The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-01-30
Chapter IL
BOb's House

BOb'S House
uELLO, Bob! was rather tear
IL ing along, l suppose. I'm so
darned glad, she said childishly,
'to get outdoors for while. Isn't
this simply poisonous weather? A
good snowstorm, or really cold
clear days that make your blood
tingle but thiSl D'you think
we're ever going to see the sun
again?"
Tomorrow" LIE prophesied. ITS
clearing, and there's some color IN
the west. Where are you bound
for. Sue? Any place in particular?
If not, may | come along?" He
added aggrievedly: you might
say you're glad to see me after my
being gone a whole week."
81 am; ever so glad!" She real
lied with a little start of surprise
that this was true. Without know
ing. Bob's absence had been part
of the discomfort of the last few
days. She stopped suddenly. mar
rowly missing a collision with an
old gentleman who carried an UNI
brella. Bob, I've missed you ter
riblyl | thought it was just the
rain, and being cooped up so long
with Patsy, but believe your be-
ing away had lot to do with it,"
His downward glance was rue
full. "You don't add perceptlbly TO
a mans good opinion of himself,
do you, sweet? Have to have 1t
pointed out to you that you've
missed him! WE'LL suppose I'm
making progress, but it seems
blamed slow. Maybe by the time
we're both gray-headed you'll de-
eide you love me, and then a dec
ade later we can rush into mar
riage." .<e
"You don't have to wait. you
know, Bob! In fact, I've rather
begged you not to. If you're so
keen on getting married, there are
plenty of girls"
''Yeah-plenty of girls. I've met
'em, I've even loved few of 'em
-experimentally. But there's only
one Sue Davenport, and it's my
bad luck TO want her and nobody
else. Listen, sweet! Let's get my
car and drive out to the house. /
want to see how the work has gone
while I've been East. | want to ask
you where you want all the roses
put I've ordered"
you've really bought that
place then? thought you were
bluffing."
Telling the simple and I'M
adorned truth is one of the neatest
ways of fooling the public there is
ever know that? I've talked so
much about buying that house that
nobody believes me. They think
the caretaker's in old Whining
tons employ.
"As a matter of fact" he went
on, striving to adapt his long
strides TO her shorter steps, Il
bought it just when told you |
did-lesS than a month after !
came here. thought then you and
I'd be married by Christmas time.
It's not my fault that we aren't.
Sue!"
"You won't lose on it," she said
primly. ITS a good investment 1
Property is going up out there"
Investment be hanged! I'm
moving out there, sweet! With or
without you. This spring"
"You are!" The dark eyes came
swiftly up, their lashes beaded
with moisture beneath the thin
scarlet brim of her hat.
Il am. I've always wanted a
home"
"But-surely you had one? In
New York;"
ut wasn't what called a home"
he assured her. 1T was sort of
cross between a museum, a baro-
NAL castle and an office building.
And at that. / didn't live in it very
long at a time. School. and being
sent to England to help them sell
out the English branch, and estab-
fishing a few factories over here
it's kept me on the jump"
Funny that you'd want TO live
here. ! thought you Fasteners
despised the Middle West"
mot this one! | love this coun.
Try. A fellow can breathe with all
this land about him. ! don't care
for the plains, but your hills are
beautiful And" he added sig
nificantly. even if it was the Sa-
hara, there are other attractions.
Acute DiStaste
ITS getting dark, Bob. We'd bet
L ter turn back"
You won't drive out to the
house? It's warm. you know-the
lights are on. We can be back be-
fore dinner time"
She was about to refuse when
suddenly an acute distaSte for the
room she had left swept over her:
the stale air, the faint disorderly
look where all had been dainty or
der months before, Patsy's vague
ly hostile gaze meeting her own.
II you'll surely have me back
before Allen comesw she stipu-
lated.
Her heart ightened as he drove
swiftly TO tire city limits; on even
beyond he clustered houses of the
Country Club district. It was the
hrst time she had really inspected
the Ted Wilmington house. It had
been an extravagant gesture on