The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-07-19

he might be OF service"
Rose smiled her thanks and
started toward the door. Just be-
fore she went out she turned and
called to Derek: "Goodby. fish
eTrndn!I"
Lord, she's beautiful" Lance
muttered, entranced. 81 can't fig.
ure why she ever chose this place
to live"
"She told me she had to choose
between cheap rent and cheap
Clothes" Jan explained.
IN thing cheap about her
Clothes" Frank remarked. "And
did you get look at those wrist
loads of jewelry?"
Fakes" Derek stated.
"It'll be nice having her here"
Lance went on. Perhaps she'll
take you over to the club with
her occasionally, Jan. They have
marvellous pool over there"
The excited interest in his tone
made Norma vince. She bent her
head lower over her interninable
knitting. Yet. she pondered. why
should I begrudge him an interest
in lovely woman? Poor darling,
existence is a pretty dull affair
for him. probably bore him to
distraction. but he tolerates me.
I'm grateful even for that much.
Norma was twenty-four, had
earned her teachers certificate at
twenty-one in the University of
California. She was straight and
tall and so very plain. Her par
ents were middle-class tradespeo-
pie in a small town near San
Francisco. She visited them oc-
casionaIly. out of duty, always
glad to leave and come back to
Sea Tide. back to Lance and to
Jan, who seemed more truly her
family than her own flesh and
blood.
She dreaded the coming Of
summer vacation when she would
be expected to stay home and
help her mother with the younger
children and the housekeeping.
She thought, defiantly. of going to
Hawaii or Alaska or some other
enchanting place. Yet, resolving
this. she knew she would never
do it. She would go no distant
place without Lance.
No Tried And True Formula
IT ONGINGLY, so many times.
she wished there were some
tried ord frt,a Fos.,,a,,la e. ,,,;,.
ming a mans love- Gladly would
she have married Lance and
taught school the rest of her life
to care for him. It wasn't, she
often considered. fair that Jan
should have all the burden of
him, for Jan was young and
high-spirited and pretty, and GER
tainly entitled to man and home
of her own.
Yet none OF them this night,
least of all Norma. expected that
which later transpired. Each of
them. intent on his own problems.
living through the warm, sleepy
days OF April. seeing the beaches.
the concessions. the lunch stands,
come to life with the growing
influx Of people, was too pre-
occupied to notice the change in
Lance until that change was &C.
complished.
Jan noticed it first. In the be-
ginning. not understanding what
motivated him. she reioiced at his
awakened interest in the world
about him. was pleased when he
Communicated Frank to take him
on an excursion of beach apparel
shops. was amazed when he came
home with gay colored sport
shirts and matching silk scarfs.
Here's the profits on the Clip
per model Frank sold for me-" he
said Il guess ] went berserk,
honey; | meant YOU to have a new
dress
I'D never wear it," she insisted
Stoutly. I'D much rather admire
YOU"
Downing one of his purchases,
knitted beige sport shirt with
bright blue-checked scarf, he sur
veyed himself in the mirror of
the big oak bureau. an unnatural
flush on his nigh cheekbones.
will she like it. Jan? Will she
hotfce?"
Thinking he referred to Norma,
she leased. She'll think you've
gone completely Hollywood old
darling. Is Spring responsible for
this fash of color or are you just
waking up to Norma,s chaEn?"
Norman" he questioned blank
There was a light tap on the
door. Lance wheeled his chair
over to open It. His thin face was
pathetic with eagerness as he
cried. "Rosel I thought you'd
never comet"
Her laugh was indulgent. ca
resSing. "You knew I'd come. I've
so much exciting gossip for you.
But what have you done to your
self. Lance? You look marvelousl"
He reached avidly for her
hands. bent over and kissed them.
Her heavy bracelets, seemingly
an integral part of her person.
clanked softly. She looked over
Lance's head into JAMS alarmed
eyes.
Hello" she smiled. Didn't you
know I'm running a one-wonan
scandal bureau? | collect all the
dirt at the Club and carry it home
to this brother of yours"
tits most thoughtful of
you" Jan answered lameIy. She
saw the expression in Lance's
eyes as she passed him on The
way out. She knew. then. Lance
was in love with REESE Cornwall.
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