The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-09-25
Chapter IS
FOR LIFE

~pEcAUsE." she said. At think
- that you feel the way that you
DO because you are a young man
and I am a woman. and we have
been thrown together"
"Isn't there another side to thatg"
he suggested. "You are a young wo.
man. and ! am a man and we have
been thrown together"
Her unexpected answer moved
him like sudden trumpets.
IF there had been a million men. !"
she said. Il would like you best"
"That makes me feel pretty
damned humble" said Bowers. He
rose on the impulse. felt and STUN.
bled his way around the capstan and
sat down on the edge of her mat.
lress. 4 don't hear very WE'LL" he
aaid. and his voice shook a little in
spite OF him. what was It you said
Just now7"
Il said that IL I had been thrown
with a million men and you were
one Of them, would have liked yon
best"
Il was very dark in the triangle
Of the bows, but that night the stars
were Unfortunately bright and It
seemed 10 him that she was a visi.
bic glamor. His hands which trem.
bled found her shoulders.
1--WE win be married." he said.
"the minute we get to Singapore,
but Singapore is a long way from
here"
Il know" she said.
Il don't know what I believe. But
II there is a God He Is everywhere
and IL ! said here and now that you
we're my wife and that I'd give you a
square deal until death came along
and made a mess Of things and If
you said that | was your husband
and you'd do the same by me, He'd
be our witness"
She made no reply. AS a rule a
woman's silence means one of two
things. IL either means yes or It
means no. Il is a kind of speech of
which every man must be his own
Interpreter.
The next morning when Bowers
and Flint met for exercise with the
improvised medicine ball Bowers
displayed a juvenile and irrational
gayety. To the least reflective It
must have been evident that here
vas a man who delighted in being
alive and he flung the medicine ball
with unnecessary force and feryor
FLINT could hardly stand against
he impact and his looks darkened.
Jealousy springs more quickly to
conclusions than any other force in
nature.
AZ breakfast Flint perceived what
another might not have noticed. 1t
was no more than a subtle change
IN Bowers attitude to Ivy and hers
10 him. Il was casual as always. but
The easualness seemed forced. There
was an undercurrent OF tenderness
and FLINT had the desolated feeling
that they had reached an under.
standing. but he could not be sure
and be felt that he had to be sure
because the torment of uncertainty
was so great.
A LII through the morning and
"a early afternoon Flint watched
Tor an opportunity to be alone with
Ivy. The opportunity did not pre-
sent Itself until the work OF caring
for the menagerie was over for the
DAY.
At luncheon there had been an ar
Eument between Wong DO and Bow
ers as TO the way In which certain
hand should have been played the
night before. They had agreed TO
meet at four o'clock in Captain
Wong BO's quarters and thrash the
matter out scientifically.
Ivy Teclined in one OF the lounge
chairs, her eyes nalf closed, but
after Flint came along and settled
himself In the other chair, they
opened. and she noticed that bis
expression was still dark and glow
oring.
Il had been dark and glowering all
day. Knowing perfectly well the
state Of his feelings toward herself
Ivy &c oace felt sorry for him and al
the same time hoped that he would
continue 70 leave those feelings un'
expressed.
4 don't often get q chance to
speak with you alone" said Flint
lie was not reclining in his chair but