The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-01-24
Chapter Six
Warfare

WHOM else might you marry?"
he demanded. "Jim Kettle?"
She was silent for a moment,
When she spoke it was with an
air of dignity which impressed
even Trenton's impotence.
THAT is a question you have
no right to ask, Bob! I doubt if
you have the right even to talk
70 me at all on such a subject
after so brief an acquaintance.
Please don't do it again!" She rose
and moved toward the door, and
perforce he followed her.
He avoided her for the rest of
the evening, a fact which did not
escape Barbara Webb's sharp
eyes.
"Quarrelled?" she formed the
word over Aliens shoulder as
they swept near Sue and the con-
tentedly hopping Jim Kettle. Sue
shook her head. 1t was more than
q quarrel, she told herself. She
had lost Bob Trenton for good.
No more telephone calls, no more
conversational audacities, no more
spur-of-the-moment plans, car
ried out with a lavishness of time
and money impossible to the other
men she knew The. quickening
tempo OF the last three weeks
would slow TO everyday pace.
She was half glad and half
sorry. Going about with Bob
Trenton had been like driving a
high-powered racing car; thrilling
but very dangerous. The slightest
carelessness. the merest obstacle
in the road, and one would find
ones self metaphorically with a
broken neck.
"Still. it was fun while it last
ed" she sighed as she prepared
for bed that night. "And much as
] hate to admit it, suppose Forest
was right: Bob was amusing him.
self with mel He pushed it pretty
far, though. | wonder what he'd
have done if I'd taken him UP
tonight? Found some way to
squirm out of it, of course. He
must have had loads of experience
at it,"
She concentrated at the resent
fulness this idea aroused, Knowing
that only anger would drive out q
certain feeling of hollowness, of
darkness which overcame her
at the realization there would be
no more Bob Trenton in her life.
Sue Davenport was a person of
character. Having decided during
what. to her fury, had proved &c
be Sleepless hours of the night,
that all thought of Bob Trenton
was to be put out of her mind,
she promptly made gay plans at
the breakfast table.
Allen listened somewhat alb
sently. When the telephone rang,
he sprang to answer it before
Maggie could reach the hall.
For YOU" he told his sister.
Trenton again. Starts the day
rather early. doesn't hep"
Sues hand shook little as she
picked up the receiver.
"Yes?"
"Oh. darling don't say it so
icily! It's a grand morning; had
you noticed? And I've got such a
nice plan for today Wait-let me
tell you! A hundred mile drive
to the north-a picnic with a fire
and coffee and everything-an
October picnic, Sue!"
Sorry" she said firmly. SIM
busy all day. Tonight, too" she
added hastily.
Then you do remember!'
There was reproach in his voice.
you have a date with me tonight.
and try to break it if you darel"
at doesn't take much daring.
It's broken noW-Was broken last
night. in fact should think you'd
have known that, Bob"
But why?" He was honestly
puzzled. Just because ! couldn't
make you see things my way the
first time? didn't really expect
TO. to tell you the truth. But
will! In the meantime"
"!n the m eantim ne" Sue
snapped, "I'm very busy this
morning. bye!
Dinner Invitation
A Lien was struggling into his
"A topcoat when she re-entered
Seems to me Trenton calls you
pretty often and early. Sis!"
"He won't after today" she
said serenely. THAT young man is
far too used to having things his
own way. As l was saying, Allen,
about the fencing lessons"
Arrange for them, of course,
II you like; but don't keep me
now, Sue. Be seeing you'll"
She did arrange for the fencing
lessons, first persuading Barbara
to join her. The two girls lunched
downtown, saw a movie, shoppeo
until il was time to hurry home
TO dinner. Sue congratulated her.
self that one day had gone by
without Bob. 1t was a trif1e dis
concerning to find him in the liv-
ing-room, very much at home
smoking and lounging in Aliens
big chair.
She stood gazing at him in
speechless anger, her cheeks
family colored by the crisp air
her dark eyes bright with emo
ton.
ass this fair2 Is this right?" she