The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-02-12
chapter 20


AfI Gl0E. 1nEH CLQtOlG ttNAf gStes
Chapter 90
THE MESSAGE
HIGH above them were two win
dows, one. on each adjacent
wall Frank guessed that this was
either a corner room. or that the
cell abuttsd upon Z courtyard. The
window-openings were barred, e.
was the square orifce in the
studded door.
He approached the door and stud
fed It. He lifted his ast and
struck II.
what are you trying to DOR
asked Greene.
get somebody here, and tell 'em
we want water"
"No good. I tried that while you
we're bye bye"
Crahame unlaeed q boot. eff ct
Arst You don't succeed" he said
Juggling at the heel, make some
more noise"
He pounded the door with his
hoot.heei. After q period he heard
9 voice outside the door ask him in
Spanish what he wanted.
"Water!" -.
The voice spat some. reply, and
they heard the mans soft footsteps
retreating.
Grahame redoubled his pound
ing. Soon the voice spoke again and
Grahame replied in voluhle Span
ish.
what are you telling him?"
Greene asked curiously.
Telling i'm wen die without
food and water. and that he'll catch
the devil II he lets as"
The man without seemed to hest.
tate before replying. then. mutter.
ing. shufied away. Grahame smiled.
Bet you a dime we get the
water"
The minutes sped away. An hour
passed. The heat within the closed
room was stifiing. While the pain
IN hts head diminished. Grahame
doubted II he were capable OF any.
great effort Ills right arm and
shoulder were worse than useless,
he knew.
There seemed scant chance OF
making a break for freedom from
this situation. II would take a
miracle to alter their circumstances
for the better. He wondered how
long they would keen them here.
aud for what ultimate purpose.
They seemed. these savage peo-
pie. utterly ruthless about the lives
Of their male vic ms. His thoughts
instinetivsly refused to dwell on
JanIce's fate. He knew too well
what might happen 70 her
Many OF the warriors had white
skins. sun-bronzed to be sure. but
undoubtedly white. The eyes OF
some Of them were blue. and their
hair yellow.
> He thought. too. OF Hollywood.
which by now had assumed the
status almost Of q heavenly abode
20 him.
LIE WONDERED Just Why he had
"A walked out OF Janiee's house
that night after she had 80 CURLY
refused him. He even wondered
whether she had refused him. or
whether the FLAP she had dealt him.
was rather the result OF oyer-strung
nerves.
In any case. Il Was ohxioua that
his action had been responsible for
most OF what had come aimee For.
evidently II be had talked q ont with
Janice that night they might AZ
least have come to aome agreement
that would have made Il possible for
him TO continue with Myherg.
And had he continued with Ny.
berg be would have been q member
OF the company that bad been sent
70 Mexico. and thus would have
been able to protect Janice at every
step. Or at least TO try to protect
her.
he would certainly never have
permitted the company to advance
blind into the most dangerous part
Of Mexico. He might very well have
brought Il 'nto the wilds. It Is true.
but Certainly not under the PRO
lection Of ortega
"Hlndsfght Is better than fore.
sight," he Quoted grimly 20 himself
as he looked about hla cell.
The whole debacle had been the
result Of a girls slap-and . mans
stunned pride. The rancor Of the
one had gone. but the consequences
OF the other remained.
He wondered again At the fidelity
OF Juan. the chance that had
brought the Dor TO him, and
whether the youth was By nov
safely out OF the territory Of ~