The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-07-13
Chapter Nine
More Than Consolation

@NN@S
More Than Consolation
IAN" said Johnny.
y "What?"
Jan, don't be sore at me. Pm
sorry. Gee, you're sweet kid and
pretty, too, with those big, blue
eyes. You'd be a knockout if-oh,
hang it all. Jan, Pm getting crazy
about you. guess it took that guy
being around here to wake me up.
/ just sort Of took you for granted
like sister, or something. You
like me lot, don't you. JAM"
"As a sister," She slipped away
from him. "And you don't need
TO hatter me just because I'm
creditorl"
For several minutes after the
kitchen door swung to, Johnny
Benton remained In the same
spot, his bland face creased with
the process of complicated think
ing. Jan had become extremely
desirable to him all Of sudden.
He counted her virtues as beads
on q fgurative rosary; her figure,
small, firmly curved. lovely: her
features, not classical, but very
good She was smart, clever,
quick. Her carelessness Of appear
ance came from living here at the
beach and having the bug to be
a painter in her silly, curly head.
Shed forget her paint brushes
quick enough If she fell in Lowell
Johnny had always fancied rich
wife; that is, until he took the job
at'the Surf Club. There he'd had a
chance to observe rich wives who,
like puppeteers. directed their
poor marionette husbands with
purse strings. mot for me-" he'd
decided. Il want a band of my
own, money of my own, and a
wife Of my own" Still, Johnny
loved rubbing shoulders with i'm
portant people. If he became ia
nous like Benny Goodman or
Eddie Duchin he would be impor-
tant, too. He could change Jan
into a polished, sophisticated dar-
ling who would be the envy of
his friends and acquaintance. He
had plenty of confidence in him
self until someone like Derek
said: "Scatl"
Out in the kitchen Jan, un-
aware that she had been chosen
TO be the future Mrs. Benton,
delved into cupboards with anx-
iouS hands, emerging triuni plant
ly with fruit. eggs. bacon and
pancake -four. Not very much
later she took up plate of steam
ing hotcakes stripped with bacon
to Lance. Leaving him, she
knocked on Derek's door. think
ing he might have come in, prob
ably hungry. There was no an
swer.
While she fed herself she
mulled over the few things she
did know about Derek, deciding
that at least right now. she had
better bury her pity and SYM
pathy for him, her foolish hurt
about the woman he had loved to
literal desperation. He needed
more than consolation. He needed
to get a new and different per-
spective on things He needed to
work and earn money and pay
his way; to realize he wasn't the
only person to fail; to see courage
and reality at first hand. Rather
q large order and she might be
all wrong about him-but try she
would!
Work Is A Nuisance
THE next morning she put on
her new armor of brisk friend
illness and at nine o'clock marched
her man out to Captain Topples
Office.
This is Derek White, Captain
Tupple," she said, looking very
small and brown and determined
beside the tall, amused man at
her side. "You know. the man you
agreed to hire"
Cap grunted. Looks middling
strong" he said. BE here at my
Office Saturday morning. White
Early"
Jan saw Derek about to speak
and she didn't like the twist of
his lips. Before he could say a
word she grabbed hold of his arm
and pulled him out on the pier.
"Just what were you about to
say?" she demanded suspiciously
His eyes, wide and guileless,
met hers Nothing. I was going
to ask IL ten o'clock would do. ]
never did like to get up earlier
than that. Early rising IS q virtu-
Gus verify only to job slaves"
You'll be UP at seven and here
at eight" she ordered.
"And If I oversleep?" he de-
INJURED.
%Oh, Derek, don't Joke about
IT, please. I'm just not in the
mood II just can't feed you, If
you don't help out with ex-
penseS."
Il see. Sorry" He reached for
her hand and tucked il through
his arm. He was thinking, "Pve
always had money. Lots of It Too
much Of II It's all I ever did have.
Never home. My parents seemed
70 think unlimited money would
make up to me for their neglect,
Tor their tabloid divorces and re-