The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-08-29
Chapter IL
The Movies

I COULDN'T help noticing that
L Mimi was lonely, with the
loneliness of one who is fighting a
losing battle alone ] didn't know
what the battle was about. ]
thought it concerned Julia; and in
a way | was right. And | did not
consciously refuse her offer of
friendship. Rather | did not rec
ogniZe it for more than a hoSpita-
BILE gesture. | wish now that I had
gone TO see her as she asked. ]
wonder if it. would have made
any difference.
Chairs at the next table scraped
back and two women came to-
ward US. Felicia's racy chatter
preceded her. l don't remember
what she was talking about. was
looking at Mimi. whose back was
turned TO them, and | saw her
stIffen. Only for an instant As
they took their seats she was
again her normal. friendly self.
| went to bed early that night
to make. up lost sleep. and the
next morning we rode again.
Adam had not yielded to my weak
plea that it really wasn't safe He
again wore his service automatic
in its holster. and of course MOTH
ing happened. Nothing except
that my muscles. grateful for a
days rest. coOperated a little and
/ began to sense dimly why peo-
pie who ought to know better
climb on horses and go numbering
about the countryside.
There's no hop tonight" Adam
observed as we walked the horses
back toward the post. ITS the
odd Friday night. What would
you like to do?"
But you're going to that party
the Dumbguards are giving for
Sandra."
"Oh no I'm not. Not without
you to brighten things up. I've
been to their parties"
l looked at him in dismay.
But, Adam. l don't want you
refusing invitations because I'm
not included. I'm not your guest
well. in a sense am, l wouldn't
have the privilege of staying at
the club if you hadn't secured it
for me- But if we were staying at
the same resort you wouldn't feel
called upon to drag me every
where"
How do you know l wouldn't?
Tn a simple, direct man. / do
what | like to do, as far as pos
sible. And in this case it is pos
sible I don't have to accept that
old hatchet'S invitations for the
entirely delightful reason that /
rank her husband a few files"
What does that mean?"
1T means that. barring some
very improbable break for him,
when he might but won't be ap-
pointed a brigadier general while
] languish in the ranks of the
mere colonelS-I say. barring that
almost impossible future event.
he will never have an opportunity
to write an unfavorable opinion
of me on my annual efficiency re-
port-an opinion that ! am a fell
low lacking the social graces. If
you must know. she's got an old
maid sister living with her, and
il would be so nice to keep her
right in the regiment-Tm a man
of mature years. you understand,
old enough to evaluate at their
true worth the froth and frivolity
Of mere youth
Our laughter scared off across
the fiat landscape. The horses
tossed their heads. and looked
back at us. eyes rolling,
We went to the movies that
night.
l liked the little post theater. 1t
was new and clean and uncrowd-
ed. with the friendly informality
of a small club where all the
members know one another. To-
night the block of seats reserved
for officers was nearly empty,
probably because of the party for
Sandra. Felicia was there with a
woman Adam told me was an
army nurse There were a few
other officers and their wives
with whom | had a bowling ac-
quaintance.
Gray And Tired
Il EXPECT Gerald Beaufort
would have been glad TO
come with US" l said while we
waited for the lights to go down.
Wonder how he spends his eve.
nings?"
Curling his eyelashes," Adam
growled. ''Oh! So that's why you
wanted me to 60 TO the partyl"
Having no secrets from you
makes life a little dull" COM
planned. Don't you think you
might learn to diSsemble? How
would you like me to X-ray your
mental processes?"
To my surprise he looked sud-
denly gray and tired. And then
decided it was only a trick of the
fading light. The theater was
growing duSky. The newSreel had
already begun.
Shortly after the feature pic
ture started someone came in and
sat down near us. ! was not suf-
ficiently curious to spare a glance
from the screen. and il was not
until the picture was over and
the lights went on that / saw it
was the chaplain.
He looked as if he had sat next
to a snake when he recognized
us. He ducked toward the side en-
trance. but was halted there by
the congestion of leisurely depar-
lures and had to let us overtake
him.
/ doubt if / would have known
him by his face alone which, as
Mimi had iTnDlied. looked aS If IL