Evening star., 1941-09-20

Why was she getting in her ca
had gone blank. The outside forct
that had propelled her through the
morning nudged her sharply ane
she stepped into the car. She lovec
the little car-Mike had given it tt
her. Mike-oh, Mike-help me
stop me. She drove to bank or
Flagler street and cashed check
for $500. She went down in the
next block to a steamship office
More links welded. The chain tight
ened, suffocating her.
At Julie went back home. Hel
home no more, not any more. The
apartment was deathly still. She
caught herself walking on tiptoe
There was feeling in the rooms
as if some one had died. Something
had died, something very beautiful
but not there. 1t had happened or
the dock at San Francisco. Pulling
the suitcases from under the bed
denying herself the cruel comfort
of a backward glance, she went
quickly to the elevator.
The oldish boy at the lever asked
Leaving us, Mrs. Gray?" and she
answered, Yes, I'm taking short
trip" Perhaps no one would call
her Mrs. Gray again. How she had
adored being Mrs. Gray. The old
ish boy left his elevator to carry
her bags to the car. Have fine
time, Mrs. Gray" he said.
A Blind Urge.
Again she faltered at the door of
her car. She hadn't left note for
Mike. She got into the car. No need
of a note. He would know soon
enough. Not later than tomorrow
morning. not sooner than tomor-
row morning if her plans worked
out. She eXpertly drove through the
traffic.
Leaving the city behind, jules
foot pressed downward on the ac-
celerator. The speedometer point
wavered up to 80 and held there.
Through Homestead, through Flor
ida City, finally across the bridge
that led from the mainland. At a
side road on Key Largo she turned
left. followed a narrow lane, and
pulled up at the fishing lodge where
she had spent so many lonely days.
Made of white stone, it stood near
the waters edge Like sleep walk
er, Julie unlocked the door, placed
one suitcase inside and returned
to the car. She felt nothing. knew
only the blind urge to go on and on,
no longer counting the cost, no
longer thinking at all.
It was after when she parked
her car in garage on Ocean boule-
ward and, carrying the second suit
case, walked to the docks. The
weakness of her knees reminded
her that she had not eaten all day
and she stopped at fruit stand for
a tall glass of orange juice. 1t tasted
delicious, it soothed her parched
throat. She drank a second and
third Mike liked orange juice. He
called it liquid gold, Best not to
think of Mike. The counter boy was
eying her curiously. She paid for
the drink and walked on.
Not More Than an Hour.
At the entrance to the docks a
porter took her bag. She found her
place in the line of American citi-
zens. giving her name, Mrs. Michael
Gray-oh, yes, she had loved the
name-Was so proud. Duly she
answered questions as to her age
and place of birth, business in
Havana and probable length of stay.
She moved on, tipping her porter,
tipping a boat steward.
Alone in her stateroom, Julie
changed her clothes. The play suit,
with its very short shorts, was tai
lored and smart. Over the shorts
she buttoned a skirt from belt to
hem. She pulled on the beret and
bright curls sprayed up over the
back. She no longer trembled. The
orange juice perhaps. Vague, dis
turbing thoughts wove back and
forth. She sensed them through
frozen mist.
Was it against the law to change
ones name? How long before she
would be legally dead And suppose
she came face to face with Mike
on some far-away day-Mike and
Rita-and their children? Julie
pressed a hand across her eyes and
found them wet. Very strange, she
hadn't been conscious of weeping.
After carefully wiping the tears
away she went on deck.
1t wouldn't be long now, not more
than an hour. She and Mike had
taken the night boat to Havana
many times. Rita and her f1uttery
mother had often gone with them.
Rita had always been with them, in
spirit If not in the flesh. Julie went
to the rail, glancing back at the
There would be that
deserted moment, after they passed
the ietties, when all the passengers
were either in the bar or the din
ing salon. Tonight that moment
was TO be hers.
Julie Is Prepared.
Once, when she and Mike had
gone alone to Havana, man had
jumped overheard. Some one had
seen him jump. You had to take
care not to be seen. She and Mike
had stood at the rail, aghaSt, while
the ship, engines at half speed,
circled around, huge searchlights
on the water. Then they
had gone on. Mike had said Poor
devil"
Julie stood at the rail beside
pretty brown-eyed girl. The ship
eased gently from the wharf, trav-
elers waving and shouting in a
frenzy of farewell. A line of cars on
the county causeway, like bright
eyed beetles, moved slowly with
them, honking steadily. One car
was especially persistent, three short
toots and a long one, again and