The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-01-12
Chapter 2s
POOLE TO THE RESCUE


4 CURIOUS expression grew In
"A Mrs. Lodely's eyes. An old tag
hoated into Armitage's mind. about
all the world loving a lover. Mrs.
Lodely was croosedly smiling.
well, I'm dashedI" She lit an.
other cigarette. Il must say ike
a man who speaks up for himself.
Men used to, what's more. when
was a gel" Incredibly, she was sim.
pering. Look here, Farrell. If lost
my temper just now, forget It. And
forget Barbara. She has no thought
in her head but Mark. She told you
as much. I'll bet"
"oh yes. She told me as much
and more"
VERY well, then. that's settled"
Armitage took her nod as a dis.
missal and escaped, though what
II was that was settled he did not
know. A stupid woman and. added
his caution, for that very reasen
a dangerous and stubborn enemy.
On the threshold OF the big
drawinC-room he collided with
Poole.
"Lodely's awake and asking for
you" said that innocent. II went
up but Pm afraid was rather a
misfit." He turned the misleading
candor Of bis gaze upon Mrs. Lode.
~. who at that moment issued
forth from the inner room. Il say"
he announced. "Tve Just discovered
that there's a dog show on at
Kern's' Are you too frightfuily
busy, Mrs. Lodely, orr"
Armitage left him at It. Loyal
lad-Poole! Armitage went up TO
the bedroom that had been his own
1t should be his again, too, by CAD
That was one thing he would stand
out for. II there was no decorator
who could evolve suitable bed
room for Mark, Mark could thun
dering well ST. , in the elevator.
Come in." said the artists voice
Armitage entered the bedroom.
It was a big apartment but Mark
had managed to clutter It with his
belongings. A trunk gaped. half.
unpacked; the paraphernalia OF
pencil. paint and easel overlooked
upon the bed and there were torn
fragments of paper all over the
floor.
II tried to do another impression
Of Miss Raoul before I went to
bed" explained Mark. as Armitage
glanced at the litter. shut /
couldn't. don't suppose ! could
have improved on the first sketch.
es, though. anyway"
Good. were they?" Armitage
cleared chair and sat down. II
don't think you showed them TO
me-"
"That was very remfss Of me-
said Mark at once. "Tll see that
II doesn't happen again."
Armitage opened his lips--and
closed them.
you are under no obligation
whatever" he said carefully, ito
appoint me censor of your work.
As to your assumption that I'm
buying authority over you by Of
fering you a chance to make good
wei. it's rather an unfriendly as.
sumption. isn't it?'
Mark listened 90 him with ap.
parently deep attention.
But I thought we agreed when
] came that we were not friends"
he said.
With evaporation Armitage re.
membered il. Marks thin, cool
voice went Oh
Nov you are offended because ]
assume that II It Is not liking Cor
me. It is liking TO be the patron.
Well. II it's from neither OF these
weaknesses that you invited me
here. why Is itf"
Il was Marks faint aura OK en-.
joyment that betrayed him. Armi.
tage was positive that Mark
guessed the handspring OF his
hopes. More than the handspring he
might never trouble to discover, so
sure be was OF Barbara.
why are you doing anything AZ
all for me. Armitage9"
First the mother. now the sonl
Suddenly Armitage realized that Il
mattered not . whit whether the
pair OF them knew the tnll extent OF
his bargain with Barbara. Armisage
permitted himself to show enjoy.
ment also.
What amuses you" demanded
Mark. OF bis guard.
The idea OF your amusing your.
aeif with mei- returned Armitage
and continued TO grin At him.