me. even though l
knew what the notebook might
contain.
But did ~ Too late l realized
that there might have been more
that Sandra could have told, in
formation more damaging than
the bit of scandal about Mimi and
jeff.
JEFF needn't hare told me any
thing he tCaS afraid Sdndrd had
put in that notebook!
I'd been fool to believe him,
to let it get out of my hands.
What had he done with it-hid-
den it, destroyed it? There had
been plenty Of time to do either
on his way to the garage. | felt
sure he no longer had it when |
delivered him at the hospital. 1t
was too large to be concealed in
pocket. and he had not been
carrying anything
Was there any use trying to
find it? Was there anyone to
whom | could appeal for help?
Gerald? l felt again that sinking
of my heart. The unwilling, fright
ening realization that Gerald was
an imposter.
Felicia? The chaplain? But l
would have 10 tell them that jeff
had been here. and l was reluc-
tant to do that. Perhaps he had
not destroyed the notebook; he
might have hidden it in the car.
The garage was locked and the
key in my bag, but shrank from
going out there alone in the dark.
If the notebook was there, it was
safe until morning Morning. l
told my el f, would be time
enough.
l got my wardrobe suitcase
from the closet and packed my
things, putting my papers all to-
gether in a compartment which
served very we'll for the purpose.
The rejected manuscript, still un-
opened, went in with them. Then
/ emptied the closet and the
drawers of the mahogany chest,
took a look around the bathroom
and sitting room for forgotten
articles, closed my typewriter in
its travelling case and prepared to
leave. At the door, however, |
turned back on an unexplained
impulse and dragged the ward
robe suitcase as far as the sitting
room. But 1t was too heavy for
me, so | abandoned it there,
locked both the suitcase and the
typewriter and pat the keys in
my bag. Then | turned out the
lights, went cat and shut the door.
There was a light in Felicia'S
sitting room. but she was in bed.
snoring a little. Remembering not
to be too quiet. | prepared for
bed, but she did rot stir And
when, presently. l turned off the
light and stretched out on the
vacant bed her soft little snore
was still at work.
Normally that SnOre would not
have bothered me. but tonight l
was overweight. The Instant
relaxed and was about 10 drift
into sleep. unwelcome thoughts
would swarm around me like
mosquitoes. There were noSqui-
toes, too. in the flesh-thej- own
and mine. And there wes that
softly persiste It sn0re that grad
ually became nIaddening.
Elemental Fear
EVENTUALLY ! resigned my
II self to staying awake. l dou-
bled my pillow against the head
of the bed and sat up. staring at
the gray shape of a window.
wishing it would begin to grow
but afraid to get one for fear the
smell of the smoke would disturb
Felicia. | thought once OF going
into the sitting room. closing the
door between: but that reminded
me too wildly of the night be-
fore-of Sandra meeting death
alone, in my sitting room.
| felt the roots of my hair tin
gle with elemental fear. For the
first time l thought of that snore
as a comforting reminder that /
was not alone.
Then l began to hear little
things, small sounds such as are
always audible in sleeping
house, but which tonight my dis
ordered imagination magnified in
to evidence that evil was creep
ing on stealthy feet through the
corridors of the building.
Over the heavy thudding of my
heart | heard boards creak under
the slow weight of those feet,
heard the little STRINGS Of secret
errands. the whisper of pages as
If someone were leafng rapidly
through a magazine. My thoughts
went back with mounting horror
dutifully quiet while | worked.
turning the pages of magazine
until l was ready to scream al
the relentless regularity of the
repeated sound. My heart ham
mering painfully I pictured her
sitting there now, turning the
pages, withdrawing for what?
What had she left undone?
Then, so distinct that knew l
had not imagined it, loud in the
quiet night. I heard the click OF a
door latch.
That sound woke me to a