The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-08-24
chapserss
THE BLOW

Suapter 30
The BLOW
IT WAS early In March that Bob
slammed bis start. As the result Of
almost supeFhuman pressure, he
found himself free to 20 two days
bsfoFe be had thought he could start
and--packlngi
Packing made him rather absurd.
" tFsmnlous. Once and again he
paused 70 stare blankly at the most
familiar objects: a military brush,
Q comb, some such unromantic
thing.
Then ne would pull himself. with
: hard jerk. from that which he
aroFned a. incoming" to 90 on /.
s..iris, collars. he must not forget to
open and 70 empty the bottom draw.
81 that had turned 10 a safe during
one week 81 hard rains. Less than
six days Of travel and he would see
bis mother. Marsha.
bartholomew would open the door
20 him: perhaps his mother would
wait his coming IN the drawing
roam; perhaps Marsha would be in
the hallg
DC perhaps because Of his mother
and the game they played for her,
Marsha woald meet him al the sta.
ton. fle hoped. fervently. that he
wouldn't 80 90 pieces 10 show her
how much she sim mattered. and to
Elye her HAT OF the fact that she
would always matter lie did not
want to bother her In any way.
foung Todd. idle that day because
of a touch OF the fever that makes
nomads cautious. wandered in TO
say. "Paeklng?"
BOB laughed. Might think So" he
responded. "but IN reality. I'm trout
nahlng."
damned funny, aren't your"
questioned Todd. But he was not at.
ITonted. Il vas good to see old Bob
somlng bach to hts old self. Bob had
been enc Of the most light.hearted
e the crew before his marriage.
Guess yoa'll hate 10 see your
NiieT" asked Todd.
~GFeat hardship" Bob agreed.
Tod realized he had been wrong
about a.. he saw Bob's eyes brighten
ana q liush creep under bis tan.
Hate her. don't your" ventured
sonnR Todd.
Suppose son mind your business,
you nervy brat said Bob. lie added,
- he stepped on a hulglng suitcase
IL order % close q. "And suppose
yon clear oat 10 Line hadn't been
fall o. hoe. ca have stationed him
~ tbs front door Just IN order to tell
yoa that ! was not al home. Is that
esaarf%
Todd admitted Il was; he grInned.
leaving. AZ he gained the open he
aaw Vicente disappearing into the
auich aud. be waited. mo ones little
Facef.+ be murmured. as Vicente
Aicksd bic mule into following the
twisting. rising path.
Letters. ron lop-eared. unwashed
500 81 q razor back hog?" asked
Todd. who tried TO be virile, ave min
aita later.
NYicENTE held forth a telegram,
' addressed TO Bob. Todd hoped IT
SO not contain bad news. How
fearful that would bel" he MUIR
mnFed. coming back TO himself and
60 natural expression. He plucked at
hangnaii IS he looked nervously
toward Alexander's and Powers
shack. which Vicente had entered in
hs usual slow way.
Vicente cane out. There was no
STR from the shack: no slightest
Huise came from Il to liven the
IsAals silepce.
Todd moved, stealthily, toward
ne opened door. And this time q
NIah TO help. not curiosity, took him.
a. the doorway. he looked in to de.
eide that 70 must have been bad
news. very bad news.
Powers was sitting, slumped by
The table. head dropped upon his
arms and shoulders moving. There
vas a lizard at his feet. II scurried
Through crushed papers, darted
across the room; up the wall. Todd
said . eramped. muted. "Powers!"
Bat Bob didn't answer and Todd
backed away.
Bob sat up. squared hts shoulders,
he never knew how much later. Then
again he read the word that told him
that the feeble fame In his mothers
weary body had gone out; the mes
sage was signed. Marsha Powers"
he would return now to arrange
With Marsha Powers for their d.
sorce. not to pretend for his mother
With kissing Marsha as he met her.
I've been thinking too much OF
That" be said leadenly and aloud.