The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-03-14
Chapter II
W Orse Tangle

Chapter II
Worse Tangle
. OGER felt himself suddenly
N going mad. Hugh Chase, an
other of his ushers. still up there
with Lovely. He said nothing
more to John. He rushed to the
garage and jumped into his car.
Blue Blaze. the Kerry that had
been at his heels was in beside
him. his nose up to the wind as
the car raced madly up steep
Mount Airy Road.
1t wasn't until after he had
started that Roger was vaguely
aware of his mothers voice call
ing him as he rushed to the ga
rage.
At Granny Hale's cottage he
found Lovely sitting on the steps,
facing the river. Hugh beside her.
'naw Hugh's smile was not a par
ticularly nice thing to look at as
Roger Joined them. 1t was Sc
cretive, unpleasant.
We'll. beautiful lady, this looks
like my exit" he said to Lovely.
rising and contriving somehow to
be leeringly possessive and often
sive.
"Rogerl" Undisguised gladness
in her voice. "But why must you
go just because Rogers here?
Let's have a breakfast party!"
mo. ri be on my way"
Blaze had crowded in close to
Lovely. With her hand on the
dogs handsome head she watched
Hugh go. Roger .tudied her face
in jealous worry that he dared
not voice until she turned to him.
"Nerts" she said carelessly
'They rolled in here at four this
morning. one of them cockeyed
as a gabboon. I'd nearly Drained
him before they made me under
stand they were friends of yours.
$50 that was their story?" Roger
asked. still too shaken to trust his
voice much.
Lovely caught something in the
tone She looked at him oddly.
aren't they?"
Yes, | suppose you'd call them
that. But don't feel you have to
be nice to anyone, Lovely. just
because they say they're friends
of mine"
'Oh, that's all right They're
nice kids. ! like them"
There was little silence. Roger
dared not trust himself to speak.
Too many emotions were rioting
him. S.s
"Was the party nice? Fun?"
Lovely asked at length. He caught
q wistful note in her voice.
"They told you it was a party?"
Eyes" slowly, "for you" Add
ing after a space: "And Emily"
Roger found no reply for that.
Blaze laid his blues gray head on
his knee and looked up with soft.
sympathetic eyes. The silence was
growing taut when Lovely said:
"Roger, what's she like? Is she
pretty? Tell me about herr"
"Pretty?" His mind had been
dwelling on the time John and
Hugh had been there with Love-
ly. Just what had TRANSFERRED?
Lovely was so beautiful. He knew
suddenly he was insanely Jealous
of any man who had time alone
with her.
Eyes" Lovely was insistent. Il
suppose she's beautiful. Rich girls
always are"
"She's not beautiful as you are,
Lovely" he said honestly. "She's
pretty. Sweet"
"You don't want to talk about
her. do your" Lovely asked. SIS ii
because it's me? Because I'm ask
ing you, and you don't want TO
talk to me~about her?" Her voice
was wistful.
Roger smiled. He threw off the
spell that had held him.
mo, sweet, it isn't that, It's be-
cause | want so desperately to do
the decent thing by both of you
and I'm beginning to see that !
can't"
st know" very quietly from
Lovely. I've been thinking of that
all night" She hesitated as If the
words were almost too difficult 10
push over some barrier of emo
ton within her Roger, I'm the
one who doesn't belong in the pic
ture. ! know that. 1 could see 1t
when those boys came in here.
You're different. | don't belong"
She paused a moment
Remuneration
I'D OGER, I'll do anything you
II say. ri 60 back If you want.
I've been happy here. It's so sweet
and different and all. And rye
wanted this sort OF thing terribly,
/ mean. oh. dresses and rings and
vacations away in lovely places
But want you 10 be happy too.
That's a new want" She was try
ing to laugh q little and 1t seemed
20 Roger as he listened that it was
laughter very like tears. She was
very young and childish then.
He caught her hand and brushed
II with his lips.
'Lovelyl" Emotion muted.
$50" she was going On in that
not quite steady voice. Il want
things 20 be as you want them. for
your good. II you know what !
meant" She tried 10 make the last
very bright and gay
Il think ! do. Lovely" he said.
-And now let's have that break
FAST"