The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-08-15

luShAOuCu hnOShCI OA LuS LIOAL uOOI-
Germaine herself opened the door
and stared for an instant in amaze
ment. then burst into a merry peal
Of laughter-which she as suddenly
checked.
ooh, I'm sorry!" she exclaimed
contritely. But you do look sight.
What on earth has happened to
your"
is anyone about?" he asked.
NO" she assured him, mot a soul
except Antoinette and Jacques,
but they're at the back of the house
So come in"
mot like this!" he said. 81
couldn't sit down without running
the furniture, you know! have just
come from Bouchard's shack"
"Bouchard!" Her hand reached
out impulsively-and soiled itself
hopelessly on his muddy sleeve.
TOO bad!" he said remorsefuIly.
Now see what | have done!"
What does it matter?" Her voice
was all anxiety now. Something has
happened. What is it? Tell met"
"Beastly clumsy Of me-" he ex.
planned. Il missed my footing on
the way back. and took nose dive
into the marsh. Bouchard is in the
other camp. came to ask you to
lend me your boat"
"Tell me-" she insisted.
"Of course!" said Colin. 81 was
going to anyway. You remember
those two fellows who landed from
the Belle Fleur this afternoon"
"Yes." o..
well, their room Is next to mine
at the hotel and | heard them talk
ing in there this evening. They be-
long to a Bookkeeping outfit. or
worse, that Is captained by man
named Dollaire. This Dollaire has
found out that the club is a camou.
flage for a bunch of crooks engaged
in some profitable racket, and be
sees no reason why he shouldn't
muscle In and help himself to the
profits! And tonight is the night
When | went out there just now
to see Bouchard. found those two
men with him. Bouchard is the man
they shot at and were looking for at
the club yesterday. In short, Bouch.
ard Is Dollaire's spy"
'"nH!" she said tensely. yes
~ go ont"
Il overheard enough to know that
In another hour or so Dollaire will
be off the cape with schooner. He
win pick up these men here. get
Bouchard's report-and then the
club. | can't afford to let anything
happen to Lazarre. as you know. He
must be warned. aud there Is only
one way-by boat. So may / have
yours?"
"You may" she said promptly,
"and what is more. I'll run 1t for
you. | suppose we should start at
once, shouldn't WEI"
For a moment Colin stared at her
blankly. then his jaws clamped. Ger.
maine at the club--tonight! She did
not realize, of course, what It might
mean.
That's very good OF you, but you
don't start at ALL" he said firmly.
This Is one-man Job"
81 don't see why" she pouted. 81
was dragged in by the hair OF the
head. you know, yesterday. the way
you said It always happened In your
stories, so why can't be again? I'd
love to be q heroine"
But that would mean." he chal.
lenged. "that you would nave to fall
In love with the hero--and the hero
with you"
'Not at ALL" she retorted serene.
ly. Don't you think It would be
something at last really original In
q story--if they didn't?"
swell, that's an idea. of course"
he admitted with a smile: then Sc.
rlously: "But this isn't a story I'm
writing, and so far as you are con
cerned you are henceforth definitely
out OF It. Quite apart from what
might happen down there tonight.
IL you were ever suspected. they
wouldn't have any more mercy on
you than they had on"-he checked
himself-"would have on anybody
else. This Is my job. and tonight
particularly. as I told you. 1t Is Q
one-man fob,
Il am not going TO drag anybody
else into this--and least OF all you.
Bouchard would have been along In
the capacity OF q mercenary. as It
were. and his blood would have
been on HIS own head. As II Is now.
all I've got TO do Is sit and smoke
aud steer a boat. and--well. you IN.
derstand-"
II! would seem then. that / am
not 10 60" she observed.
'lt would" he returned grtmiv,
fCorwisAf 1879 FREAK l. Packard
romatrow, eeIln aoss vesAstaa
tnte danger.