The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-07-31

His two listeners sat motionless,
still IN the grip Of tragic drama,
still seeing in terrified imagina-
ton the mangled ship and its
mangled pilot.
Derek, shaken, observed the
tears on JAMS face. saw the queer,
peaceful stiffness on Lance's.
Il think can sleep now" LANCE
whispered. Maybe once with
out dreaming"
Jan raised the windows and
turned off the light and met Derek
in the hallway. Neither of them
said anything. AT the door of her
room he bent swiftly and kissed
her cold cheek, turned and
climbed the ladder TO his tent on
the rooftop.
Escape Medium
JUST before noon the next day,
- when she returned the suit and
hat to Rose, Jan said with mature
frmness: You would be doing
Lance favor. Rose. to stay away
from him altogether. You've up
set him dreadfully and"
Don't look so tragic" Rose
broke in, smiling. He needs an
escape medium. A little laughter
and gayety surely cant harm hinl
Are you all in conspiracy to iso-
late him from the world? I'm
sorry for him." she said, a care
less kindness in her bright voice.
There was no smile on JAMS
sober countenance. Yesterday !
might have agreed with you,
Rose, at least partially. but not
this morning. When we were all
out of the house last night he lift
ed himself from his chair and
tried TO walk. He fell. tainted.
Luckily he wasn't injured. We
had a bad time with him. Rose,
you can't be so stupid as not to
see he's in love with you, or at
least fancies ne is I've known it
all along. but / kept thinking he
had enough judgment to control
himself. But he hadn't. You were
too much for him" JAMS tone
grew bitter and accusing. You
made him want life he can't
have with your kisses and ca
resses and thoughtless favors.
You made him miserable and un-
happy and / want you to leave
him alone If you don't, I'll have
to ask you to move"
Contrition softened the other
girls hard eyes. I'm sorry. I'll
undo the harm if / can, but l don't
agree with you that ignoring him
will help. I've got to make him
understand me, see how worth
less I'd be to him. even if he were
well Even if / loved him, and /
don't, / wouldn't permit myself
to be serious" Her carefully-t tend
ed face set into harsh contours. 81
had love once, Jan. It wasn't
enough for a woman like me. It's
money | want. security, luxury,
the cream of life. I don't want
SKINNED milk, even if it's sea-
sOned with love! Let me help
Lance in my way, Jan. I'll let him
know just how ! feel and if he
comes to despiSe me, well. all the
better. Satisfied noW?"
Il suppose. You should know
better than l." Jan admitted, con-
scious that Roses self-posseSsion
and sureneSs made her feel inf
nitely naive and gauche. She was
glad to end the interview and
escape to her roof sanctuary, glad
to find Neptune sitting up beside
the chimney industriously wash
ing his face.
Neptune. upon seeing her, de-
sisted his washing and stared
round-eyed and curious at her
pink toes poking out the end of
her gaudy beach sandals. Oblig-
ingly she wiggled her big toe and
he Sprang at it, claws Sheathed,
and pretended to bite it. STOPPING
down she rolled him over and
rubbed his furry stomac
"Neppy," she coaxed, I'll treat
you to the best can of salmon in
Sea Tide if you'll pose for a por-
trait in oils"
He meowed agreement, or so
she took it at least. Hoping for
the best, she got out her easel and
a new canvas and started work.
Derek, guiding his motored per-
ambulator up and down the beach
front. felt insecure, felt sure that
Lenore, having seen him last
night, would try to find him. He
had run away from her, but she
was definitely not the type who
would give up without a struggle
an opportunity to marry millions.
For the first day and the second
and third he was careful and
watchful, but there was no sign
OF her. By the end of the week he
dismissed the incident on the pier
as unportentouS. deciding she Ell
Their had thought it no use to find
him or had returned east.
However. he was wrong. She
had been searching for him but.
oy a combination of coincidental
circumstances. had missed him by
minutes. Rose. d little past noon
on Sunday, rode to the Surf Club
IN Santa Monica with him, trying
TO pierce his reticence with word
darts which contained virulent, If
cleverly hidden. sting. Before the
ciuo entrance he stopped the tram
to let her of. relieved to be rid
OF her, when slim girl in a white
satin bathing suit and matching
peach robe came out of the grilled
IRON gate and saw him.
Despite uniform. cap and sun
glasses, she knew that arrogant
nose and flaming copper hair.
To be continued.