The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-07-22
Chapter Is
Dancing Feet

OducAAS ECCt
nEREK tapped on her door and
~ she met him smiling. Arm in
arm they went down the stair
way, JAMS head triumphantly
high as she passed Johnny. I'm
going dancing with Derek," she
called gaily to Lance and Norma.
When they entered the huge
dim ballroom which stretched out
over the ocean, she threatened:
fTl probably stumble and step all
over you"
He grinned down at her and
drew her bright head against the
lapel of his coat and danced her
out onto the long, polished floor.
He danced smoothly and well and
after a minute or so Jan found
herself following him easily
enough. BY the third dance their
constraint lifted to the extent OF
experimenting with a rhumba.
She nearly slipped. he caught her,
and they laughed extravagantly.
Couples around them performed
amazing gyrations to the tune of
'tDipsy Doodle" swinging apart,
then together, whirling. back
bending: tap dancing. shutting.
"Gosh, / feel old and out of
date" Derek deprecated his abili-
ty. think we could do some OF
that stuff if we practiced?"
"They give free lessons here
once a week
Lets come? It might be fun"
"Love to-" she smiled, happy.
They sat out one dance and
slipped root bee- at the green mar
BILE soda fountain. I'm practically
a plutocrat," he announced. Il
earned fifteen dollars this week,
! bought clothes, and | still have
fifty cents"
81 didn't think you'd stick the
Job. Her blue eyes twinkled at
him over the top of her frosted
Neither did l, frankly. l don't
like it and / still don't believe in
work. but I've learned one thing
from you and that is. to pay my
own way. This is the first money
! ever earned in my life. You
know, it's a queer thing, but
money you earn at hard manual
labor has an entirely different
touch and quality than money
somebody else gives you"
She couldn't resist asking, "Still
wish / hadn't pulled you out of
the ocean," Then Immediately
wished she had resisted, for the
carefree smile left his face and it
closed to her.
He set down his mug and stood
UP. 81 still wish you hadn't. feel
as il I'm living on time borrowed.
Mostly | try not to think at ALI"
"Oh, Derek, I'm sorry. / thought
maybe-maybe you'd changed.
Lets dance. he said.
She hoped his former mood
would return with music and
movement, but it didn't. A little
later she asked him to take her
home. He left her at the front
door, mumbled something about
walking and flung off into the
darkness.
'He's hungrier for music than
he ever is for food. she diagnosed
with sure intuition.
1T Isn't Love-
a LIGHT burned in Lance's
n room, although it was past
twelve. Deciding to go in for a
minute, she had her hand on the
doorknob ready to turn it, when
she heard curious sounds from
Norma's room. She found Norma
huddled in chair by the window,
crying as if she'd been condemned
to die at sunrise.
"What is the trouble, Norman"
she implored. You're so cold
Here. let me slip this jacket over
your shoulders.
'Ifs Lance" Norma whispered,
cfatching at Jams hand. He was
furious when Mrs. Cornwall went
out with Johnny. He snapped at
Frank and ordered me out of his
room-said / looked like a sick
cat. He's been banging things
around in there all evening.
wish / knew what to do. He's in
love with her and it's making
him rebellious and wretched and
oh, Jan. lore him sol"
Jan perched on the chair arm
and put her arm about the other
girl. at isn't love, Norma. It can't
be. It's infatuation and he'll get
over il. He viii have to. I'm sure
she doesn't know. doesn't realize
what she is doing to him. She
only wants to be kind. We mustn't
blame her"
Il know" Norma said. I'm be-
ing silly. I guess all women in
love are beyond the reach of logic.
I'll 60 to bed now, dear. I'm glad
you came in and talked some
sense into me. It wouldn't do for
me to appear at school with red
eyes and a swollen nose. Good
night, dear"
Jan went out softly and closed