The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-06-27
Chapter Nine
Masquerade

CNf sANA 00O
pY FOUR o'clock Julie had
~ taken to peering out of the
library window and giving
weather reports at ten-minute
intervals.
"The storm is getting worse"
she announced with an air of
resignation.
You're exaggerating," said
Jim Droissard. ut couldn't be
worse"
The plane had not returned.
Yes, the pilot had been told to
call for them about one o'clock,
Ham repeated over and over, but
OF course he was delayed by the
storm. No one seemed particu-
1arly alarmed. even Brett Rod
man accepted his fate with calm.
Only Mrs. Jackson watched them
suspiciously, as if she had Sus-
pected that this might happen all
along.
rs this a hurricane Tegion?"
asked Mrs. Marbury. looking up
anxiously from a collection of
old prints somebody had found
in a drawer below the book
shelves.
Hurricanes get around" said
Julie gloomily. They turn up in
the oldest places"
"Nonsensei" Mr.. Howe took
off his eyeglasses, nervously
polished them, and set them
back on the bridge Of his nose.
"This is nothing but a rain
storm"
Il wish Gina would come back
III the house--and Eve, of course"
Mrs. Marbury added, remember
ing her duties as hostess. She
tried to worry about her guests
as well as her niece.
They're coming now" said
Julie. That's Lordy Mac scooting
along under the bushes, think.
The animal is so wet it might be
anything"
aThey don't have anything on
this island" Robert Howe
laughed, except ghosts, and l
haven't heard anything about ami.
NAL ghosts" He was playing soil
taire and did not look UP as he
spoke.
The noisy arrival Of the two
girls and three young men, who
had gone out exploring some time
before, made everyone IN the
room turn toward the doorway.
Gina and Eve came In first and
the three men brought up the
rear.
''Di6 you have a nice swim?"
inquired Mr.. Howe with heavy
sarcasm.
They're probably all headed
for pneumonia right now" Julie
exclaimed sharply.
~ told them there was no use
going out" the lawyer retorted,
shutting the cards again. There's
no use banging your head against
the inevitable. That's one of the
facts OF life that our friends here
might as well face"
Neil said good-naturedly, ANY
way, we got q chance to stretch
our legs a bit. ! don't see how you
can hang around the house all
day - this house especially. II
gives me the jitters"
That's just because it needs a
good cleaning" said Mrs. Mar
bury. "It's really a lovely old
house. I'm going to bly, It,
'You said that before" OBJ.
served Mr.. Howe. IF you want
my advice"
f'She doesn't" said Hamilton
Milliard. IF she wants this moth
eaten old wreck Of a place she
certainly Is entitled TO 1T
"LiSten--" Gina teetered back
and forth on her heels. Don't ]
I make the squishiest sound7"
"Ginal Your throatl' walled
Mrs. Marbury. She turned be-
seeching eyes on Julie "She gets
tonsilitis every time she gets heE
feet welt"
uShe'd better not get II here
answered Julie with decision.
Both or you girls go upstairs and
change everything
changer" giggled Eve. what
win we change too This was only
10 be an overnight outing. Don't
YOU remember, Julie dearg We
can hardly dress for dinner"
swell. go take those things of
anyway" retorted Julie. Throw
your wet things outside the door.
IN send Mrs. Jackson up for
them. She can dry them in the
kitchen"
"Does that 20 for the boys, too9r
put in Neil piaintively. ~OF
doesn't anybody care what hap
pens to uSg We're ready to be
wrung out this minuteg
Julie. having had her executive
instincts aroused. met this sstua-
ton with another burst OK deci.
siveness,
go find MIR Jackson she told
the three men, Hell have some.
thing you can put on--.overalgs
or something, Go aloNg now. oil
OF YOU Get out--Shoo." She
waved her hands deternlncdly 81
them You're ruinlng Mrs Jack.
sons floor standing there making
puddles!"
Dressing Up
THE men laughed ard with
I drew Julie ran after them anc
opened the door. Gail L.orCiy Mac
Ham. she shouted. He's got K
be wrunG out too.
Obediensly. Ham whistied anS
Isordy Mae holted through thi
door. almost apSetting julie in hi
haste.
Upstairs Gina and Eve. towel
Inc their hair, were making sug
,wwn~-xs&w.r m~Nwa sxnwwWN