The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-08-28

as he strobe toward the car. The
other two were still scrambling
out OF the gulley.
ut isn'tso much what we found
that Interests me, as what we
didn't find" he said Graphically.
Then there's zimmerman, who did
not return to barracks. A small
man, Immerman's build. A regi-
mental insignia. Next step. % he
finished; handing me into the car,
next step, find zimmerman If I'm
norman can be found"
The bridge club met that after.
noon. ] don't believe there was q
woman except the cook left in any
OF the quarters along Officers
Row. know Felicia had to send
out for more tables, and the very
walls of the lounge seemed to
shudder at the inceSSant clacking
of tongues. The gentlemen on
those walls looked remote and
long suffering, as If they would
have given much to be elsewhere.
had not intended to be pres
ent, but Julia stopped in early and
insisted. And / was not sorry of a
chance to see more of Sandra.
Others were there for the same
reason. Between that and an al
most ghoulish interest In the
chaplain's miShap and the theft
and burning Of Felicia's car, there
was some haphazard bridge
played. -ez
LaIe In the afternoon Mini
PeHnant, Sandra and CHANGED to
be at the same table. Sandra
played all four hands. Her part
ner, one of those women who
seem to feel that the mission Of
dummy is to enliven the party,
bounced on me at once TO demand
an eyewitness account of the.
chaplain and his poison oak Leaf. /
/ complied briefly, for had by
now told il so often that the SUBJ
iect had lost its charm.
An Old Friend
CANDRA listened politely, then
- Informed us that she had
known Chaplain Henry in Texas.
Mimi and / went to the hos
pital to see him this morning. /
hadn't heard that he was coming
here, and ] was so delighted that
the chaplain who is going to mar
~ US should prove to be an old
friend"
81 hope his appearance i'm
proves before the wedding" Mimi
said practically. I'D as soon think
Of being married by prize fight
er who had just lost a big fight.
Really, he is a sightl"
"Oh, but he'll be over Il by
then" Sandra said confidently.
Hes not bad looking, normally,
but rather shy with women. /
suppose that's why he's still a
bachelor"
The lady on my left launched
enthusiastically into an account of
military weddings she had seen, a
recital which she interrupted
only long enough to bid and lay
down her hand. Sandra listened
with courteous attention as she
raked In trick after trick.
Minis eyes met mine in quiet
amusement across the table.
Sandra, my dear, don't you
ever lead trumpS?" she asked at
the close of the hand.
Sandra smiled alphabetically. 81
suppose ] should, but I never go
by rules. I just play the way I
happen to feel at the moment
We'll, with your score you
don't need me TO tell you how to
play bridge" Mimi said ruefuIIy.
Il think I'm headed for the BOBBY
prize"
@Oh. I'm Just awfully lucky
Sandra disclaimed modestly, but
she looked rather complacent and
/ thought, she doesn't really be-
Ieve that. She doesn't see half
the chances she takeS-she thinks
it's skill.
She and her partner rose, the
richer by a stupendous score and
progressed 10 the next table. The
table below us was still in play,
and for the moment Mimi PEN
nant and I were alone.
They say in the army that there
IS no rank among women; what
they mean Is that there should be
no rank among women. But of
course there is. Living as they do,
with official ties so inextricably
bound up with social ties, how
can anyone doubt ttat the wife of
the commanding officer will re-
ceive Difference which may not be
due either to her years or her per-
Sonal merit?
Mimi Pennant was a young wo-
man and beauty. Men would
ind no difficulty in paying her
homage. But what Of the women?
Women older, palmer, longer in
the service. yet forced by expedi-
ency II by no written regulation
to defer to her because her hus-
band was senior to theirs.
Wouldn't resentment be human?
Might not the smiling faces that
everywhere surrounded her be
merely masks for acute dislike?
But had detected no such dis
like. She seemed genuinely liked.
And looking at her now, at the
wistful friendlineSs of her smile.
l had = clue to that liking. Mimi
was not impressed with herself.
Il wish you'd come and see me
sometime" she said. soon. Julia
has been singing your praises, but
dom let her monoPolize you
Il Ike Julia 5Tf&-
SO do I. Believe il or notS ~
She smiled again, but saw sffreE
shadow On her face, the swift
trouble IN her violet-gray ewes:
saw too that she was lonely, with
the loneliness OF one who Is fight
ing losing battle alone.