The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-06-03

ana she mas not met MuTLiH. AHu
the money is running lotu-
Chapter Is
Martin Again
DIS answered eagerly, as If he
N took hope from what she
said, "But now you know that
things are different, you will
think? And / will make it
straight with Molly"
NO." Eileen said. II can't"
She stopped short.
Iris, don't you see what you're
doing to me? I'll have = stop
working here. And ! haven't any
other job, or even money to get
back to my home state. Please
don't think of it. / don't love YOU
honestly, / don't. And you can't
break with Molly, as far as it's
gone. Oh, why did you have to
feel like this?"
as it the man you did not send
the telegram to?" he demanded
eagerly. do you love him still?"
She answered straightforward
ly, 81 never did love him. / was
just despairing about what to do
and where to turn. He'd said
he'd always wait for me. But he
got over it." She tried to laugh.
You're all like that. Why, Ris,
in a month you'll have forgotten
all about this. Please don't say
anything to Molly"
Ris only said, with the terri
BILE persistence of the gentle, II
win not do anything you do not
want. It was sudden, you have not
seen. ! will not say anything to
Molly unless you let me. And
you will please 20 on working
here. That would be the worst;
that | had stopped you earning
money.
She was about to say proudly
that she would go, anyway. But
she checked herself. You cannot
be proud when you have no
money at all, except fifty dol
lars in a savings bank; saved to
be frail bridge between you
and i'll luck next time. She had to
60 on.
ut is no use your staying now"
he said gently. Nobody win
come in, such a wet night. / will
not trouble you, ! will only try to
show you"
He kissed her hand, with the
dangling gold charms clicking on
its bracelet. Then he went,
practically enough, and got her
coat and hat and helped her
equip herself for the street and
the wet walk home.
Molly, home before her, did
not lift her head from the pillow
to greet her. as she used to, gaily.
She made ready for bed--her
nightdress was ripping. she no.
ticed. as she got into it--feeling
like a criminal TO Molly. CT
course, Molly had seen.
And sooner or later, something
would precipitate an open break
with Molly, with her hot Irish
temper. And Eileen would have
to leave the shabby room and the
little job that helped her carry
it, and live on her last fifty dol
lars, hunting work. till it was
gone: and then-relief. -.
Aristides said nothing more
when she came in next morning.
He only smiled at her, wide,
adoring smile. Nick, glimpsed
through the next shop. did not,
He glowered Enthusiastically. Nick
knew. one way or another.
Surprise
TT began to snow, which was a
A relief. The wet, duh days had
been depressing everybody; the
smart customers were all talking
about Bermuda and Florida and
how dreadful it was that you
couldn't cruise freely now this
horrid European war was on.
II was a good day for sales,
oddly. The sharp fresh snowy
air seemed to make people want
to come in and buy flowers.
Molly, sullen and ugly TO the
last. went off duty at Nick's at
ten. but Eileen and Ris had to
stay on. Customers overlapped as
if they did it on purpose.
Finally the shop was empty;
the damply over-sweet, over
warm narrow place out of which
Eileen wanted to run. scream
ing. She dived under her desk for
her handbag.
As she did SO. Ris tiptoed over
with that wide. adoring smile.
and laid four-fower corsage on
the desk before her.
He said, "You have been sad all
day, Eileen. / saw. Now you viii
look happy, with these 10 wear?
So like them yourself--so tiny.
so slender. so creamy the skin.
so sweet"
She made herself smile. She
must take Il as matter Of course.
She said quietly. Thank you.
Ris. But I've nowhere 70 keep
them al home. Mayn't I put them
IN the ice box TIL morning.
He looked d little downcast--
he was such a boy. after ali. FL
leen remembered, only twenty
two--but he said. @Of course. But
perhaps tomorrow we 60 TO the
movies and you wear them.
Her hands shook az she bent
over 10 pull her shabby sandals
on. they were the kind you buy
nt the ten-cent store and snap
across your instep. The% did not
keep deep snow out
AZ Eileen Strengthened I'D d
wave Of haired for Nartin--fcr
the man who bad made her 30