Black Cypress by Frances Crane

Author:Frances Crane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MysteriousPress.com/Open Road
Published: 1948-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

15

The french doors from the cottage living room stood open on the terrace. The screen door was closed and hooked on the inside. I walked around on the ocean side and at once heard voices. I flattened myself against the house and moved as close as possible to the open casements.

They were in the bedroom. I couldn’t at first place them, but soon decided that they were in the big low modern chair. Clarinda, I assumed, was sitting on her Kenneth’s lap. This didn’t require the mind of a detective because in her place and if he were Patrick I would have been there myself.

Both were smoking, as was evident from the smell of the Turkish tobacco, and little lapses in their talk which would indicate drawing on a cigarette. Of course, it could have been love-making that made the lapses, but there was tobacco smoke, too.

“I’ve told you a thousand times, darling,” West said, and his voice was as always laced with mockery and a deep secret knowledge, “that if your precious Ron knew what I know he wouldn’t touch you at any price. Ron, my darling, is an idealist.”

“Darling!” They apparently kissed, and she said, her sexy voice very low, “You won’t tell him, darling?”

“You know damn well I won’t.” West laughed. “I haven’t any principles, my sweet, but I don’t run around telling little boys there’s no Santa Claus. That’s for you to do.”

“I want him, darling. So I can’t tell him.”

“Well,” West said, “I’ve always told you, Clare, that what you want is what I want.”

“But don’t you understand, Ken? A little while—a year or two—and then it’s mine, maybe. Ours, darling. I can’t live without money.”

“I wouldn’t count too much on its working out according to plan.”

She said softly, “Do you mind very much? Will you be unhappy?”

“My darling girl, I shall remain just as I am. I was a stand-in for your first husband, so why not for your second? I’ve hit bottom long since and come back up as high, probably, as I’ll ever get. Nobody could be as unhappy as you’ve made me, but it wouldn’t be honest not to say also that you’ve made me blissfully happy more times than I can count, too.” He chuckled. “For a long time I went up and down, like a seesaw. Then things got in their right place. If you had been married to me all these years I would have lost you long before this. You have to have plenty of money. I am woefully incapable of providing as much as you demand.”

“Darling, I’ll get us money.”

“I’m not a pimp, Clare.” He laughed. “Not quite that low, at least.”

She evidently kissed him again and said, “Whoever said you were! But to be poor is so horrible.”

“For you. Not for me.”

There was a long kiss. She said, “I shall never give you up. Whatever else, you’ve got to stand by, Ken.”

“Darling little Clare! Going to have her cake and eat it too.”

“But who doesn’t? We’re civilized, I hope.

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