The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-02-27
Chapter 80
Reunion

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II quired anxiously.
Sue gave her a swift hug. "Oh,
Barb, darlingl I'm so glad to see
you'll Forest? He's-not so good"
How not so good?"
They were in a taxi, driving
from the landing field to Forests
apartment.
HE keeps talking about it all:
Pats illness and death, ! mean.
How she'd had these attacks be-
fore and he wanted a medical ex-
animation but she was too afraid
it might mean an operation; how
Forest has reproached himself a
thousand times that he didn't take
her to a doctor in spite of herself;
how the final attack came and the
appendix ruptured and neither of
them realized anything except
that the pain was gone; and then
Pats walked him that night, moan
ing and out Of her head"
For heavens sake, Sue!"
eyes, it's awful. l can't get him
to stop. I couldn't get him to bed
last night until I'd sent for doc
tor. That's why he wasn't there to
meet you this morning. He's still
asleep from the opiate he was
given at midnight"
"You poor dear!" Barb a
looked at her friend affectionate-
ly. Her brothers elopment with
Aliens wife had done nothing to
interrupt her friendship with Sue.
'You were angel-good to come be-
cause Pats wanted you. But it was
odd, wasn't it? mean her insist
ing on having you here"
81 don't believe she had the
slightest idea of wanting me.
That's another thing that upsets
Forest. He's got it into his head
that Pats had something impor-
tant to say to me, and that if he'd
only called me sooner could have
got here in time. ! hope you'll do
your best to convince him it was
nothing-it could have been moth
ing. Barb"
You'll stay, Sue?"
"Until after the funeral, of
course. Then must go back. What
shall you do, Barbara"
A lovely color dyed her face and
Sue looked at her sharply. Was it
Allen-at last? Were the eyes of
her brother, for so long blind to
this girls love, open after all these
years? Sue devoutly hoped so.
Things went better after Bar
bara's arrival. Forest became more
reasonable. He rested. allowed the
two women to attend to such de-
tails as they could deal with. went
through the funeral services with
compoSure.
There was only a pitiful hand
full at the chapel. Evidently the
young Webbs had not made many
friends in New York.
sand now, my dear, / must be
thinking of going home" Sue said
the next morning.
Forest had gone to his Office,
sad, quiet man who asSented al
most listlesSly to any plan made
for him. Sue and Barbara had lin
Rered on at the breakfast table
after his departure.
Barbara, while not exactly adj
hitting there was an understand
ing between herself and Allen.
had been Shyly Skirting the SUBJ
ject. Sue smiled and let her take
her time. She could understand
that this was hardly the hour or
place to make such an announce
ment; nevertheless the thought of
Aliens being happy at last
brought her deep happiness.
The telephone rang. "It must
be Forest" Barbara muttered. Il
don't know a soul"
"It's for you," she announced
suddenly. "Some man, Sue"
Eric
WITHOUT the slightest throb Of
w premonition, Sue answered.
Even when Eric's voice spoke her
name, no realization at first came
TO her. She had not thought of him
as being in New York. Her mind
and heart had been filled with
Forest and his grief these last
crowded days. She said numbly:
"Ericl"
eyes. Eric, Sue. Where and
when can | see your"
"Why - why" She glanced
about. Barbara had withdrawn to
the tiny kitchen and begun to
wash the few dishes. "How did
you know ! was here?"
81 saw the notice Of PatSy's
death and wondered if you'd come.
watched you arrive at the chapel
yesterday-I was outside. Sue, !
must see you!"
That's-that'S impossible" Her
heart had begun to hammer, her
breath was coming raggedly.
There is no place here"
Say you have an errand this
afternoon" It was his old imperi-
Gus voice. 'Pll be waiting for you
in a taxi. At four, Sue!"
She aSSented without argument.
AT four, car, not a taxi, stood
In front of the building. Eric
sprang out from it as Sue ap-
peared.
''Niy dear!" he said. MY dearl"
and then before she could answer
he hurried her into the back seat
and gave the driver a direction.
The tearoom where Sue pres
emily found herself was quite de-
serted at this early hour. Their or
der was taken by a middle-aged
waitress who served them swiftly
and then disappeared. Eric pushed
away his plate of cinnamon toast.
"Sue, you lovely thing!"
The ardor In his voice made
her eyelids fall over her upward
glance. She had felt little coun-
tryfed and simple as she donned
fha dark blue swiss she had WORN