The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-02-21
GODDESS
by Herbers .Je.ssesa

smouldered. The girl uttered
sharp exclamation and stopDed sud
denly.
A dim figure seemed to DRIFT tnto
the brush beyond the IRE. Almost
it seemed that Il was shaped from
the fires smoke. Frank leaDsd fog.
ward. It was no figure Of smoks.
He heard the crash Of shrnbbeCy.
the sound OF q heavy body breast
ing the tangle.
He saw the bushes waving ahead
Of him. Plunging through IN uur.
suit, Frank raised the heavy blade
of his machete. II this were the
ahkin. come by some secret trail 20
modest them, he was going to have
a settlement now. To wait until
dark would be suicidal with that
maniac loose.
He leaped a fallen log. Brush
cracked ahead. Shrubbery tops
waved; he caught a brief glimpse OF
human hand raised to pull aside
a bough.
Frank lunged. He heard q startled
cry. The hand appeared again
clenched about the handle Of club
tipped with stone.
His machete flashed up.
He chopped It forward. 70
changed upon stone; HIS arm was
numbed with the shock. A b0rgh
switching backward caught him
across the eyes. The pain blinded
him. 81
Human hands claWed ct hia
throat. He reached forward and
his arms encircled 4 body. He felt
garments tear as he sought to tighten
his hold. The creature--hs could
not see it-writhed' and Topped in
his grip. q
A fist beat at his face ana he
frightened his arms. He felt beard.
ed face crushed against his own. He
put up his hand and clamped it
under the hairy chin.
"DAMN you! You numbering"
- His antagonist relaxed. Ale.
most he fell forward upon him 20
sudden was the tactic. He opened
his smarting eyes. A blond-bearded
wild face opposed his own. Vivid
blue eyes, wide with fantastic
amazement CLEANED above the
bronzed eheekbones. The bearded
lips parted in an astonished, unbe-
Iieving smile.
"Frank Grahame!" the man ex-
claimed. Prank ="
Frank muttered. BILLY Langton!"
He brought up his free hand and
passed the fingers through MS hair.
The other said. Take your paw
off my throat. you hoodlum."
Frank dropped his hands to bis
side. Langton swayed. and would
have fallen put for Franks 10.
stantly supporting arm. The man
leaned against a tree trunk. breath.
ing heavily. and looking unutter-
ably weary.
'I'm sort OF weak" he explained
quietly. His smile flashed again.
And what brings you here. straDg.
err? You always were fool for bust
ing in places. might have
Drained you with that swipe took"
He glanced al the ground. "Ah...
here fl is. That club OF mine h no
pIaything." He cnughed. Hello.
you old iackass."
Langton's eyes were bright with
tears. Frank understood. His own
throat was too tight for utteFance.
His friend. whom ne had thought
dead months ago was alive. H
swallowed bu. the lump persisted
He SAL: grufny:
"You damned ghost I might
have knocked your block on with
that machete. Thought you we're
the ahkin."
"oh you found him9 dragged
him out OF the water this morning.
He's harmless. :. now. Back broken.
How the devil he got-Did your >. :"
Frank interrupted Elm. TEL zen
later. Tell you lots Of things later.
Let's get hack 80 the clearing.
Janice met Them 1t the edge Of
the little saEannahs7 FFanh smiled
slightly as With their appearance
she dropped a knotty stick. She
looked at them anxiousfy q tfey
approached her.
He said lightly. Janice may I
present an old friend" He intro
duced them quite formally.
She gave q little startled cry,
"Langton!" Swiftly her glance sur.
veyed him. Her eyes Wideued: they
seemed to dim and soften and she
took in each detail Of his appear.
ance. ImpulsIvely she stepped for.
ward.
Langton stood. q little weary
smile behind the blond mask Of his
beard. His eyes seemed haunsed
with a duh opaqueness behind the
bright blue irises.
His right arm stood ont from TIE
shoulder at an odd angle: the hand
seemed thin and wasted One foot
turned inward. the toe pointed -
ward the instep % the other.
fcstyisa. 1874. ., E@kss Es.ssI
ramerreM Lanasen NaIIa hla