The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-30
Chapter IS
Mrs. Carrier

EILEEN expected Mrs. Carrier
H TO be a large Helen Hokinson
dow ager. but she was nothing Of
the sort. She was a small, up
right, slim, blonde woman in her
early thirties, and she was most
Enthusiastically a major general.
She tapped about her smart,
pretty apartment in her blue
housecoat and high-heeled satin
mules, telephoning to a dozen
people, inStructing a maid, pop
ping her head into the bathroom
where Eileen was struggling with
large elderly red cocker and a
smaller rebellious black cocker.
Why she wasn't doing the wash
ing herself Eileen couldn't mag
inc; she seemed fond of them
She answered the question in
Eileen's mind. as people have a
way Of doing sometimes.
Isn't it silly? | haven't enough
strength in my arms to hold those
wretched dogs still in the tub;
and they hate being washed so;
end Anna simply won't wash
dogs. They're taking it very
welFfrom you. :. Good old d g
gy. Tlppyl Was il going to be
beautiful and clean?"
TibpJ, the larger and older Of
the gair,' looked up mournfully
from under a wet ear and tried
10 jump out Of the tub. Eileen
quelled him and laughed.
Hes a nice dog. He's settled
down with me. now we're ac-
quainted."
You're strong" Mrs. Carrier
said. She rushed off to answer
another telephone call which
seemed to have do with refugees,
csme back to the bathroom, and
said in her incisive, cheerful
voice, How come you are wash
ing dogs? Did you take it up for
a profession?"
Eileen held Tippy firmly with
one hand as she ran the bath
spray over him with the other,
and managed to answer breath
lesSly. mo, | came on here to try
to break into radio. and so far
I'm not breaking. | took this be-
cause more people at the bureau
you scalled want stenographic
work than, dog washing"
There was another call. Mrs.
Carrier took it, settled the affairs
Of nations in a firm voice, came
back as Eileen began on the
younger dog, whose name was
Duchess duchess of Windsor, she
proved to be), having tied Tippy
near the radiator on a bath mat.
Go on, tell me about it, Any
radio experienced" demanded
Mrs. Carrier.
There seemed no reason why
Eileen shouldn't tell about it She
did, Beginning with the Wiegand
chain. the recordings, and ending
with the additions which had so
far led 10 nothing whatever
. Radio is as crazy as the movies
and more. don't let anybody tell
you different" said Mrs. Carrier
sharply She stopped for a mo-
ment. stepped back from the RAJ
dius OF the water Duchess was
shaking over everything, IN her
dislike OF washing, and said, Did
you Get my husbands first name?
I'm afraid not" Eileen 81 q II
just hanpencd to be In the cttice
when Miss Petersen said sane
body vented q dog washed. and
she wrote down the address and
j came" She gestured to the S6D
OF parcr lying on the w1shstand
Carrier" and the address. Mrs,
Carrier nodded, apparently salts
fed, Ind dashed back TO the tele-
phoiRs
Slia,did not appear again until
the degS were completely washed
and died, and Eileen was nearly
readglo 20. She was dressed, her
self. now. smartly; she and heg
husband were cocktailing cut, she
said n was about i've.
Eileen, standing in the living
room. saw q tall graying man
coming in at the hall door; saw
little Mrs. Carrier fly at him, kiS:
him. and demand il il had been
a hard day. Eileen didn't hear his
reply. he sounded tired and gentle
end rather slow-Spoken, as is the
way of husbands Of major gen
erals.
Impromptu Addition
you want TO sing for us before
4 we COY" demanded Mrs. Car
rier surprisingly. Lewis likes
music. Unless you have another
appointment"
II sounded mad -- unless Mrs.
Carrier had an idea about her.
Eileen smiled and aeceded, de-
termining in her mind mean
while that she would not sing
free Tor causes, which was what
she suspected was about 10 be de-
handed of her,
She sang q couple Of encore
songs, accompanying herself
whiieFAIr. Carrier iounged, obvi-
oasly kmp and tired to death. in
a big chair. and his wife tluttcred
about abe living room.
Il think she's nice, don't you
Lewis1" demanded Mrs Carrier
He spoke for almost the frs
time, in a slow. beautifully
trained voice that was yet natural
IL think she's very nice. Della
Thank you. Miss Gardner"
The Carriers went; Eileen went
ard Il all seemed pleasant la
odd.
II proved not to be. Next day
Mrs. Carrier telephoned her again
SEGA WOMEN HowLERs
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