The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-03-05
By Ann Demaresf

realized I'd either have to go out
to dinner or be overcome. The
fireplace was still kicking UP.
With every gust Of wind smoth-
ering cloud of smoke poured out
of the chimney and the room was
blue with it.
'Tm Afraid"
IN the last hour the light snow
L fall had turned into blizzard.
hurried down the street, an icy
wind tearing at my coat, trying
to find a restaurant. ALI of the
stores were closed for the night,
the dilapidated tenementS were
dark, and the sidewalk stands lay
bare of fruit but deep in snow.
The whole neighborhood looked
as though it had been suddenly
deserted. Then on the corner /
saw the steamy windows of a
Knife and Fork. I could have
shouted with joy.
It was gratefully warm in the
lunch room. I took off my coat,
climbed up to the counter and
ordered wheat cakes and sausage
and felt more normal. It was a re-
lief to get away from that house.
Those wheat cakes tasted better
than any luncheon on Park Ave
nue. and after a second order of
them and another cup of coffee /
could even think of Toby without
bursting into tears. Then lighted
a cigarette and leaned back,
thinking that pleasant as it was
! still had to go back to the apart
ment. / don't know exactly what
was the matter, but 10 George
State was becoming less and less
inviting. It was bound to be cold,
and with people crying IN the
hall, walking overhead when the
apartment was pres u n b ly
empty, and climbing around fire
escapes in the dark, there was no
telling what might happen next.
! felt pretty lonely. It takes a
strong character, l thought to
have a career. And then the street
door opened with a clatter and a
gust of wind and Mr.. Kimball'S
niece came in with a man. They
sat down at E small table by the
window. He left no particular
impression on me except that he
seemed awfully young and was
wearing a~heavy coat and muffler
that he didn't take off before |
left. Later the Police Sergeant
seemed to think this was impor-
tant. but considering the weather
it didn't seem odd to keep a coat
on to thaW out. However, the
police and / differed on more
points than one.
The girl was awfully smart
looking. She was younger than /,
in her early twenties, / thought,
and she had a beaver coat that l
gazed on with covetous eye. 1t
made my three-year-old Sealskin
look like an alley cat.
They were sitting so that / could
see them in the mirror over the
counter. Something certainly was
the matter with the girl. Mr.. Kim
ball had said that she wasn't well,
but it looked to me as if it were
worry and not illness. ! was
frankly curious so l lighted an
other cigarette while they or
dered. For few minutes they
didn't speak. Then she bent across
the table and her voice, though it
was very low, carried, and could
hear her quite distinctly.
what are you going to do?"
she asked the man.
He shrugged his shoulders.
"Im so worried" she said. "She
has warned me twice. And if she
comes again :" She broke off
and both of them were silent.
When she continued her voice
was shaken. 81 tell you, Pm
afraid"
shivered. 'This," 1 told my
self, sis no better than a cold
apartment"
Locked Door
THERE was something about
L the girls voice aside from
what she said that made me I'M
easy. I put out my cigarette, paid