The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-09-28

of sympathy. Sandra had been
his only friend on the post-the
only one who hadn't laughed at
him.
Since she was a mere child
It was my unhappy duty TO con-
duct the service for her father
and mother. A very sad affair.
The lovely wife died of pneu-
monia; the husband. inconsolable,
committed suicide. And now it
falls to my lot to read the ser
vice over their only child"
where will the body be sent?"
ITO San Antonio. where her
own father and mother as well
as her foster father and mother
lie buried. What a succession of
tragedies in those two families"
We went up the broad front
steps of the club, and he fumbled
the screen door open. The light
from the lounge Streamed out,
and / saw that he was carrying
a book in his white-gloved hand.
He followed me in, set down
my dressing case and slipped the
book face down on a table, but
not before I had seen the lurid
jacket and the title, Come Back.
My Heart.
Mrs. Bridewell asked me to
get her something" he said apollo
getically. Have you patroniZed
our small lending library in the
basement of the church,"
Il didn't even know there was
His face, noticed, was not
quite so repulsive looking. If he
could manage not to get another
attack he might look almost hui
man in another week.
The club orderly, passing
through from the bar to the
kitchen regions. stopped when he
saw US.
There's some mail for you,"
Miss Cornish. l was fixing to
bring it around to the colonePS
quarters as soon as | go off duty.
But since you're here I'll get it
lOF you. he VdHlSneU.
Would you like me to put the
suitcase in your room?" the chap
lain asked while we waited. "Or
= perhaps you're not staying
there"
mo. Just leave it here, thank
you" said evasively. I'll speak
to Mrs. Bridewell-"
Rejected Manuscript
THE orderly reappeared with
L the mail. I took it from him
and muttered something uncom-
plimentary as I saw that there
was nothing from Adam.
Not bad news, l truSt?" the
chaplain asked anXiouSly.
mo, just not good. A rejected
manuscript and a letter from the
same people. They were in an
unpleasant hurry about it, must
say"
He tut-tutted a couple of times
while thrust the letter, unread,
into my purse. Then he came out
with some bright remark about if
at first you don't succeed, or
words to that effect.
|, The orderly, lingering, said.
TOO bad about that young lady"
and added fervently. I'm glad /
don't sleep here"
Il understand the, an, weapon
was taken from the kitchens
here?" the chaplain asked with
what could not help considering
ghoulish interest.
IT guess it was. The cook said
her best butcher knife was miss
ing, and she hasn't got it back
yet. She was pretty sore when
she tried to cut the ham this
morning"
I bit back hysterical impulse
to tell him he should speak to
the colonel - tell him the cook
needed her butcher knife. l felt
that I would want a vegetarian
breakfast.
Anyway, I'm glad I wasn't
around when that fellow come
for the knife" the orderly dilated
with gruesome relish. 81 got one
scare a couple of nights ago that
will last me awhile. / was ready
to 60 back to barracks, and there
wasn't a soul around. 1t was a
week night, and I guess everybody
was in bed for change. went
back to the kitchen to change my
white coat for my uniform blouse
that | always leave hanging out
there, and I came back through
the dining room. The lights were
on out here, see, and the dining
room wasn't exactly dark, so I
didn't turn on no lights. l was
almost to the hall when / seen
this sort of floating white figure
by the buffet. Not that it was &C.
tually floating, or even moving
when l first saw it. It was stand
ing real still, like it hoped I
wouldn't just notice it at all.
Wen, for two shakes I would have
just cut and run. But / was right
by the door, and l figured 1 could
get out quick if l had to, so I
reached over and turned on the
light"
He paused, enjoying our atten-
ton and creating suspense. Then
he chuckled little and went on.
We'll, sir, it was Mrs. Tack
the bride, you know. She had on
kind of white bathrobe, and she
had a medicine bottle in one
hand and a vinegar cruet in the
other, and she was pouring vine
gar into the bottle. I reckon l
thought she was daffy or some
thing. just stood there and
stared until she gave a little
laugh and asked me if didn't
know vinegar was good for a
headache. Seemed she had one
and was going to rub vinegar on
her head. ! told her it was a new