The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-06-12

Il
and settled himself in shabby
old leather chair with every ap-
parent intention of spending the
evening without moving from the
spot. Brenda seized her opportu-
nifty.
Mac. I wish you'd tell me
sornethingl"
Tell you anything" he agreed
II infer it's about The Street!
Look here, Brenda, you don't have
to shoulder all our burdens, you
knowI"
Il know l DON'T" she answered
soberly. "And sometimes I won
der If I'm not-not-"
"Butting in?" was his affable
suggestion.
She laughed. Its a horrid ex-
preston, but that's what mean.
Here am. a perfect stranger to
all OF you, yet trusted with some
most intimate affairs. It makes me
feel-well. sort of uneasy: hum
BILE, you know: as if had no right
to know-all ! do know"
He took his pipe from his
mouth and regarded her. you're
nice little thing. Brenda, when
you don't get on your high horse.
You do have right to know what
is being thrust upon you, certain
ly. admit that perhaps nowhere
else IN the country-certainly no.
where else in this towns there
such a closed corporation as The
Street. It started with its physical
limitations. of course. It's almost
as If we were on little island,
isn't it? And then most Of the
families have been here so long
they know one another's secrets.
Personally" he continued. 81
think you're getting too large a
dose of Street affairs. I under
stand that dear little Dorothy is
the latest applicant for advice and
Sympathy"
''Did she tell your" she de-
handed. startled.
Curls Or No
LIE GRINNED. Didn't / tell
IL you we have no secrets here
on The Street? No, Dorothy didn't
tell me but Mrs. Arnold did. She
called me up at the Office this
morning and poured out her
woes"
Called you up at the oficel
About Dorothy's hair?" Brenda
was aghast. She leaned forward
urgently. MAC. tell mel That was
what was going to ask you. Is
there anything the matter with
Dorothy's mind?"
Nothing that I know of-save
its small size. Dorothy's mind"
he elaborated. ais so small you're
always falling of the edge of it
and bruising yourself. Now you're
warned. Brendal Keep off Let
Dorothy and Mrs. Arnold settle
the vexed question of curls or no
curlS."
Reluctantly she acknowledged
the wisdom of this advice: but her
Derverse femininity protested.
why shouldn't Dorothy have a
permanent if she wants one? IT'S
her own money and her own hair:
she's surely old enough to decide
on a trifie like that"
He shrugged his shoulders. ITS
up to you. my dearl Don't say
afterward that / didn't warn YOU.
What" he went on calmly. "are
you going to do about Hugh Sal
tus? Discontinue your visits to the
studio. or take Miss Ormond along
with you?"
Il suppose she telephoned you.
mo. she stopped me as l drove
in this evening. Said she'd issued
an ultimatum.
"She and her ultimatumsI |
shall pay no attention to her. of
coursel"
He leaned back lazilv and re-
garded the ceiling. 'Tll remind
YOU of that week from now.
What about Ned Barrow? I hear
he's returning this week"
There's precious little YOU
don't hear. it seems to met But
yes. he will be back and I shall
ask him about that mother-and-
child story"
"And if you find he's married
or ought to be-"
It was her turn to shrug. 'T
shall discourage Alaine's feeling
about him"
He was silent for a moment:
when he spoke it was with a note
of, earneStneSs in his voice she had
not heard before.
Look here, Brendai / do think
you're swell think you've
been kindness and friendliness it.
self to put up with some of us.
But - forgive me for saying il,
won't YOU? Interfering with the
lives of others is dangerous work,
no matter how noble ones mo-
tiveS- are These people are most
~ older than you. Let EN- work
out their own problems You came
here to write a book Do il Let
the twins muddle along with their
rows and threatened elopements.
FORGET Dorothy's permanent or
lack of it. ignore Maud VanNess's
vaporings: above all don't try to
play Providence to Saltus. You'll
be sorry if you do. mark my
wordsl"
A feeting mood of sweet rea-
SonableneSs descended upon her.
surprising herself almost as great
ly as it did Mac. She assented. led
him to talk of his work. Of the
civ. Of The Street agreed ami
ably. with everything he said; was
in fact so angelic that Mac grew
drunk with power and pushed his
advantage too far.
! Continued tomorrow