The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-03-17
Chapter IS
snake It-Strong"

-
IN the moment they waited.
Suppose someone was there with
her? He felt his breath catch un-
comfortably. Emily was waiting
calmly. She knew with her wo-
mans sense of things, that Lovely
had been waiting and when she
saw Roger had someone with him
she'd stepped to mirror some
where TO be at her best when she
opened the door.
Emily was aware her suspicion
was true when Lovely stood be-
fore them saying in her lush voice:
Roger! I'm so glad to see you.
Oh, Roger% And then as if only
just aware of her, just able to tear
her attention from Roger: you've
brought someone!"
Emily knew she was flushing.
She had never been able to wear
her affection so on the outside.
Caress Roger so with her voice
when stranger was near.
Eyes, Lovely" Roger was say
. 4IlS LlOnSAI LAG hllSW AZ was A4lALCS-
essary. He knew Lovely had
recognized Emily. This is Emily.
Emily. I've told you about
Lovely" J1GT ~.
Finally. the words were out.
He'd had the courage to do it.
The girls eyes met and held.
The two seemed to be taking
measure of each other, to be read
ing under the outward signs
things visible only to women who
loved the same man.
Lovely. oddly enough, was the
first to recover.
Come in. There's no use say
ing I'm going to find it easy to
talk to a girl like you. Pm not. |
won't know what tc say. You'll
have to do the talking" 1t had
been cordial, friendly. almost gay.
Yet Roger knew she was tense
under it. That her heart was trem-
bling with confusion. Her eyes
were asking him what it meant.
"Cigarets?" Her hand trembled
a little as she offered them.
mo. thank you" 1t seemed over
prim of Emily but actually she
dared not reach out her own hand.
1t would tremble SO much more
violently than the slight tremor
of Lovely's.
Can | do something's" Lovely
asked as the silence seemed to get
brittle and sharp between them.
mix a drink? Or make tea?" The
last an afterthought, as she
glanced quickly at Roger wonder
ing il one did mix drinks for a
girl like Emily.
II think a drink would be nice. !"
Emily said and Roger knew a
start of surprise. Emily never
touched liquor until five and then
rarely. MAKE it-strong"
Right up my alley!" Lovely's
smile was dazzling. She was her
self again.
Roger could see that Emily was
bowled over as he had been when
he first saw Lovely. On the ropes.
only in a different way. Emily
had never seen a girl like Lovely
before at close quarters. This was
something new. different. Illumi-
mating 1t was as If for the first
time Emily was aware of girls
like Lovely as real human beings
with desires and ambitions, hopes
and dreams.
AS for Lovely, she was sudden
ly the most completely poised and
possessed of the three. Her mood
as she moved about making drinks
was as light as fern leaf Roger
knew a sense of pride in her. He
could take her anywhere. Not as
he could have EmilyS1 sure she
would blend unohtruSively- with
the background of any occasion.
But flambouyantly Calamity, She
would ornament any occasion.
No Solution ---
AS SHE came Close TO him with
\ the drinks he noticed her
freshness, a sort of bloom about
her. He wondered how she
achieved it. since she had brought
no wardrobe with her and had to
wear the same thing continuously.
He made note of the fact that he
must have some things sent TO
her. not only necessities but orna-
ments Fine perfumes. Good pow-
ders and creams.
Emily took the drink eagerly.
II needed this" she said slipping
II and forcing a smile to her lips.
you and me botht" Lovely
answered, and Roger caught a
subtle meaning in the words He
looked from one girl TO the other
and had the strange feeling they
were going to be friends They
were looking at each other with
understanding and in 4 way that
shut him out. He was startled. /;
didn't make sense. They should be
quarreling
"You know. I'd wanted TO see
you" Lovely was speaking and TO
Emily. ooh, I got a glimpse Of you
this morning But l mean ! really
wanted to see you I've never
been this close 10 glamor girl
before"
Audacious. thought Roger. Yet
Il had come with simple sweet
ness.
There's nothing very glamor.
Gus about me" Emily said visit
fully. Now that you've seen me
you probably realize we're not