The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-08-26

up the club; but | did not dis
courage her too severely, for il
was the first time ] could remem-
Der having heard Julia laugh. Nor
was l feeling too sober myself.
don't know whether it was the
effect Of the heelleSs shoe or the
somewhat inappropriate frivolity
of that girdle that made poor
Felicia an unforgettable spectacle,
She did not join in our laugh
ter, but she seemed resigned to it,
"1f you don't mind I'll sit
down" she said, and sank onto
the nearest straight chair.
There was a faint echo of her
normal dryness in her voice. but
it was a weak effort. | looked al
her more closely and saw that she
was badly frightened, that she did
not yet feel safe. | got her a
glass Of water from my bathroom
and helped her hold if while sic
! drained it thirstiIy, her teeth cIat-
tering a little against the rim.
Man WITH 4 Mask
THANKS" she said. and
L WINGED. mo. never mind
it's nothing. I'm sitting on a burr.
but I'm too tired to move"
l brought her my housecoat and
helped her out of the girdle.
which she scrutInized with anx-
IouS care, swearing softly when
she discovered a rent in the back
of its diminutive skirt.
81 thought it caught on that
bsrbed wire" she said. Il took it
off and carried II until | got near
the quarters. Well. why not? can
grow new skin. but this was
twenty-five dollars half price at
Marshall Fields" Her lips tight
ened. her eyes cleaned 81 told
the thieVing son of Satan if he
made me strip 10 the skin I'd claw
his eyes out. He was touched by
my maiden mOdesty-let me keep
the girdle on"
She stopped. saw our loose
JaWed establishment.
"Oh. yes, I'm number three.
Stepped on my running board al
the red light this side Of the vii
lage. showed gun III my ribs and
told me to move over. DrOpped
me thoughtfully on the road back
of the post
What did he lock like?' de-
manded Julia.
Little man with 4 n7ask-that's
all / can tell you. | didn't mind
him so much, but I'm deathly
afraid of snakes. Every time I
stepped on fallen limb I thought
1t was one" She Shuddered and
looked sick with fright. I'D have
been here earlier but when | COZ
near the post l had to look cut
for sentries. I'd rather not have
this discussed around the bar
racks. That's why I came to your
window There's a bright light out
in front of the club and a sentry
patrolling the back row."
She rose YEARLY. limDCd toward
the door. Thanks for the first aid.
I'll bring back your housecoat IL
the morning."
Isn't there anything else we
can do?"
mo, thanks. I've got iodine
III anoint the worst scratches and
fall into bed. Oh, you might over
see breakfast; and don't let any
one wake me before noon"
1t was not a night for sleeping.
Perhaps an hour later-poSsibly
longer-the bugler went crazy out
on the parade ground. At least
that was the way it sounded. The
call was wild and ciamorous, and
it was still black night-too early
for reveille..
My first thought when | came
to, sitting up in bed. was that the
end of the world had come and
Gabriel was blowing his trumpet:
and the answering wall Of a siren
sounded like the condemned souls
of all the centuries.
Julia stirred and grumbled in
the other bed, then l heard her
feet hit the floor.
Whats the matter?" / asked
nervously. whats happened
now?"
Firc," she sd briefly in
sleep-hus,Iy voice.
The busle and the siren kept I'D
their dreadful ciar1cr, sh3ttering
the peace of the sleeping post; and
presently. as an underline. we
could hear doors sla:nming and
voices calling eXci.cd.y back and
forth from the barracks.
Julia WIS 81 the window now.
1T may be lust a drill. I don't
see anything"
She padded into the sitting
room, which he's windows on two
sides, and | sid out of bed and
joined her.
There 1t iS-over there," she
told ne excitedly.
There was red glow in the
sky and an occasional fame that
leaped Skyward. The fire truck
was blasting its way down the
line and silhouetted against its
moving lights we could see SOL
dIerS maSSlng on the parade
ground in front Of their barracks.
What's over there?" I asked
her. The stables?"
"YeS-no, l think its too far TO
the west Heavens. l hope it isn't
the poor horSesl"
She whirled, ran back into the
bedroom and turned on the light.
Get some clothes on. we'll 90
see"
She was already dressed and
running a comb through her hair
by the time / had found Stacks
and a shirt and a pair of low
heeled shoes.
"Pl be back" she said. and
dashed out Of the room. I could
hear running footsteps and mems
voices as she opened the door TO
the hall Then l found had my