The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-08-15
Chapter 20
Marie's Trip

Marie's Trip
aNHAY / come UP for a few
M moments?p Tommy asked
when he brought the car to q
standstill in front OF Luella's
house.
mo. Tommy !. Z said Lucia,
Then, suddenly: Tommy, I've
got an ideal'
what about?"
aAbout you and Marie" said
LuelIa. why don't you go away
for a while? Take that vacation
you've been planning-go down
to Florida to that cottage you
told me about"
"Are you, by any chance, trying
to get rid of me, Luella?" Tommy
asked, half joking, half serious.
'sNo but maybe if Marie
suddenly realized that you'd got
ten out of the picture, so to
speak, she would begin to under
stand how much she really needs
you"
II see Z. There might be some
thing in it, but I can't get away
now. That's impossible" Tommy
grinned. Besides, | still remem-
Der how your other idea ended
you know, that proposal on ship
board in the moonlight"
"Yes, know" said Luella
well. get away when you can.
think it's the thing to do,
Meanwhile have an honest, out
in-the-open, heart to-heart talk
with Marie, Tommy. Maybe if we
all. try real hard we can gel
things Strengthened out-as they
should be- She tried to smile. q
mean, you back with Marie. and
Henry back with me.
s'I've tried to talk to Marie
several times" said Tommy. But
she's always busy. =. tried last
night. / telephoned on Friday be-
cause / knew it was one night
she was usually free. -. But she
wasn't at home"
"She's probably week ending
with some of the radio officials.
mo" said Tommy. "fler maic
said she had taken a plane fol-
Chicago"
"Chicagom said Lucia.
Eyes" said Tommy He gave
Lucia a searching lock, She
week-ending out there. Il
there anything wrong. Lucia?
Luella Shock her heed. mo
Tommy" she lied. Marie week.
ending in Chicago. Thank good.
ness, Tommy didn't know Ienr5
was out there also. She MANAGED
a feeble smile. Thanks, Tommy
for grand time. / think T'll IL
straight to bed The salt ali
makes you sleepy as well as hun
cry"
Wen have a LIT c. gar
times together" Tommy s2i1, II
you only give the word.
Good night, Tommy
Good night, Luella dearest,
Tommy said very softly.
Luella turned away, fightins
back tears. fighting the ache in
her heart, and hurried inside.
Ticklish Spot
nUT in Chicago Henry Pell was
~ facing Marie Mason in a Sc
Guided corner of a hotel mezza-
nine.
ITS fun being here together
like this. isn't it?" said Marie
"Exciting-sort of-of-devilish. 2
Eyes. Marie" said Henry, "but
I-you see"
as anything troubling you,
Henry?" Marie asked, eyeing him
closely.
No, only"
You mean you're sorry I flew
out here to see your"
No, it's not that exactly.
It's only that | hope no one sees
US together. They might not
Northumberland"
"And suspect the worst?" said
Marie Think the worst and tell
Luella?" She shrugged, Listen,
Henry, darling, were strictly
modern, you and l, and you
mustn't feel guilty. as though
we'd been caught down home to-
gether, After all, we're
groWn-up, and"
"Oh, I'm modern enough" said
Henry. Il haven't any old-fash-
Toned ideas about people being
scared stiff of the thou shalt
nots' j. What does bother me,
though, is having Luella find out,
and take it into her head Toto
do something extreme"
''Nonsensep laughed Marie.
'Iuella's not an extremist-any-
thing else but that Besides, | did
fly out here on business. That's
true, isn't it?"
eyes. Marie, / know. And it
was swell of you to do it, espe-
cially when you have to be back
in New York Monday for your
broadcast, But-oh, the devil
s. Are you sure Alma Latham's
about to land that job with Rec
tor and Everett?"
Il certainly ami" said Marie.
Good heavens, Henry, you don't
think I'd fly all the way to Chi
cago on a mere surmise or sus-
pieion, do you? Malcolm Rector's
in love with Alma-as I've told
you before and he's strong for
giving her the job. He likes for
women to justify their existence,
and Alma knows this. So she's
leaving no stone unturned. She's
even playing up to Mr.. Everett. !"
She leaned toward Henry, her
eyes big and shining. "The mo-