The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-07-29
Chapter %
Man Of Mystery
THE suit Rose wanted to lie

THE suit Rose wanted to lend
j her was too large for Jan.
"A couple of safety pins will fix
it." Rose decided. expertly adjust
ing the skirt and pinning the
waistband snugly. There, now,
it's all right. What about shoes?
/ know you couldn't wear mine.
Tive a pair of white pumps left
over from last summer" Jan
turned to go, her smock over her
arm, the blue hat in her hand.
will you go in to see Lance be-
fore you leave?"
Rose frowned, fumbled in her
tiny. brilliant-set bag for a cigar
cite, put it between her lips and
lit it before answering. 81 thought
it better not to CO." she answered.
81 seem to upset him. Johnny will
have fit if I'm any later"
Jan went on out, saying,
Thanks for the loan of the
clothes. I'll be careful of them"
Don't be-" Rose admonished.
closing the door. eff | didn't live
here with you l wouldn't be able
to afford the sort of clothes |
need. Have fun tonight with your
man of mystery!"
MAN of mystery"
Rose smiled slowly, wisely.
swell, isn't he? Young, handsome,
sophisticated. obviously educated
and far too experienced for the
role he is playing. / think he's
hiding from something or some
one Well, murder usually outs!"
Jan thought of Derek's words:
Women and their hateful, prob
ing curiosity" She answered
nothing, however. and went on to
her own room.
Before going downstairs to join
Derek she stepped in TO see Lance.
He had turned off all the lights
except a dim night lamp and the
room was cloudy with cigarette
smoke. The heaped ashtrays at
tested to his incessant nervous
smoking.
you need some air in here"
she said and opened two Of the
windows for a minute.
He demanded sharply, where's
Rose? haven't seen her all day."
"She went to the Club for din
ner."
Il heard you talking to her a
minute ago in the hall"
Il know. She was just leaving"
The tip of his cigarette burned
with red fierceneSs. We'll, she
could have stopped in a minute.
Close those windows. will you?
I'm cold. I'm a fool" he went on
with derisive bitterness. "Why
should ! expect her to be inter
ested in helpless cripple? Why
shouldn't she dine and dance and
swim and ride! Do all the things
! can't do! Why couldn't / have
met her when ! was whole? When
fieW-made money-tCds some
thing. somebody. I'd do better to
have these petrified legs of mine
cut off, at least then l could hob
bic about on stumpsl Why can't
they give me artificial legs?
could use crutcheS then. What in
hell is the use of dragging two
dead legs around? Jan. you've got
TO do something for me. can't
60 on this way-buried alive in
this rOom-slowly going mad, and
maybe not so Slo ClyI"
Thick With Grief
a LII the earlier anticipation of
n fun fled from Jan. all the
pleasure of wearing something
new. of being with Derek. Her
throat became thick with grief.
Crossing the room she slipped an
arm around her brothers thin
shoulders. He shrugged away
from her touch. Il don't want pity
and sympathy" he rasped. Il
want 10 walk"
''The surgeons said" she be-
gan helpleSsly.
Il know. know. but that was
two years agol"
I'VE have no money" she
whispered.
ave can sell the house. Oh,
don't look so hurtl II / can fly
again | can buy you any kind of
house you want"
But she knew ne was thinking
OF Rose. not her. and a defeated.
desolate feeling wrung her heart.
eff you think It wise" she agreed
gently. I'VE can talk il over to-
morrow. Shall I send Norma in to
keep you company this EVENING""
mo" he muttered. 81 can hard
ly bear TO look az her during
meals. Her eyes are red and
watery all the time-why doesn't
she have her glasses changed?
And why does she act as If I'm
sticking pins in her every time !
mention Rose? On, go along,
see you're dressed 10 90 out, and
stop bothering mel" He snapped
on a lamp and wheeled himself
TO his work bench.
Il may as well finish my
rounds" she thought, going on
to Norma's room. thankful TO find
Norma gone. How could Lance be
so blind? Didn't he know Norma
loved him? That he was hurting
her terribly? It wasn't like Lance
to be deliberately cruel. Rose, she
thought distractedly. II was his
utterly mad infatuation for the
beautiful divorce which had
made him so unseeing. unthink-