The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-07-19
Chapter IA
The New Roomer

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: a FER dinner Norma and
"A Lance and Frank, Derek and
Jan, formed a warm, contented
circle around the big stone fire.
place in the living room, watch
ing red-yellow flames lick over
the driftwood. Outside il was
dark and cold. The shades were
down, but through an open win
dow came the salt and fish smell
of the sea. the ineessant boom of
the surf.
Jan, sitting cross-iegged on the
floor, squirmed self consciously
in the lowered silk dress she'd
worn home from school two years
before. II was a becoming dress
with ruffies about the neck and
short sleeves, out she had accus-
toned herself so long to slacks
and sweaters and shorts that she
felt like a pillow horse on Sunday
parade. Her taffy curls, used to
riotous urrestraint, baked at the
combining white satin ribbon. and
her usually clean, scrubbed face
felt heavy with powder and lip
stick. This metamorphosis. she
admitted wryly to herself. was d.
rectly attributable to Rose Corn
wallis advent. For Roses groon1ed
loneliness had made her gloomily
aware of her own careless ap-
pearance. OF course Derek's evil
dent interest in Rose had nothing
to do with it-of course notl
She looked at Derek, sprawled
fun length beside her, his hard
jaw propped on his hands. his
deep, eyes brooding into the fire.
His long, well muscled legs pro-
truded from beneath the robe of
towellipg Jan had provided until
his clothes, which he had grurn-
blingly but thoroughly scrubbed.
were dry. She watched the flick
ering famelight play over his
lean. burned face and copper
hair. How close his ears Rugged
his shapely head-if only she
dared to reach over and run her
fingers through that red thatch
of hair.
81 hurt all cver," he said rue
fully, "but at least I've stopped
smelling like mackerel."
"How. you gettin' along with
Cap?" Frank asked.
HE seems to think little of my
ability" Derek's tone was dry and
non-committal. Have you all
met the new roorner?"
Lance stirred drowsily in his
wheel chair. mo. From JAMS de-
scription I gather we've captured
a bird of paradise"
They all heard the door up
stairs open and shut. Here she
comes" Norma whispered excit-
eddy. I'm dying to see her! Do
turn on a light. jan"
81 will" Frank pulled the tas-
seled cord of a floor lamp.
"Oh, don't stare" Jan begged.
She's very pleasant and friend
~"
No one needed her, however,
and when Rose, wearing a white
flannel suit topped by white
lamb coat. a sweeping white hat
pulled over her eyebrows. round
ed the newell post she saw iudg-
ment awaiting her. Drawing on
white gloves. holding a cigarette
between her heavily rouged lips,
she looked at them with evident
amusement.
Hello. everybody" she smiled.
coming into the room, taking the
cigarette in her fingers. what is
this, shadow box lineup"
Il should stand up, but Pm
much too comfortable here"
Dcrek greeted her lazily over his
shoulder.
She laughed. a rich. generous,
throaty laugh. What is this? A
fisherman with manners and a
continental accent! You intrigue
me- young man." .,aa
.''I won't for long" he mocketi.
Il don't own suit of clothes
and l haven't a dollar" a
And I'm no fairy god-mother. :
she said.
Their eyes me. challengingIy.
His said: 4 suspect yostr game
beautiful" Hers said: "Just what
are you doing here?"
Unhappy Norma
IAN saw this interchange and
- misinterpreted it. Rising to her
feet. she introduced Rose TO the
other four by The FIRE. Rose. ex-
uding an aura of expensive. tan
talizing perfume, stepped close
and offered her hand to Lance.
He looked up at her with hungry
eyes.
''Pm glad you're staying here"
he said. Il hope you'll come in
and talk to me sometimes. It gets
terribly dull"
81 will" she promised. Her
glance rested a moment on Nor
ma, flicked over Frank, passed on
indifferently. May I have key?"
she asked Jan I'm dining at the
Club and | sincerely hope I don't
come home until the wee sma'
hours"
"You won't" Derek murmured,
turning his face back to the fire.
When Jan handed her a key
she suggested. %if you are afraid |
to walk over alone from the
garage late at night, I'm sure
Johnny will he Glad IN drive