The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1932-12-31
Chapter Is
MARK IN A TANTRuM

tUEtttN Nv - - NV " SfW
MARK. you'll kindly let me IN"
commanded Mrs. Lodely.
Her untidy bulk was planted out.
side her sons door and her loud
voice held every indication OF au.
thority. But she did not look as
though she expected to be obeyed.
When the door remained contemp-
tuously shut, she changed to q
whine.
Mark, it's not fair of you to go
behavin' like thisi It's not fair to
me and it's not fair to Babs. She'll
be here directly-last thing she said
to me last night was that she'd be-
round as usual. She'll talk about
Thursday. the weddin' and one thing
and another, and you can't expect
me to be the one to tell her you've
postponed 1t again."
BE quiet" requested Marks
voice, SO close to the key-hole that
abe gasped, startled. .And go away"
She stood with her foolish mouth
gaping. Then her heart-beats slowed
and she made on down the stairs.
Not till she reached the bottom did
she reflect that it was beyond all
reason to be frightened. What was
Mark, after all. but her own child?
He ought to be ashamed
But she did not go up to that
= d door again.
80 pottering about in the ILL
ssf1ng to herself, when
ep on the porch. She
d, knocking the UNI.
hut Of its niche, and
or to Barbara.
lafk?"
FIRST question asked by
b came to Kings Barn.
Mrs. Lodely replied, in
lacular Of her youth-"Oh,
10 dusty!".To Barbara Quentin,
0wever, she said It with a diner.
J ence. There was an evasion in it.
Hes had q bad day2" Barbara's
hands went motionless amongst the
fastenings of her coat.
MY dear gel, I haven't seen him
since you have! After you'd gone
or with Farrell Armitage last night,
/ found the door shut and You know
wen enough no power on earth'll
make Mark open a door II he don't
want toI And this nornin' he lay
low--without so much az cup Of
eoffee--and this afternoon I had to
run out to make excuses for him
at the hank and do some shopping,
although 1 swear he went out some
where after I'd gone. by the time
! was back he'd locked himself in
again."
Barbara took her usual chair by
the fire. Mrs. Lodely. astride the
hearth. scrutinized her more closely
than was her custom.
Barbara laid her head suddenly
back against the dark wood OF her
chair and closed her eyes. There
were such shadows under them that
Mrs. Lsodeiy's habitual laughter
twisted in her throat.
Here. say" as a thought struck
her--T believe know what's get
tin you. It's about Mark goin' up
TO Town with this young million.
aire OF ours and it's rotten for you,
OF course It Is. But you know IL
Mark gets taken up by q really
rich man, well. it'll be the maxim
OF him. You surely see that!"
Il see that" echoed Barbara She
had not opened her eyes.
~Toppin' OF you to take Il like
thatl" breesed Mrs. Lodely. Look
here. Bahs. why don't ron and he
set married before be goes to Town.
First thing Thursday mornin'9.
II can't. Judy
-I'ye q shrewd notion Marks
hxed up somethin' OF the sort with
Mr.. Frere. Miss Roop saw him comm
down Upper Mailard lane. In taxi.
extravagant young devilir
II can't marry him on Thursday.
Mrs. Lodely's Jerking movement
sent q vase slithering or what.
not.
I've somethin' / want to tell
you" she said. -abont you and Mark.
Somethin' to DO with--money."
what money. Judy3"
On many and many q night when
her troubled thoughts had merged
into troubled sleep. Mrs, Lodely had
dreamed thar Barbara Quentin re-.