The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-07-10

iEItQI6. one QfeSSeQ LOT lunch
slowly, absently regretting for the
hundredth time that she had not
brought more clothes on the trip.
1t was queer about Julie. But
she felt guilty. too. Perhaps Julie
was right, and she was Just daily
ing along because she thought she
could. Or was that true? Eve
paused, in the act of combing her
hair, and looked at herself as if
demanding the truth.
Was there any ground for
jules suspicion that her interest
in Brett Rodman had made her
Indifferent to Neil's attentions?
Eve could not face her own
image. The very thought of Brett
provoked a wave of color that was
deeper than the sunburn she had
recently acquired.
Having agreed with Julie so
Tar. Eve hastily finished her dress
ing and ran downstairs. The
party was about to gather for
lunch, and Mrs. Marbuly, recon
ciled to the thought that her hus-
band was going to leave her to
her own devices for the week,
was once more acting the hostess
I'm so sorry our trip turned
out this way" she apologized to
the group. "But when this is over,
you must all come out to the little
place Theodore and I have on
Long Island Well try to make
you forget all these hardships. j
believe Mrs. Jackson has lunch
ready now. Shall we 60 in?"
She led off with Mr.. Howe
looking the perfect picture of 2
matron entertaining regaily, al
though under difficulties.
Gina nipped Ewes arm anG
whispered. 'That means she had
just decided what she'll say to
Uncle Theodore. Aunt Helen can
do neat bit of raking over the
Goals when she's mind to. And
| wouldn't want to be in Uncle
Theodore's shoes when we get off
this island"
Neil saw Eve in to luncheon,
which was fairly scant. Mrs
Jackson explained, with no very
good grace, that meat bought
| for a few days supply wouldn,t
last forever, and even her staples
were getting low.
''That will do, Mrs. Jackson"
said Mrs. Marbury with unex-
pected firmness. 'T'll discuss the
meals with you later. Please
serve what you have prepared,
now"
Narrow Escape
JULIE, unable to resist discus
y sing the theater, soon had
them all laughing and forgetting
their predicament, as she told
stories of the great stage people
she had known. At one point Gina
said shrewdly:
But, Mrs. Emerson, how did
you know so many people on the
stage? Did you have salon2
Julie stopped short and Eve
held her breath waiting for jules
reply. But the older woman's
smile was entirely pleasant and
intimate as she answered:
"It's long time ago, my dear,
but / once did hope to do some
thing on the stage. 1t was quite
the rage in my day to be stage
struck. Naturally, | met everyone
of Importance in the their c"l
world when | could possibly wan
gle an introduction. And when |
found that the stage Wa not ex.
actly my forte" sh1 .shed. dis
covered that / still had a good
many friends on the other side
of the footlights, and | continued
to see them"
Gina looked satisfied, and Eve
sat back marveling again at the
way Julie. simply by shrug and
neat gesture of her lovely hands.
had implied. without prevarica-
tlon, mat she mad been only IN
amateur dramatics and that her
stage experience was as limited
as the sheltered girl of the social
set was supposed to be, twenty
years ago.
q can't let her down." Eve
thought fiercely, iabbing at the
canned salmon on toast which
Mrs. jackson had prepared as the
main luncheon course. Jules
a grand old trouper, and she
would never let anyone down if
she were in this position. Besides.
I do like Neil"
She glanced at him, sitting
blonde and attractive at her left.
and managing, in spite of his
careless dress. to look as if he
had been born to attend social
functions. "She's right-Pm just
silly. But I'll get over it this
afternoon"
Once she had made UP her
mind, Eve was almost as ner-
vous and anxious as though it
were her debut on the stage. She
was so excited that she scarcely
realized it when Brett asked her
if she wanted to continue their
explorations of the island. She
was watching Neil as he played
with Lordy Mac and thinking
that his boyishness and carefree
manner were as charming as any
she had ever known.
'No-no thank you" she an
swered Brett, hardly hearing
what he had said. "I'm-I'm GO
ing to stay around here this after
Brett. following her glance,
srumbled some sort of reply.
which Gina interrupted with a
gay laugh.
There are other fish in the
sea. Mr.. Rodman. I'd be delighted
10 explore the island some more
with YOU. When do we start21
But Brett was surly again
Miss Prentice is right, he said
sharply. fWe ought to stay around
here this afternoon.
He stalked off, looking far