The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-03-10
Chapter Seven
Stolen Meeting

nNCE he saw her, Roger tried
~ to tell himself, it would all be
over. He'd know the thing for
what it was then. All impulsive,
feverish whim. And he would be
rid of it. And could go back to
Emily with heart free of all
these shadowy uncertainties. that
had suddenly possessed it.
His foot pressed the accelerator.
Ossining! TarrytoWn! Hastin Isl!
Yonkers! They seemed to fly by.
And then he was on the Drive
speeding down town.
It was an unhappy looking
walkup, dingy, forbidding, that
bore the street number Lovely
had given him.
Roger climbed the stairs, scarce
ly aware of the odors that
weighted the atmosphere of each
floor and gave clue to the nation
atty of its occupants.
Cert opened the door and stared
at him, unable to mask the sur
prise on her face. Roger recog-
nized her as the sister of Lovely's
story as she had told it to him
that morning.
No, Lovely hadn't come back
from the movie yet. Maybe she'd
stopped for beer and a sandwich.
Sometimes they did. Would he
come in? The last hesitantly, be-
cause Cert knew Joe would be
with Lovely and that might not
be so good.
Two men after the same girl.
And two such different men. In
stinctively Cert disapproved of
Roger for Lovely. Not as an in
dividual but as class. Men from
his walk of life rarely meant good
for girl like Lovely. Yet there
was something about Roger-but
he was speaking:
I've got my car. I'll just wait
down there"
He hadn't long to wait. Lovely
came swinging along with Joe.
They were walking close. A knife
seemed to turn in Rogers heart
as he saw Joe's arm around the
girl.
And then suddenly he knew
Lovely was aware OF him, had
recognized his car there at the
curb. He was about to speak to
her but caught something in the
atmosphere. She didn't want him
to speak. She was hurrying along.
He heard her say:
mo, not tonight! Don't come up,
Joe. It's been a swell evening but
I'm tired now. Too much dancing
I guess. Rain check for tomorrow
night"
Joe tried to linger, tried to per-
suade. But Lovely blew him a
kiss and her heels clicked in the
hall.
See you tomorrow night then!"
Joe said. But he was not to see
her that night. Or the next night.
Or for many after that.
Joe turned and moved slowly
down the street. Roger sat wait
ing. Should he go up? He was
sure Lovely had seen him.
Late Drive
CUDDENLY she was at the car,
- opening the door and slipping
in beside him. The strange dark
weight within him lifted. Night in
that neglected street had become
magic. He caught the faint fra
GRANGE of her-cheap perfume he
knew - but the most satisfying
scent that ever had assailed his
nostrils.
She had on a dress instead OF
the Stacks of the morning. A thin
tight little dark silk that suggest
ed almost nothing under it. The
lovely curves of her went to his
head and to his heart. 1t was a
moment before his voice could
rise through the mist of emotion
that swept him.
''Lovelyi l had TO see you'll"
"Jeepers creepers, boy! When ]
saw your car thought | was see
ing things. Had to do some quick
thinking to get Joe started on his
way. I'm" but Rogers voice in
terrupting was compelling:
Lovely"
Emotion was a torrent in il, &
steady surging torrent Devasting
Sweeping before it, like frail
debris in a spring food, aware
ness of every other thing. Leaving
only the girl beside him, the sweet
alluring curves of her, the lush
temptation of her lips. the subtly
suggested passion weaving like {
thread of gold through her voice
Her face was upturned 10 hi.
in a moment of wonder. Her lip:
were soft against his. Warm. Ac'
tive. Like sweet. tender. clngins
hands careSSing his very soul. Hi:
arms around her were tensely
posseSSive.
Finally he turned from he.
wordless and started the car
pressing his foot hard on the ga!
pedal Lovely leaned back agains
the cushions and said nothing. /
was no time for words. There wa!
no need for them. They hac
spoken to each other. in sheil
careSSes with such deaniteneSs
Words could add nothing
Roger drove nadly. North. H
cut a path through the night
straight north