The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-20
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BY MARGARET AXIpnENtER

Eileen's laughter broke out, quite
unaffectedly. She leaned back,
mirthful eyes on his, dropping
her hands on the glass table top.
Her bracelet struck against the
edge, and something fell tinkling
from it. 1t lay beside her plate.
a small slim bright thing. The tiny
gold ski. .4r 81 1hEA ~
The laughter was struck from
her face as suddenly as the thing
had been struck from her brace
let.
Yes. There was one man In the
world she'd go that far for. -. :.
But he was dream, an anony-
nous playboy. somebody who
didn't count. whom no sensible.
bright little girl would ever think
twice about.
Jordan, at her silence, stopped
too and looked. His eyes caught
the ski. He reacked over and
picked it up.
"For heavens sake, where did
you get this, Eileen?"
II found it. Found it on the
floor that night at Jerry's."
We'll, you'd better advertise
it. The fellow who lost it is going
to be plenty sore"
Really? What goes on about
it?"
Insignia of the most important
international ski championship,
that's all. Amateur class. It's like
a fraternity pin; you are only sup
posed to let your wife or sweet
heart wear it. / understand she
has to beg hard"
She did not want to advertise
it. She knew whose it was. But
her heart turned over at the idea
of finding out what Martins last
names were. She might discover
it by watching the papers about
people on sailing lists from the
coast. She would write Martin,
then; tell him she had his ski, he
could come for it.
She deliberately put it back on
the bracelet and bit the ring tight.
Shed get a jeweler to solder il.
She'd take more chances. She
and Martin had both dropped ii.
1t mustn't happen again. It was
the sign that he was real. that he
had really come and gone.
Never mind all that" Jordan
said. ITS not important. / was
Just ranging frantically around
for some reason, and | admit the
idea that a middle-aged lecturing
woman might start you off was
far-fetched. A man with her looks
and ruthlessness ana charm
might. . was just hunting for
trouble" His voice became slower.
Proposal
II LOVE you and | want to mar
ry you. You know that per-
fectly well." Jordan said logged
ly.
He said it in a gap Of the music,
unheeding the couples dancing
past them, the bright lights over
their heads, the table-fortunate-
ly occupied by two people as en-
crossed as ttey-jarnmed too
close. He was rather white.
1--WE held off till you were
graduated. That is. suppose you
knew, but you knew / was hold
ing off. Everyone supposed you'd
carry on here. When you decided
to go off to that fly by-night shoe
string station those crazy Wei
gands run for the love of art. |
admit it was a shock to me. II
didn't seem as if you were the
farseeing re ason bic girl ]
thought you"
Jordan, I'm sorry" she be-
gan.
Don't be sorry" he exclaimed
with violence unlike himself.
"All right. I'm not sorry. But
/ don't want TO marry you. /
mean. it wouldn't be fair TO prom
Use anything. / hope the Weigand
station will lead to something.
Concert work at the very least"
Here in this city," His eyes
Frightened.
Anywhere. Oh, Jordan. do
like you, but | don't want to mar
ry--" the old line that every girl
uses to soften every refusal
slipped automatically from her
lips anybody at all, right now"
DUST this spotlight bug" he
said bitterly. Il thought you had
more sense"
Don't you want 20 get some
L 81 u Etstxw. 4
why shouldn't II"
They were close to a quarrel,
Il suppose | should be grateful
that you aren't trying for Hol-
lywood." he said deiectediy.
Sure you should. darling" she
was laughing at him.
He caught his breath. His eyes
were bright. his mouth quivered-
He was hers, entirely and help
lesSly. They both knew IL.
He said doggedly. Remember
remember you belong 70 me
though you don't know ii yet Re-
member you're going 70 marry
me sooner or later. Remember
I'll always be waiting for you"
Jordan said nothing on the way
home. When she got out in front
Of the apartment he said. Are
your plans settled?"
Pretty well"
When do you 20"
@Day after tomorrow"
You'll give me your address,"
"Oh. yes" She felt obseureiy
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