The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-03-06
Madison Square Mystery-Melodr
BY
NINA LESLIE CALLEJA

CONCLUSION

DO we still keep up the not
knowing anything even if we get
married." she asked him one day.
How can we do that?"
The only difference will be
that will be with you at night,
Saturday afternoon and all day
Sunday instead of half an hour in
the middle of the day as we are
doing now. We still needn't know
anything about each other. Of
course" and he hesitated little,
lit will be a more intimate aSso-
citation. ."
Edith, blushing, assured him
that she understood, and then she
said that she had decided she
liked him we'll enough to marry
ham and live with him and still
not know his real name, and, by
the way, what names should they
use when they applied for the Ii
cense? Joe thought it over few
minutes and said he thought she
ought 20 select good name, in
asmuch as il was going to be her
name too. Nothing too fancy, he
begged her. Some nice, respect
able name that everybody could
pronounce without any trouble
and that no one would be asham-
ed of carrying. Edith said she
would think about il and let him
know Of a good name in a day or
two.
She finally decided upon the
name: Strange" Joe repeated:
Joseph Strange. Edith Strange"
Yes, IL sounded all right, and so
they were married.
Coming out of the City Hall,
Edith had a moment of stark, un-
reasoning fear. What manner of
man was this she had married?
What manner of man was this
whose name she carried? And
then she became utterly confus-
ed. II wasn't his name she was
carrying. God only knew what
his real name was. Maybe he
was a fugitive from justice. May
be he was a murderer, maniac,
who would take her somewhere
and cut her into small pieces . d.
She began to tremble uncon-
trollably.
Joe faced her and took hold of
her arms. Edith" he said quiet
~. Look at me-" Edith looked
him full in the eyes. please
don't be afraid. my darling" he
continued. and his eyes were very
clear. Don't be afraid" Edith
looked al him again and knew at
once that there was nothing to be
afraid of. Joe loved her; Joe
would take care of her; Joe could
be trusted. II was just that he
had this odd notion of people not
knowing anything about each 9TH
er. Otherwise, he was just like
anybody else.
And indeed Joe loved her, and
took care of her, and could be
trusted. She found that out very
quickly after they were married,
and installed in a neat little
downtown apartment. Joe was
never late coming home after
work. Joe was unfailingly kind
and considerable. Joe took her to
the movies when she wanted to
be taken TO the movies, or was
just as contented to spend a quiet
evening al home with her. Joe
didn't drink or smoke or gamble.
Joe never so much as looked at
another woman. Every Saturday
Joe brought home $4,000 and
handed II to Edith. Edith sug-
gested that they put their little
surplus into a joint savings ac-
count; Joe said no-put it into a
savings account under her name
only. What use had he for
money?
Edith struck up acquaintance
with some neighboring couples
and hesitatingly invited them to
visit her. She didn't know how
Joe would take it. But she
needn't have worried. Joe was
wonderful. He was amusing and
entertaining, and aside from the
fact that he vouchsafed no infor-
nation whatever about his bust
ness or himself, as friendly as
could be. Furthermore, he seem
cd to enjoy the company.
After few attempts to find
Out things about her husband
Edith gave it up. One morning
she decided TO follow him and
lind out where he worked. but
once IN the subway she began
thinking how angry Joe might be