The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-08-10
u IG = It'd e
81 frances Hanna

chievous CLEAN crinkling his eyes.
Would you consider me a suit
able escort? You see, ! am
obliged to attend this symphony.
Truthfully speaking, I'm not
much of a symphony fan, and I
wasn't anticipating it, but since
a friend of yours-it's a most
formal and formidable party, my
dear. One Of the staff doctors, his
wife and another couple have a
box for the season"
Jan hesitated. But won't II
seem funny, I mean strange, IL
you take me? / mean-oh, dearI
I guess | don't care if you don't.
/ want to 60 so terribly and it's
so grand of you to ask me"
Then it is settled. You will 90
with me. as my guest. However,
/ will spare you the dinner and
call for you at your hotel about
eight. Now about your brother"
Jan thought guiltily that she
had forgotten Lance. so excited
had she become over Derek's con-
cert. over the prospect of seeing
that red head and arrogant face
once again. MY brother" she
prompted. concern darkening her
wide eyes. as Z good or bad
news, Doctor Murray"
Fair" he said cautiously. 'Tm
having him moved into the hos
pital right away and I'm schedul-
ing the operation for day after
tomorrow"
Then you are going to operated
That means there is a chanceI"
He nodded. "a chance. You
may visit him tomorrow after
noon for a short while. but the
remainder of the time / want
him to have absolute rest and
quiet. There is nothing you can
do until after the operation, and
worrying and fretting won't help
either Of you. so go in now and
see him few moments, then ex-
pect me at your hotel about eight
or eighty-thirty this evening"
Jan suddenly remembered she
had nc evening dress. Ruth had
suggested buyi1g one. but she'd
been so sure she wouldn't need
il. There would be time, now, to
select one and it would be a grand
adventure to buy a formal dress
in New York shop!
Would she see Derek tonight
after the concert? Would he grin
at her and say: Hello. Puss?"
Air Castles
a LTHOUGH it was middle Sep
1 \ TENDER the evening was warm,
even a little sultry. and the side
walks were thronged with people
wanting to be out of doors. At
eight o'clock Jan descended to the
hotel lobby to wait for Doctor
Murray. unable to remain longer
in her room.
Now | know what it means TO
be all a-twitter'," she thought,
settling very primly on rose vel
vet chair Right now I'm the
twitteriest. jitteriest female in
New York Cityi''
Her imagination again had been
working overtime and she pic
tured herself. calm and friendly
a md delightfully."- sophisticated.
greeting Derek and saying, you
were just too marvellous. Mr..
Knowlesl Such a privilege to hear
you" And he would look at her
and for moment wouldn't know
her because she looked so grown
up with her yellow hair brushed
severely back from her forehead
and piled high in ringlets atop her
head with her small oval face
delicately made up. and in her
beautiful velvet cloak and pleat-
ed sky-blue crepe evening gown
with fragile sandals to match.
Then while he held her hands and
looked deeply into her eyes he
would remember her and tell her
she was lovely and ask her to
dine with him at the Waldorf and
cruise TO Valhalla. or was ii
ElySium? = anyhow. to a very
private heaven on his palatial
yacht.
She would not permit herself to
think of him as Derek Knowles
the immensely wealthy man OF
the world-no. he was just Derek.
a lonely. frustrated boy whom she
had helped and who had at last
won triumph. Too. he must tell
her what she wanted to hear so
much. that he had left her and
never written because he wanted
| first to win success
Air easiest" she checked her
self. "If he has a great triumph
tonight he will be surrounded by
reporters. photographers. friends.
music patrons and / probably
won't be able to get near him!
Maybe he won't care to be re-
minded that / once pulled him
out of the ocean: Frank says peo-
pie are seldom grateful for being
saved from their own foolish
ness.
ooh. Miss Merriner. here you
are. All ready, ! see"
It was Doctor Murray, looking
as if he'd been forcibly stuffed
into white tie and tails, his smil-
| ing. red-cheeked face bobbing at
( ner IN pleasure ana ADMIRATION
Il told them all about you and
your brother" he said. taking her
out to a long. sleek limousine at
the curb. Doctor Birmingham
also knows this young composer
friend of yours who is making his
debut this evening"
Jan. entering the car. excited.
eager with anticipation. warmed
her eyes and the hearts of the
staid. decorous people awaiting
her.
$50 you are a friend of Young
Derek Knowles" smiled Doctor
Birmingham. Hes fine Young
man. brilliant ! know his father
we'll Only last week Gregory
Knowles lunched with me at the
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