The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-09-03
Chapter IA
ivan The Terrific

Ivan The Terrific
RIESS call" Adam exclaimed
w and. undoubling his long
legs stood in front of me draw
ing in the belt of his trunks until
the girl who used to boast Of a
waist that man could encircle
with two hands would have bro
ken her corset strings IN envy.
"See that?" he asked reproach-
fully. And you coming to break
fast every morning begging the
very food out of my MOUTH
You're just a SQUAD with a
misplaced neck" l scoffed.
always feel that l have &C
complIshed som ething when l
make Adam laugh out loud, as he
did at this obvious SANDER. Ac-
tually. he has the longest. finest
bones of anyone / ever saw;
dressed, he looks thin. In trunks.
1t is impossible to detect either
an awkward angle or a gram Of
surplus flesh He is like Mercury
In beautiful. extended flight.
He must have seen something
of what | was thinking In my
eyes, for he suddenly flushed boy
ishly up TO the roots of his corn
silk hair and reached me a hand
which he did not withdraw.
Come and get it." he said.
Hand in hand, scuffing the sand
with our bare feet, we walked
back along the beach.
It was getting cooler as the
gray veil Of evening fioated in
from the lake. | put on my terry
lined beach robe and bullied
Adam into pulling a sweat shirt
over his streamlined torso before
we joined the rest of the crowd
around a little portable stove on
which hamburgers were sizzling
fragrantly.
Gerald Beaufort left Julia's
side, where he had been hover
ing in unrewarded patience since
we reached the beach. and came
to greet US.
you like raw onions nit ham,
burgers?"
Definitely"
Good So do /. Perhaps we're
soul matesl"
"Oh. Gerald"
Adam looked after him bitterly.
I'm going to buy me some eve
laShes. too. Then maybe somed2y
some girl will give me a dying
calf look and say. "Oh, A-d-adarn"
Colonel Pennant and Mimi had
arrived during our jaunt up the
beach.
went over to say good evening
10 Mimi. Mimi was wearing one
of those pajama outfits with the
shirttail cut and clogs with soles
at least two inches thick. Sitting
on the sand between JEFF and
Ivan the terrible. turning her soft
violet eyes from one to the other,
she looked about sixteen. She an
Swered me vaguely, but Sandra,
seated near them with a set smile
on her face. kept me for a mo-
ment to ask. with hattering inter-
est. how my work was progress
ing; and when l moved away to
join Julia at the portable stove
she got TO her feet and followed
me.
Frozen Smile
THE chaplain was towering
L about, perilously fHmbling pa
per cups and plates Sandra took
him in tow. and Julia looked after
her with grudging gratitude.
First good-samaritan act she
ever performed for me-" she COM
mented out of the corner of her
mouth. Pure accident. He's a
man. Is she sore at Mimi Can't
imagine how she's keeping that
pair of strange dogs from biting
each other"
I've been wondering myself. "
l confessed.
Marvellous hand with the lads.
Mimi" commented her step
daughter a little bitterly. Here.
Kay. turn these hamburgers."
I'D like to take my car. if you
don't mind. Julia" Mimi said.
gathering up an armful of food
containers while Adam, with the
chaplain stepping n his heels in
a frenzy of helpfulneSS. strobe off
with two empty thermoS Jugs to
stow in the coloners car.
why ask me?" said Julia I'M
graciously
We'll. your father has prom
ised to speak at that lodge meet
ing and / thought I'd like to take
a drive" Arms laden. she
Strengthened with an air Of de-
fiance. her cheeks a little pink.
But l don't want to inconve-
nience you"
NC inconvenience" said Julia
81 can always sit on Gerald'S lap
Can't |, Gerald?"
Mimi smiled, but she looked
puzzled. Don't let us break up
the party" she said. There
should be hours of this beautiful
moonlight"
Adde's the brains" observed
Felicia crisply. joining Us. She
had been talking to Colonel Pen
nant. who looked very sleek and
good natured and as young as
usual. Too much for this old
gray head. If you don't mind.
Mrs, Pennant I'd like to be
dropped at the club. I5still have
linen to count and tomorrow'S
menus. And then to bed"
Mimi said, No trouble at all, |"
but her smile froze a little.
They said goodby. the three of
them, and the two cars started In
single file down the narrow road.
The chaplain looked after them
little wistfully, l thought. and /
wondered why ne had not gone.
too Probably some meldy sense
OF proprlety. | decided: one should
not shirk ones social duties.
Julia had brou-ht a Hawaiian