The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-07-30
Night Of Surprises
Chapter g

Night Of Surprises
Chapter %
THEY danced twelve times al
L the big ballroom, gulped
strawberry ice cream sodas, and
walked the length of the pier
again to cool off.
1--WE never had such fun in
my life!" Jan gasped. 'T've al
ways wanted to do his"
"Then why haven't your"
Never had anybody to do it
with. nor enough money"
He iingled some coins in his
pocket, drew them out and
counted. We've a dollar left.
What shall we do with it?"
Listen" she breathed.
Near the place where Jan kept
her own little boat 4 man was
bawling through speak
Take moonlit ride on the
ocean. folksl A moonlit ride over
the waves in a big speed boat!
Right, this way, folks. only fifty
cents"
Shall WEI" she asked. at
sounds divine"
Hand in hand they ran down
the steps to the float below,
slipped into the transparent
slickerS handed them and stepped
into a wide. leather-cushioned
seat. The; forty-foot boat filed a
few minutes later and cast off. It
darted around the breakwater's
formidable rocks and. headed for
the open sea, leaving a wake of
lacy foam behind it. Jan snuggled
closer to Derek. tingling to her
fingertips with happiness as his
hard arm held her tightly. She
adored silently as he raised his
dark. arrogant face to the wind
and the salt spray.
IF we could go on and on like
this" she thought, her magma
ton humming. 1--WE could be
travelling to a palatial yacht an
chored miles out, waiting to carry
us off to the Mediterranean Sea
together forever and foreverl"
Then the cold water of reason
drenched her. chilling her. To-
gether - forever? Is that what
she wanted? Yes! She loved this
man beside her.
A deep and blissful emotion
took hold of her, filling her,
bringing awarenesS of Derek be-
side her and she was glad of the
darkness.
The boat made a wide circle
and turned back. Derek looked
down at her parted lips and
dreaming eyes and chuckled.
You look like Alice in Wonder
land must have looked when she
adventured through the looking
glass" he leased lightly. Having
a good time?"
Gust happy" she said. Won
derlng if he would appear half so
gay if he knew a very foolish girl
had Just given him her heart But
he didn't know. she thought. nor
would she ever tell him unless
he shouldn't that was unlikely.
What matter? This ecstasy, this
new aliveneSs. she could hoard
against the days when-oh. no.
don't think that far ahead He
must never go. Never leave mel
Something wrong?" he asked,
concerned at the shadow which
momentarilv darkened her vivid
face. as the popcorn fighting
with the hot dogS?"
"They Just signed an armis-
tice." she sighed "Oh. it's late.
Derek. We must 60 right on home
the minute the boat ties up"
After midnight" he said.
squirting at his dollar watch as
they came under the pier lights.
Alas. Cinderella. thou must hike
1t. Thy coach hath turned into a
round. fat pumpkin and my
chariot is hexed by Demon Car
bon"
'Ricky'
a MOTHER group of prospec-
"A tive moonlight riders were
lined up on the float when Jan
took Derek's outstretched hand
and stepped out of the boat. AS
they peeled off their Slickers and
turned to go up the narrow stair
way to the pier a girl shrieked
out:
"Derekl Derek!"
He turned to see a platinum
head. dark eyes in a fragile
flowerlike face He froze, his fin
gers pinching JAMS elbow
''Rickyl" the girl cried again and
began squeezing between people
TO reach him. He grabbed JAMS
arm and leaped up the steps, his
face white as paper. Jan felt his
terror. his exigent need to get
tway. Without questioning, she
Swerved toward the lifeguard sta
ton and pushed him back into
the shadow. After few moments
she said duly. "She didn't follow
you. Derek. You can come out
now"
They walked toward home in
constrained silence. He asked
finally: Did you see her?"
mo. So many people, only
heard her call to you. Was-was
she the one you spoke of that day
you played Beethoven"
yes"
In the bright nier li51ts sha