The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-02-02
Chapter IA
Sue Trenton

Sue Trenton
LIE WENT on: "Have you had
H any dinner, Sue? I'll bet you
haven't Patsy is just the sort of
woman to start something before
meal. Poor old Allenl I'll let he's
rueing the dag he ever met her.
Maybe" he said cheerfullJ, "this
will bust up their marriage"
ooh, no! It was to prevent that
! came away tonight. Maybe with
out me-without everything / do
or say getting on Patsy's nerves,
she'll be nicer to Allen. That's all
they ever quarrel over; my car,
and where / go and how spend
my money :. Obi" She gave him
a remorseful look. 81 didn't mean
to tell you that, Bob, truly didn't.
Please forget it. will your"
He replied comfortably: 'If you
say so; but of course / knew all
that months ago. Pats isn't exactly
reticent as to what she considers
her wrongs. BY the way, where is
your car, that you were calling a
taxi?"
She colored and shook her head.
"Pd rather not tell you, Bob. It's
all part-part of the unpleasant
ness tonight. Where are we going?
We're getting pretty far out from
town. / don't want to have to
register at the hotel too late"
Have you back before ten," he
promised. "Just now I'm going to
feed you. Be a good ck Id and ask
no questions"
It was restful to lean back in the
seat and leave the next hour or
two to him. The cool air famed
her tear-stained face, and she had
a delicious sense of being taken
care of. When presently they
halted in front Of farmhouse set
back from the highway, she
alighted from the car with no
more than a questioning smile at
him.
Grand place l found to eat. It's
probably too late for the regular
dinner, but we can get sandwiches
and milk, or somethine." To the
plump woman who sat in a rallied
enclosure, he explained: Here
are two starving pilgrims, Mrs.
Steiner. Think you could find us
something to save our young
lives?"
She returned his smile.
"Sure, sure, Mr.. Trenton. Plenty
in the kitchen. Just you Wait!"
And in an incredibly short time,
a generous meal was set before
them: fried chicken still warm,
rolls which were none the worse
for a second heating, lettuce from
the garden in back of the house;
and to finish, homegrown straw
berries with thick yellow cream.
Sue was surprised to find herself
eating with appetite. A great sense
of peace had succeeded the anger,
despair and desolation which h, 4
shaken her, one emotion after an
other. since five o'clock. It was all
decided in her mind. She had
struggled long enough against
Bob's love. She was twenty five
years old, she had known more
men than the average girl in her
position, and she had cared for
none of them as much as she cared
for Bob Trenton. To be sure, the
kind of love she had waited for,
the burning ecstasy, the mad, sad,
sweet possession of her senses that
the poets sang of had never
touched her.
"But perhaps it never WILL" she
unused. finishing the last drops of
her iced tea. Evidently Pm not
the sort of woman to love like
that. Or maybe it will come after
marriage. I've heard it does some
times"
Wedding
"IGIHAT are you thinking of, with
w your dear little face all
scowled up like that?"
Thinking that Pm awfully fond
Of you. Bob! Thinking that if you'll
wait until tomorrow :. but We'll
not talk of it now. Do you know
you've hardly touched this de-
licious dinner?"
He grinned. "Are you just no.
ticing the fact2 At that, / think
I've made pretty good bluff at
eating two dinners in enc eve
ming" H
"Ohl Oh, yes, Of counsel How
stupid of me. I'd lost track of
things, with all that's happened
since-since Allen came home"
She laid down her napkin and
looked sober. "Poor old Buddyl
! feel as though I'd deserted him.
But it was the only thing to do"
She started up. 81 must telephone
him, thought ] intended to the
minute reached the hotel. He
might miss me, and get an awful
scare"
The telephone was Of the rural
variety, and it took some struggles
with the crank to get Aliens num-
Der. Sue had to tiptoe UP to speak
into the mouthpiece.
ats Sue, dear" she said at last.
81 just want to tell you I'm all
right-you're not to worry about
mel"
Had he discovered you'd gone?"
Bob asked when, the brief con-
versation concluded they were
once more back in his car and
headed toward the city.
mo, luckily enough. think he'd
been out. His voice sounded sort
Of dull and tired. He-he didn't