The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-01-22
Chapter IL
THE RETURN


i driver-the man he had struck
with his gun-was gone. The other
two men were not in view. The nom
descript car looked oddly desolate
with its gaping doors.
He frowned, considering. His i'm.
pulse was to follow one of the men.
He realized that the capture of one
or all Of them would effectively stop
the peculiar and mysterious perse-
cution of Janice Kent. That they
were serious about their business he
did not doubt.
Ruefully he put his hand to his
side where his assailant's bullet had
gouged the cloth. But Winslow's arm
needed attention. And certainly
Janice must be on the verge of hys.
terra from the ordeal which she had
undergone.
"I'll roll the stones back off the
road" he said. spin, you climb in
the back with Janice" He turned to
the girl. I'VE had an accident. His
arms bad. You'll have to make 1t as
easy for him as you can during the
trip back to Caliente. The road looks
pretty bad if this is sample. Ex-
plantations later"
He rolled the rocks from the road,
and got in behind the wheel. He sue
ceeded in turning the car on the mar
row road, and headed back up the
coast. He drove an hour in silence.
busted with his thoughts. During
that time they passed one lone car
going in the opposite direction.
AS the headlights flashed upon
them, Frank looked back. One of the
girls arms was around the flyers
shoulder; the other was braccd
against the inevitable lurching Of
the automobile. Her glance met his
briefly: her lips parted in a warm
smile.
Frank turned back to the business
of driving. A fine girl: one in mil.
lion. She was reacting magnificent.
ly to the situation. A quick throb of
exultation surged in his breast as
he thought of how she had chung
that instant to him when he had
taken her from the car.
He felt his face flush with a sensa.
ton of delight strange to him when
he remembered that she had pressed
her cheek against his coat. There
was no doubt that she had done so:
to Frank there was no question as
to why she had done so. Allowing
for. a natural impulse of gratitude
and OF nervous reaction. still she
could have thanked him otherwise.
That she had not thanked him but
had made that small gesture. led
him to one conclusion; the gesture
had been one OF affection. He loved
Janice Kent-of that he was sure;
that she returned his regard seemed
incredible, but he was sure that she
did.
AS a swain Frank realized that he
had much to learn. Lurking in the
background of his mind was a small
goblin of thought that there might
be something elementally wrong
with his reasoning-if the emotions
he felt could be called reason-since
subconsciously he appreciated that
all lovers believe that because of
the very intensity Of their emotion
II must be returned in kind.
The wish is father TO the thought.
But Janice had pressed her cheek
against his coat.
He swung the nose OF the car into
the paved highway and headed for
the stone columns that fianked the
grounds OF Aqua Caliente. The tires
cracked over the graveled patio. He
drew up before the hotel entrance.
I'm arrange for a cottage for
Janice" he said. land get a saw.
bones for you. Spin III phone Ny.
berg inside"
To an attendant he gave quick in.
struetions. and passed into the hotel.
THE house doctor had come and
gone. Spin was resting easily
There was reek OF ether In the air,
The doctor had diagnosed a dislo.
Gated shoulder. instructlng Frank to
hold his friend-so. while he pressed
in the Joint.
Janice insisted that she stay In
the room and help. The doctor had
demurred. Frank expostulated. and
Spin himself had told her in that