The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-06-09
Chapter %
Martins Private Devil

Martins Private Devil
THE latchkey clicked in the
door.
Martin and Eileen Dane stood
In the living room of his apart
ment, alone for nearly the first
moment since the excited. frol-
licking marriage at the county
seat nearest the lodge in the
Adirondacks. She chung to him
suddenly.
"Oh. Martin, I'll try never to
make you sorryl" she said. But
he only said, kissing her as you
would child, you're so cute and
little, don't see how you couldi"
The manservant, William. soft
footed and properly welcoming,
came in to take their things. And
Martin was talking about prac-
ticalities. Her allowance, the
name of good social secretary,
the necessary shopping for their
Honolulu trip. The intensity she
had seen that once had not
shown again.
By the time they were off the
transcontinental plane an d
aboard the luxury cruiser, she ac-
cepted the fact that the Martin of
that last day at the lodge was
not the Martin she was to know.
Even his most passionate mo-
ments had an overtone as If he
was always watching not to care
too much. Not to 60 too far. Not
to give himself away to anyone.
But he treated her as if he
liked her. AS if he wanted her to
have as good a time as possible.
Indeed, he seemed to get a stimu-
lus from her enjoyment of every
thing.
So she tried to show as much
pleasure as she could. Over the
new smart clothes. the luxurious
stateroom, the good food, the
bowling walters, the gala nights,
the dancing, the swimming in the
ships pool, the games. The whole
long bright costly playtime. He
was not willing that they should
stay by themselves like most
honeymoon couples.
Nonsense. don't want to coop
you up like somebody in
harem," he said. She did not
know how to tell him that she'd
rather have beer cooped. Some
times she was frightened by the
watching eyes, the whispers and
excited attention that followed
them everywhere they went.
"You amt seen nothin' yet"
Martin said, grinning wait till
we hit the cameras at Honolulu.
There'l be six reporters under
every lei. We played in incredi-
bic luck, getting off without
them. Come on. there's a horse
race down in the lower lounge"
She was learning something
about Martin Dane; that under
his deceptively easy manner he
was driven by devil of restless
ness. He would have tired out
most girls. He nearly tired out |
strong-bodied small Eileen.
They ran the gauntlet of the |
prophesied reporters as they met
the Roly Perrines on the dock at |
Honolulu. The gossip columns,
the picture papers, got them. AT |
the hotel the day the mails came |
Eileen. unused to cheerful i'm
pertinences of the columnists, |
cried for an hour on the deep |
cushioned chaise Tongue at the |
foot of the bed, the papers scat
tered round her on the floor.
Martins step across the floor
stopped her. He looked puzzled at |
the idea that she minded, but he |
was kind enough. ut comes with |
the fixtures, kid" he said: don't |
let It get you down. Z. If that's
what Il is"
What else could Il be?" she |
said. But she felt comforted. She /
got up and put cold water on her
eyes and they went of to q cock
tail party Of his friends. They
were always drifting Off some
where.
Bitter Words
CHE loved Honolulu, she was
~ happy with Martin. Half the |
people at the big hotel knew
him and shouted welcomes to him |
and his bride. There were the
everlasting guitars in the moon
Light. There was dancing, half |
the wonderful nights. They Law
about on the sands, or swan.
They sat with drinks al little /
tables. They drove to plantations |
where more people knew Martin |
and the crowd that drifted with |
them. There were navy people. |
Shipboard dances. Half the young /
officers in their whites, of course.
knew Martin too.
She realized that everywhere
she went there would always be /
people who were Martins old /
pals; and, presently. that all his
old pals regarded her marriage TO
him just as Lewis Delevan and /
Caroline Dempster did. As IL she |
had landed the top prize in a
sweepstakes.
She always remembered the |
moment when this first hit her.
They were on one OF the battle /
ships. and she and Martin had
been dancing together. They had |
paused. slipping or into a
shadowy place by the rail, as If |
he wanted to be alone with her.
He was smiling down and say
ing You know, Caroline was
right You are Ike Eardenia. /
That sort OF skin. And your eyes.
] don't know why big brown eyes