The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-02-14
Chapter 80
THE THREAT

CndpLeE 0z
THE THREAT
Easy. Greene old man." eau
toned Frank
I'D like to write his obituary"
snarled the mild Mr.. Greene.
Atkins voice spoke, fiat with f.
nality. "she dies with the others!"
Greene was breathing rapidly,
He turned to Frank. 81 didn't get
all that. What did he say?"
I Ortega had spoken to them in
English. Frank did not believe that
1.-The high-priest understood the Ian.
4guage. Yet he must have understood
the substance OF what Don RaouI
had told them because his threat
against Janice had tied in with their
discussion.
He muttered to Greene, I'll tell
You later. Ortega, listen to me:
You're q white man. This native
here Is mad. You can see It in his
eyes. You got her into this-never
mind us-get Janice ont Of this, or
by God, II it's the last thing I do
IN get you. Get you, hear me! ]
know a way!"
Ortega smiled uncertainty. THE
girl viii be all right" he said in
English. "Ahkin is blufing."
Again the priest spoke in level
tones. she has eaten, with these
men, the food of the Gods. She has
sinned. Yum Chac win not accept
her alive as q bride: he will take
her dead as food"
Ortega's face paled slightly. mo, .
he said. I'VE did not agree upon
that"
Grahame muttered in English,
'rThe man is mad, tell you!"
The hlgh-priest's glance exam
ined ortega coldly.
"Senor ortega." he said softly In
HIS slurring Spanish. HAS It oc.
CURED to you that your usefulness
In this matter is ended? In fact,
am wondering about your future
worth to US"
what do yon mean?" Don Raoul
moistened his lips.
Yesterday q runner from Merida
told me that the revolution has end
ed. unsuccessfully. There Is q re-
ward offered by the new Governor
Cor your capture.
Il do not care for the money
offered" he continued contemptu.
ously, but It seems that your serv.
Ices have no value to as now" All.
kin's voice became brittle. aTake
care. man. Cama-zotz is thirsty
God. and your heart would be as ac-
ceptable ~ those OF these others"
ortega stepped back into the
shadows. AS the group filed out Of
the doorway, his big figure seemed
queerly shrunken.
Greene mopped his forehead.
"Whew!" he exclaimed. I'm
wrInging wet. wonder II I've got
fever. Between that big slob ortega
making me hot. and that wicked
looking priest giving me the chllIs.
shouldn't wonder. What all went
ont didn't get half Of Il"
Frank considered. He wondered
II he should tell Janice's pre8sagent
all the implications. The little tel.
low had proved his courage. He was
a little ashamed Of his former an.
noyance with him in Hollywood. :,
Hollywood how rem ote e.
seemed. He decided to explain the
situation to Greene IN every aspect.
Two heads we're needed to pool
every scrap Of information that
might be Of possible value to them
IN their extremity.
While Greene was excItahle, the
chance Of his flying OF the handle
must be taken. He said in as light
. tone as he could muster:
Got your notebook. Greene?
This e the hottest stun you've ever
hssRds'sxl 81 AraaesI4s
Greene sighed. Il wish l had Il
at that. only" He studied the bars
OF the window. "-Myberg probably
wouldn't let me use Il it could"
Despite himself Prank smiled
slightly. The little press agents OBJ
session labeled him an artist.
He spoke 10 Greene primarily TO
inform him OF the circumstances
and also to piece together and ciar-l
lfy the bits OF Information that were
swarming In his own mind.
We're IN q hal spot. Creams" he
began. am ama1ed at lust about
everything rye seen and heard. Tia
people on the coast cali these In.
terror indians subleyad0s. Uneon-
Quered fellows.
-But they've always been report.
ed as q friendly. ignorant lot 20 long
as they were let alone Occasional
~ they drfft 20 the coast with biockal
Of chfcfa - chewing gum and