The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-02-24
GODDESS

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ages OF daily toll. They looked torn
and scuffed. Her hands were swollen
and red from the unaccustomed
severity OF working with the coarse
fiber.
Only her face looked serene and
1T. that and the mintedgold glory
of her hair.
Langton said softly. Frank. girl
OF her courage deserves taking
chances for"
Frank turned away. He suspected
that his old friend had discerned
that he. Grahame. was in love With
Janice. The kindly fellow. however.
had not limited at t.: but certain
little tactful gestures when none
were necessary made Frank realize
| that he was conscious that perhaps
at least one OF his two visitors from
civilization might be aware OF sen
timent that was deeper than mere
comradeship.
The thought was painful to Frank
To him Janice's decision in Holly
wood had been uncomprunising:
there was no further appeal 10 be
made. Any thought or speculation
upon what might have been served
only to stir Unpleasant memories.
Langton had said thai she was
girl of courage: to Frank this en-
forced Intimacy had given him .
greater opportunity to Judge: she
was magnificent-m miraculous.
That night he helped I.angtop
complete the balsa wood Jacket. II
was clumsy affair made OF two foot
lengths OF this curious wood thar Is
lighter than cork. es
II was tied together with twisted
strands OF cactus fiber: shoulder
straps were made OF the same ma
terial. Frank tried II on. lie resolved
that In day or two he would put II
to use.
III ATER that night. sleeping sound
II ~. they were awakened by the
crashing Of thunder Sheet.Iightnine
flared about tie skies. Huddled in
the doorway OF the shack thai
screened the entrance OF the cave
they stood until the sky opened It's
ducts and drove them away from un
der the tilmsy roof.
Within the cave. dank with un
evaporated water from the lasI
floods and musty with bat offal
Grahame and Langton stared at eact
other soberly.
Resinous torches provided in an
ticipati0n OF this EN- Urgency nae
been lighted. The thunderous boom
Ing without precluded any possibil
lty OF sleep.
"The rains are here" muttered
Grahame.
IT won't be long now" replied
Langton lightly. Frank noticed that
his friends face looked queerly pale
on the patches his beard did no,
cover.
IN the morning. II was Janice who
told them about the curious behavior
OF the ahkin. The girl had Insisted
despite the protest OF the men. that
she De the highprlest's attendant
She had, however. been deter
mined: therefor they had construc.
ted a pallet In a corner OF the inner
cave for the ahkin and one nearby
for the girl. When the two white
men. who usually slept in the outer
shack. had entered the cave and
lighted the torches. Janice had
looked to the welfare OF her charge.
she had found him. his back sup
ported upright against the caves
wan, rigid in state approaching
cAtalepsy.
She had shaken his shoulder
thinking him In the midst OF !. dream,
but he had not awakened, Usually,
she knew, he slept lightly. His limbs
and hIs body were marble-stifi. HIS
face was frozen although his eyes
were open but Opaque.
Janice reported that It sounded
IKE 4 quiet droning so lmperceptible
was hts voice. but by concentrating
she was aware. that words were Is
suing from his parted lips: strange
words. that held the cadence OF mys.
tic ceremony.
HE was asleep and dreaming"
Frank suggested.
Langton looked thoughtful. The
two men did not press her with fur
ther comment or question. but as OF
one accord they made their way to
the streams edge.
The sky was sullen overhead: 1t
held more than hint OF rsIn--il was
. threat. The stream undoubtedly
was higher. tawny with the discol-
Grafton OF vegetation.
Il ran swiftly. defniteiy. and dis.
appeared into the nav OF the lower
cavern leaving little sponges OF yel-
low foam cllnging to the rocky por-
tails.
With mck." stated Grahame star.
ing speculatisely At the stream. I'VE
have about 4 week on dry ground
here AMER that -
fcesysssts. 1854. ), ssGs,s fs.,s.I