The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-01-30
EBuying Barbara



must Just count the days. Look on
them as an investment"
That's what I'm always tellin'
him." burst in Mrs. Lodely. II
don't believe he realizes yet what
you've done for him, Farrell, don't
really. After all. it takes a bit Of
thinkin' about, when you've been a
cripple all your life. to imagine
yourself walkin' easily. Like ex-
plainin' sight to a blind man; 1t
can't be done"
Mark had shut his eyes when this
torrent began and did not open
them as he addressed Armitage.
II think ! should be able to en-.
press my gratitude better II could
get some idea Of your motive. Not
personal liking: am sure I may
still take It that your motive is not
personal liking. And not the desire
to be a patron-saint. No. It is the
old puzzle. ] suppose It win never
be solved"
"rm ready to solve it now. as It
happens"
Mrs. Lodely gaped from one man
to the other in a vague alarm.
Marks eyes few open. Yes, there
was fear in them. Poor devil.
"Some other timer" he suggested,
waving a hand. unless you feel
that you absolutely cannot wait for
that gratitude OF mine any longer?"
Now, Mark, you're just rilin'
Farrell for no reason whatever.
You"
tits all right, Mrs. Lodely. take
q lot Of rillng. And your son is per.
fectly right in requiring some kind
Of statement from me. He has
asked for 1t often enough and it's
only fair that at last he should
have it"
II don't like statements" Marks
voice rose fretfully. Really, Armi.
tage, ]. don't feel up to this police
court atmosphere. Let us say that
you deserve my most abject devo-
tion for everything you have done
for me, for whatever reason, and
let us leave It at that He scowled,
q sick child hugging its grievances.
Armitage looked at him with for.
bearance.
"I'm sorry, but I'm going to make
myself clear whether You like 1t or
not. II you genuinely don't wish
to listen, you'd better put your I'm.
gers In your ears" But Armitage
did not turn to Mrs. Lodely. now
fldgeting nervously. He went on
talking to Mark. my first confess
sion Is no news to your mother
and. I suspect, no news TO ron. I
fell In lore with Barbara at sight
and o. the Arst available occasion
I asked her 10 marry me"
Marks color came back. Armi.
tage's old Suspicion became Ger.
tainty. Mark had guessed his love
FOR Barbara long ago.
aYon tried to take my girl be-
hind my backf How typical!
Would You have done that, I won
der. II ! had not had crutch to
drag about with met"
"You can wonder that, II you
like" said Armitage equally. "The
point is, Of course. that IL I'd
thought she genuinely cared for
you and you could have given her
some kind Of happiness. I should
have got out without word. But
didn't think life with you would
be anything but hell FOR her"
Marks smile grew. Mrs. Lodely.
apparently from embarrassment.
laughed loud and long.
Barbara seemed to admit that Il
would be hell" went on Armitage,
when she was quiet again. ''but she
insisted that her feeling for Jon
was. II not lore something as great
as love and as eternal"
well, must say. you young
folks talk things out pretty freelyis
Mrs. Lodely got up. knocked q vase
Of flowers over. and sat down again.
II s,pose It does no harm in q way.
but don't know I'm sure. It quite
takes me aback."
Go on. Armitage."
my challenge to Barbara was
that II she conld see ron well. sue.
eessfsn. popular, financially secure,
she would perhaps no longer feel
bound to you in the particular way
In which she did feel bound"
"Your challenge. did ron sayf"
my challenge, yes. I said that I
would make you all those things II
she. In return. would promise not
to marry you for . year."
"But Bahs never--but dear old
Rabs would never"
"Shut Up, Judy. can't you?"
"The problem Of your gratitude
need therefore never arise. Lodely.
You owe me nothing because what
! have done has been done for my
own purpose. II l fail. you viii
still owe me nothing. II / win"
"Shut up. Jndyl"
4 ySxn-.s..f-As ,aaa ~ <-S.ks 49,.