The Key West citizen., 1940-09-17

to take down our hair and have
a good old gossip" Gerald an
nounced as we sat down to dinner
that evening.
Julia laughed so happily that
people at a neighboring table
looked around in smiling SYM
pathy. "You sound like Felicia" /"
Gerald gave her a reproving
glance. I'm sure don't know
what you mean" he said primly.
Mrs. Bridewen is one of my
dearest friends-and speaking Of
gossip, I've had some loUely inti-
mate chats with her"
Julia leaned forward raptly.
''Go on. Geraldine! Do tell us
what she saidl"
well, for instance-did you
know that the late lamented Mr..
Bridewell was a federal agent
who was killed in pursuit of his
duty? And that he was so hated
by the criminal element that she
moved away from her home and
changed her name to escape the
threats of his enemies?"
go on-she was pulling your
Leg" Julia scofed.
Gerald looked crestfallen. do
you think so? Why must you
take the joy out of life like that?
She even told me his name
Morse or Morris or something Of
the kind. And I had such a nice
theory all fixed up"
Besides, FBI men are always
young" Julia went on patroniz-
ingly.
old. Her hair turned white be-
cause of worry over her huS-
bandp
Geraldine! You wouldn't be a
little touched in the head, too,
would you? But go on-what else
did she tell you? Did she tell you
about her little niece who was
here for a visit in June?"
''Nol And me so fond Of the
little tots, too. Tell me, was she a
dear little dimpled darling with
golden curls? Oh, I must ask
Fetish about her."
Nearly Blind
MO, Gerald, don't. The poor kid
~ is larky and her hair is like
black string. And she wears
glasses-she'S nearly blind. Felicia
had her out at the beach one day
"a happy little thing, about six.
talked to her, and she told me
cheerfully that her Aunt Felicia
was going to take her to Chicago
the next day to see a new doctor
who would make her eyes strong.
Felicia told me privately-t that the
Chicago specialist was sort Of
last hope-they weren't counting
too heavily on the results of the
examination. And apparently
there was nothing he could do,
for Felicia never mentioned the
subject again, and / didn't like to
bring it up. She brought the child
back for a few days before she
! shipped her home, but they didn't
come out to the beach again
kept indoors during the day. I
saw them out walking one eve
ming, and they both looked pretty
Subdued. Poor Felicia was like a
different person while she was
here-read to her, played games
with her, never left her side. I
wouldn't have thought she had a
soft spot. but I guess that kid is
it."
| where does the child live?"
| Gerald asked, dropping for a mo-
ment his idiotic poSturing.
In New York, think she said.
Her brothers child"
There! That proves i'll I told
you I had a theory. Ten to one
Felicia lived in or near New York
herself. Some of those terrible
/ gangSterS that you have over here
we're so much more clever
about these things in dear old
/ blighty-took it into their heads
to bounce off her husband be-
cause he knew too much about
| them, and then they got chills of
| the pedal extremitieS for fear he
might have told his wife. But, do
you see, when they thought Of
that it was already too late for
she had taken a blowout pow
der"
You needn't laugh" he pro-
tested after our hilarious inter-
ruption. 81 really like your color
full speech. What was I say
ing-Oh yes, so they got busy
and traced her, which proved to
take some time how long has
she been here. by the way?"
Since April"
There you are - April, May,
June, July, Augustine months.
And when they located her, they
sent one of their men to bounce
her off. So what happens? She
really did know something-she
saw him first and eurekal The
blow on the bean. the dive into
the dark holdi"
You mean-Ivan?" I asked In.
credulously.
mo less. Probably a lieutenant
in some dope ring"
mo. Geraldine" said Julia.
"You go too far. trembIe to
think what you've been reading"
You don't like it?" he demand
ed anxiouSly. well. I'll see If I
can think up another. rather
fancied Felicia - she looks the
type who might have bounced
many a rolling pin on the pate
Of the late lamented Mr.. Bride.
well, Oman or no G-man."
To be continued