The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-09-30
Chapter 81
Furtive Figure

80 ~ nv
As both the orderly and the
chaplain seemed disposed to
linger and continue the subject,
/ took my overnight case and my
rejected manuscript and went off
down the hall to Felicia's room.
But it did strike me as odd that
Sandra should have been filling
her medicine bottle in the dark.
And there was something else the
orderly had said that rang the
little bell in my mind. Something
that for the moment eluded me.
Felicia was in. She came to the
door looking pale and weary. !
told her | had decided to leave
in the morning and had come
back to do my packing. Was there
vacant guest room where I
could spend the night?
Eyes, plenty of them. Bat why
don't you stay with me? I'm not
looking forW ard to the night
alone"
I saw then that she looked as
she had the night her car was
stolen. Even her steel nerves had
been shaken by this last catas-
trophe.
'All right" 1 said. eff you're
sure you want me-"
''The only thing I'd like better
is a whole troup of cavalry.
armed to the teeth"
HAS the guard been Withdrawn
from my room?"
Il suppose so. I haven't seen
anyone around since noon"
Then there'll ')e no objection
to my getting my things"
81 don't know Perhaps you'd
better ask Colonel Pennant."
"Oh, he didn't say couldn't"
/ told her brightly.
put a period to that by TAX
ing my case into the bedroom. !
left my hat there, too. But the big
manila envelope and my pocket
book l bore with me back to the
sitting room.
Il may as we'll pack that" 1
said disgustedly. Barren fruit of
my visit at Fort Michigan"
What is it?"
Rejected manuscript. Sent il
off on Monday ard back it comes
on Friday. Nice Ioing."
Quick work" she commented.
aTl 90
on it,"
"Why, so it has. I didn't notice
that. Rosabeile is getting lavish.
Now what might that mean?"
You might find out by opening
it," Felicia suggested dryly.
mo. wait! There was letter.
too" / opened my pocketbook and
took it out. Another air-mail
stamp. Curiouser ard curiouser."
l was conscious of Felicia's eyes
as l opened the letter and
scanned it hurriedly. murmuring
phrases aloud.
Dear Miss Cornish, this starts
off swell but about the middle il
starts to 90 haywire. Sounds like
two stories mixed up. I'm rushing
the manuscript to you as I need
it for the November book. Please
clean it no and fire it back
Merits" | commented. thrust
ing the letter back in my bag.
"She needs new specs. Well. I'm
certainly not going to tackle il
tonight. I've a notion to send if
back without changing a line. She
wouldn't know the difference
they're 2 dizzy lot. these love-pulp
editors"
Sounds like it." said Felicia
indifferently. Speaking of dizzy
reminds me the chaplain wants
some more towels. Wonder if the
laundry can bleach out that black
stuff he puts on his rash? And
when collected the linen from
Jeff'S room this morning there
was towel that looked as If he
had been polishing brass with it.
Honestly. peonle show less con-
SideratiOn-"
Animal At Bay
CHE had started out, but she
- paused az the door.
"Ill be back in a minute. Need
any help with your packing?"
No thanks. I just brought q
wardrobe suitcase. | can pack il
in a half-hour. l may as well de
it now and get to bed. want to
catch an early train"
l followed her out into the cor
ridor, where we separated. Sub
consciously, while I hesitated al
the door of my rooms. I heard
the sound of her tapping heels
diminish and cease as she round
ed a corner. Then I mustered
courage to turn the knob.
The door was not locked.
opened it slowly. fearfully. halt
expecting to feel it impeded by
the prone form which had been
there in the morning. But il
swung in easily enough and. my
hand on the light switch, pre-
pared to follow ii.
TL-- $500. II