The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-01-27
GODDESS

GranameS baggage oO"A
wharf and make arrangements Tor
the voyage.
Ortega did not look like a planta-
ton owner. Haciendados kept up
the traditions of the indolent gentle
men land-owners,-nen whose air
was that of being aloof from the
peonage, and whose hands were
soft.
Since their discussion OF his name
Ortesa had showed almost an i'm
pertinent curiosity regarding his
passenger. Moreover he had disre-
garded Franks avoidance of his In
qHiries. Aside from the obvious bad
taste of what Grahame considered
Ortega's impertinences the man
seemed to be insensible to the fact
that. on the outposts Of any country
d mans motives were his own.
There is an uIwritten law that a
mans identity shall not be inquired
into, nor condolences sought. Inquisi-
tiveness sometimes had a penalty
that carried q sting with It.
But still he persisted.
But you cannot want to be left
on a little island off the coast. That
island scarcely supports few fish,
ing families"
Grahame remained silent.
"The jungle, behind the coast at
that spot Is uninhabited, and dan.
gerous."
Grahame tossed his eigaret over
side. "Yet, Don Raoul, you have a
plantation whereabouts, answered
Grahame.
Eyes," said ortega. He watched
the American closely. Il am famil.
lar there. It is not dangerous for
me-" sr
The Other. shrugged his shoulders.
"Then why should 1t be dangerous
for me? can take care of myself"
"Ah :" The Mexican looked ex.
pressionlessly at Grahame. "It is
possible, then, that you seek dan.
gerous place, for reasons of your
own, where someone could not fol.
low?"
Perhaps" replied Grahame in.
differently.
THEY ate Just before dusk, the
i inevitable beans and rice, with
slabs of a delicious mackera[like
fish one Of the crew had hauled
aboard from a troll.iine. Grahame
spread his blanket in the bow of
the launch and rolled himself with.
in It. Ortega seated himself IN the
cockpit with the two that composed
the crew and the American could
hear their voices above the chug of
the engine, talking between them.
selves.
Drowsily he wondered why they
had set out no running lights but
decided that the triGtic In that part
of the coast warranted no such pro.
lection.
He wondered about that point
again the next day. They had been
sailing within q quarter Of q mile
OF the coast when Ortega pointed
astern. The crew followed his ges.
ture with their gaze. and Grahame
noticed a smudge of smoke over the
distant horizon.
Immediately the helm was put
over and the launch headed for the
beach ana a point where the surf
diminished. There were no orders
given. but one OF the men went be-
low and the exhaust OF the engine
Immediately picked up.
AS they approached the shore
Grahame noted that the beach swept
back into the opening OF q lagoon.
Within q few minutes the launch
passed through he narrow straits
and onto the placid waters OF a Ia
COON that stretched back paralleling
the beach. Mangrcves hid the launch
from the sea. They stopped the en-,
CINE and threw over the anchor.
Grahafne was curious. The three
men seemed a nperturbea and
watched the smoke come closer un.
I'll the steamer unquestionhly be.
came outlined as an old-time gun.
boat blowing along at no great speed
two miles on shore Grahane be.
lieyed he could make out the nag Il
few as Mexican. He asked Ortega
about this.
"a gunboat surely" he replied.
mexican"
"And we avoid it?'
0rtega shrugged. One could not
tell. he explained. what the military
might do. They had so little to do
that they might stop them and
search the launch. II was often done.
Il was q bother and q great annoy
anee. 80 II was better to avoid the
meeting.
but even II they searched you.
what could they findG"
Juan. the younger member Of the
crew laughed. and ortega.s face
wrinkled with = sort OF suhdued
mirth.
"Thsy would ind occupation. per.
haps."
fcstgisll. 1874. ~ EGssrf Isssss)
crahanus Isarus an lmeertanR