The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-11-05
Chapter n
Strange Girl

out at the lovely blue sky that
Jerry was probably diving on the
pier already, pulling the plants,
rooted in coral, from the bottom
OF the ocean. II would be nice to
60 over and watch him.
She dressed quickly as she
thought Of how pleased he world
be when he came IN from the
water to see her there on the
sand. Then she'd ask him to 90
home with her and have break
fast.
Pam had been sitting in the
sun on the concrete wall at Duval
Street, watching Jerry out IN tue
water, Tor some time before she
was aware of another figure on
the beach A girl IN street Clothes
Clothes for Northern wear. Pam
renected that she looked as IL
she had Just come to Key West.
The. girl seemed 70 be watchfrg
Jerry. But there was notnInS
strange IN that, since people al-
ways watched activities In the
water.
Pam could see that Jerry had
a great bunch Of sea fern under
one arm. A fine ga9rnings work
She could cure them, and they'd
net quite a little. Her thought
went on - possibilities in the
Little business she had started.
Could IL grow to where ii would
justifiabiy incIsde Jerry9 He
would come IN no other way. she
knew. II she could get orders
from some Of the large stores she
thought as wen as what Jerry
was doing by letter with NORTH
err firms. it might. Perhaps a
TIP 10 Miami would be worth
while she and Jerry might drive
up.
Her thought changed quickly
Jerry was coming out OF the water
with the mornings take under MS
arm
Pam waited expectantIy. HIS
car was parked on DuVal Street
she knew he would have to come
her way.
But as Jerry started toward the
be1cn, Pam saw the girl rise and
walk out on the hard sand aear
the water's edge. Evidently she
Intended speaking to jerry.
AS Pam watched, the girl hailed
Jerry. He stopped q moment.
staring, and then moved slowly
toward her. They stood taking
for moment Pam had an IN
comfortable sense OF something
pending. Even at a distance there
was something familiar IN their
attitude, as if they'd often talked
before.
Pam was a trace ashamed OF
the flush Of Jealousy that rnomen-
tarily consumed her. Jerry and
the girl had turned tneIr hacks
toward her now ard were look
ing IN the direction Of the Casa
Marina They were completely
unaware Of her.
Pam took that moment to siip
back over the wall and hurry
along the street toward her home
Jerry must not think she would
spy on him Besides, something
about Il hurt. Surely Jerry had
q right 10 talk to other women.
she didn't want to deny MIN
friendships. But something had
seemed 10 grip her heart and
squeeze It 10 pam as Sne watched
Jerry and the girl on the beach
Pam hurried home Jerry was
in MS car, SO ne would probably
reach there before she did. Fool
ISL Of her 70 rEn away ike that
She should have been sensible
and walked right up 10 them
and joined their conversation Il
couldn't have been anything pr
vate with a strange girl Ike That
But that was the trouble. Their
attitude hadn't been that OF
strangersf
No Answer
JERRY hadn't arrived when Pam
y reached home. In fact. the
morning was wen on its way be-
fore she heard Jerry's car in the
drive, Pam had. during the time
she had waited worked herself m
to a state Of nervousness She
moved slowly TO let jerry IN. She
wanted to be poised and casually
friendly, give no sign that any
thing oBl Of the ordinary had
happened
nothing unusual about her.
"HoWs my business girl2 ne
asked as he gave her the arnfui
Of sea fern. Beauties this time.
And I waited for them to dry a
little before bringing them to
Pam looked ap at him. His face
told ner nothing. The same frank
eyes and guilless smile. Appar-
entity he wasn't going to speak OF
the girl, and Pam could not she
regretted more than ever not
having Joined them on the oeach-
Everything would have been ex-
planned then.
Now it would probably never
be explained and, although Pam
was sure the girl was Just some
tourist who'd had more than the
usual run Of tourist questions
with which to ply the first person
she met, il was difficult TO be
completely satisfied with that ex-
PLANTATION. Z
You'll have lunch with me, q
course?" Pam suggested, and was
somewhat relieved when jerry
said:
Is that an invitation. sweet
It's accepted with thousand
thanks. II you hadn't asked me.
I'd have begged you 70 let me
All through luncheon Pam