The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-07-22
HI II I'D z
By frances Hanna

the door. Better to leave Lanes
alone, she decided, disliking TO ad.
NIT how she dreaded his bad
moods, and from what Norma
said, this was a very bad one.
She lay awake in the darkeneo
room, unable to sleep. She heard
Derek come In and climb the lad
der to the roof. II he went away
now, she thought. I'd get over e
I'd get over this SIN otherin e
wishy-washy feeling every time
he comes near me: I'd stop wish
ing he'd kiss me again. It can'i
be love. It's the mystery, the curl
osity, the attraction of something
unknown. If knew all about him
he'd be juSt-no, it isn't so and
know il. I'm slipping into the
same boat with Norma. falling in
love with a man whose heart
doesn't know exist!
Doing off to sleep a long time
later she came wide awake when
the door below banged open.
Rose, laughing stridently. could be
heard all through the house. TOO
many cocktails" Jan thought, not
caring much. Then she heard
Lance opening his door and
wheeling himself into the hail.
way.
'Rose." he called urgently.
'RoSeI"
Jan crept out of bed and opened
her door a crack. Rose, Keeling a
little, leaning on the balustrade,
swayed up the stairs to Lance.
"H'lo. darling" she pouted. Poor
Ill Rose had too many sidecars. /"
where is Johnny"
"Car. Putting the car away. So
much fun, honey. Lotsa fun"
Lance reached out fercely and
grabbed her wrists, pressing the
heavy metal bracelets into her
flesh. 81 hate to see you this way.
Rose" he said. did you come
straight home from a night club?
You-you didn't stop anywhere?"
Kiss Me, Rose
D OSE became sickeningly coy.
N NOW, what would va say if
l said yes, huh? What wouldya
say?"
I'D feel like killing you'll" he
exploded.
"Ummm 4" she swayed back
ward and forward like a lazy pen
dulum. well, / didn't, so there.
Johnny's all right, but not hand
some like my Lancey. Honey,
you're hurting my wrists. Please
let go my wrists, honey boy"
kiss me, them" he ordered.
kiss me, Rose"
Jan, watching, shuddering, saw
Rose Irvine her arms about his
neck. Jan hesitated only mo-
ment, then she padded into the
hall, lifted Rose and half-carried,
half-dragged her into her room,
stretched her out on the bed and
pulled the quilts up over her.
Lance met her sick eyes with
hot defiance. "You were watching,
weren't you? Spying"
Il couldn't help it." she whis.
pered. 81 heard her come in"
well, don't care whether you
saw or not, he shouted, his emo
tons quite beyond control. His
hands shook and his face was
livid. "I've been buried alive for
two years. Two years! ! know she
doesn't care a damn for me, /
know I can't give her anything,
but I'm going to take what I can
get. It might have to last me a
lifetime!"
In silence she wheeled him
back into his room, left him, and
went on into ner own room to
creep again between the covers,
now chill and damp.
Rose woke late with a head
ache. Before she came completely
awake her conscience began, nag
ging her with guilty post-mor-
TENS. Vaguely, yet clearly enough
to know it was not imagination,
she remembered the scene in the
hallway with Lance. Johnny's
fault. she decided. he'd insisted
on her mixing her drinks. Should
have known better, Rose, my
bonny lass! Member the last time,
rather the first time. you expert
mented that way? II gypped you
out Of nice. solid fortune.
Making a wry face she strug-
gled up. held her whirling head
moment, then observed the
wrinkled mess of fuchsia-colored
crepe that had been an expensive
evening gown. Taking it of over
her head she reflected she should
be grateful to whomever il was.
Jan most likely, for putting her in
bed and covering her up and pull
ing off her velvet sandals. How
that fortnight, unsophisticated
youngster must despise her.
Stripping off all her clothing,
donning a satin robe, Rose pushed
her heavy black hair of her face,
pinned it back, and rubbed thick
layer of pink cold cream, scented
and expensive. into her skin. This
was Sunday. A big day at the
Club. Field Day for a handsome
grass widow-handsome IL she
could erase those dark circles
under her eyes. Still, they might
be considered intriguing.
I'm thirty" she thought, tax
ing herself TO task as she re-
moved the cream with tissue. I've
been twice married and twice di.
vorced. It's high time / did some
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