The Key West Citizen

UNFAIR TO LOVE
By Watkins E. Wright
Chapter 31
Joe Disappears
"Will you stop talking as though someone had died!" cried Kathleen.

Kathleen opened her eyes, the sunlight was streaming into the room. She sat up and looked at the time. It was eleven o'clock in the morning. She jumped out of bed, and turned on the shower. Half an hour later she walked into the dining room.

The telephone bell rang while Kathleen was having her first cup of coffee. She went to answer it.

"Gazette," he asked. "Is Joe Neely out there, Kathleen? I've been trying to locate him all morning. That crazy Lizzie of yours wouldn't call you to the telephone."

"No," said Kathleen, "of course Joe's not out here."

"Okay. Sorry to have bothered you."

Kathleen went back to her breakfast. She tried to put the matter of Joe's absence from work from her mind. But it was difficult. She kept thinking of their quarrel of the night before—wondering if that had anything to do with Joe's non-appearance at the newspaper office.

Fred DeMille arrived in the midst of her wondering and worrying, and breakfasting.

"We're calling off 'Goodbye, Honey Chile!'." he announced, after he and Kathleen had said their good mornings. "We're going to use one of our old plays during the rest of the week. Sorry, your professorial appearance was so short-lived."

"Why this sudden decision?" Kathleen asked, amazed at the relief she felt.

Fred chuckled. "We've got to put on a play in which Paul has a less conspicuous part," he said. "The patch on his forehead shows rather plainly—and his chin is swollen."

"Joe's doings," said Kathleen. "He told me." Then she said, trying to speak calmly. "By the way, have you seen Joe today?"

"Yes, saw him early this morning," said Fred. "He was helping Ruby into his car."

"Where on earth could they be going so early?" Kathleen said, as though speaking to herself. "I should think Ruby would be all worn out after last night."

Fred shook his head. "It puzzles me, too. Maybe Ruby finally made up her mind which she wanted—Joe or your uncle."

Dire Possibility

"You mean it may have been an—an—elopement?"

"Yes," said Fred. "Ruby's got a romantic streak a yard wide." He looked up as Lizzie walked in.

"Hello, Lizzie," he said. "Mind if I have a cup of coffee."

Fred got his coffee. He sat drinking it.

"I hope you don't feel too badly about it," he said to Kathleen. "Joe's a swell kid—I know—but with you planning a career, and sort of ditching him, he natural—"

"I'm not planning a career!" Kathleen cried out. "I hate careers, Fred DeMille. Sometimes I wish you and your old actors had never come to Linville."

Words failed her. She caught up her napkin and dabbed at her eyes.

"There, there, Kathleen, my child," exclaimed Fred. "I didn't mean to get you all upset. I'm sorry."

"The idea," Kathleen rushed on. "Ruby Howard is years and years older than Joe—why, it's nothing less than a kidnapping!"

"Maybe so," said Fred thoughtfully. "And yet Joe certainly didn't look a bit unwilling—when I saw them."

"Oh, shut up!" said Kathleen.

Fred got to his feet. I'll be—

Kathleen went into the living room. She paced up and down, up and down. "I've been the world's prize idiot!" she told herself. She wanted to cry, and couldn't. She picked up a book. She put it down. The minutes dragged. Finally she went out into the kitchen.

"I don't want any lunch, Lizzie," she said. "I ate breakfast so late. But you'd better fix something for Mr. Frank."

"He ain't comin' home to lunch," said Lizzie. "He et breakfast pow'ful early, an' said not to expect him till this evenin'. He said as how there'd be company for supper, too."

"How many?"

"He didn't say. You know how Mr. Frank likes to drop in with folks to eat, Miss Kathleen."

"Yes, I know," said Kathleen wearily. "Just plan a good meal, Lizzie, and plenty of it."

"Yas'm."

No Uncle Frank

An hour later a garage man telephoned to say that Mr. Frank Vaughan's car was ready.

"I didn't know there was anything wrong with it," said Kathleen.

"Nothing serious," said the man. "Just took a few hours to make some adjustments. Shall I drive it out?"

"No," said Kathleen. "I'll come and get it."

On the way to the garage, she decided to run up and see her uncle. She had to talk to someone, or go crazy. She knew Uncle Frank would understand about Joe, and comfort her, make her feel that her world hadn't really come to an end. She reached the building in which Mr. Frank had his real estate office, and went up the stairs. She tried the knob of the office door, and found it locked.

Then she noticed a small card stuck in the glass. She bent down to read it. It said: "Gone for the day." She turned away, her heart heavy. Joe gone! Uncle Frank gone! She had never before felt so utterly alone.

She went down to the street again. A short time later she was driving her uncle's car out into the country, wondering in a sort of half-interested way where Uncle Frank had gone, and how—since he didn't take the car with him.

It was nice in the country. And she drove on and on, faster and faster, as though trying to get away from her thoughts. She stopped at the farm, strolled through the old house, tidying up here and there—but when she saw the barbecue pit, and remembered all her hopes and dreams, she felt sick with an almost overwhelming conglomeration of emotions. She went back to the car, got in, and drove away—faster than she had ever driven before.

When she drove into the driveway of the Vaughan place she saw Ruby Howard sitting upon the front porch. She barely missed the elm tree that grew near the garage, as she stiffened. "Well, of all the nerve!" she thought. Uncle Frank daring to bring Joe Neely and his actress bride out to her house for supper!

"Hello!" she said to Ruby.

"Hello! We've been wondering what had happened to you."

"Really?" said Kathleen. "I've been doing some wondering myself. So has Joe's boss. He's been wondering why Joe didn't come to work. But—"

"Poor Joe!" said Ruby. "He was in a dilemma. But, you see, my dear—he—"

To be continued