The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-02-01

NEVER MlND THE LADY
ri: n: &c :: Il by David Garth ] e: :: e;


shadows in the corners Of the room,
illumined the rough two-by-fours
lining the walls, and on the cor.
rugated tin roof came the sound Of
dripping rain.
Willett watched her, rubbing his
rough unshaven chin, and thought
of that stone mansion Of cleaning
chandeliers back in Washington.
and the elegant town house in New
York where this girl had lived. And
here she was in the hut of rough
neck engineer up tropical river.
He said so slowly, as if he couldn't
understand it.
you're not a roughneck." she said
passionately. "And if you ever make
another crack like that again I'll
hit you with this pitcher"
Don't" he begged. That's our
drinking water. It's been boiled, fl
tered, sterilized-in fact everything
but blessed"
They laughed.
Willett sat down and took her
hand. The lamp light danced on his
clear-cut tanned face; it was deadly
serious.
"Allaire, you've done something
wonderful in coming up here. I'd
send you back if l could. but it would
be spelling one of the finest things
I've ever seen. And I'm going to take
this job and tie 1t in knots until it
screams for mercy"
Silly ihane gestures-how they'd
be junked-if only one knew how
great a need can be serviced by the
spontaneous courage that comes OF
love. -li1 s.f:
btsf2 .In.t
NTILLETT and Corrigan put W
w cots in the Office hut next door.
and Rosa and Allaire moved into
their quarters. Allaire heard them
often nearby at any hour of the
night walking up and down. their
voices in ;nguishable against the
muffiing 4 of the rain.
The grey days lent a touch of
drabness to surroundings that would
have been drab enough already had
not one realized the wonderful work
already done by Man. Creation.
Power, Ideasi They were all there
in the slow steady progress toward
a goal.
Swampland had Deen drained and
filed in. underbrush and tangled
creepers burned out, the partly fin
ished system of locks on the river
as conceived by Willett had been
constructed in that wilderness over
the resistance of unhealthy working
conditions. strengthening sun.
shifty muddy river. and soft oozy
muck at the bottom that had long
defied firm foundations. Then there
was the little colony of huts where
the construction gang lived.
There was tinge Of madness In
the air. the strain of the fight
against time. and the long arduous
battle. A man had been knitted short
ly before she came here, and at night
she often heard loud jabbering
voices raised in vitriolic alteration.
Corrigan broke up a fight one day
that might have ended with knives.
He grabbed two Chaikis by the
scruffs of the neck, hauled them
apart. held them while they gesticu-
lated and clawed. and then dis
missed them both with a good hearty
boot in the pants for each.
And Allaire was a great help too.
Ever see such a girl, Bucky?"
Willett said as they stood above the
works and watched the progress on
the job. There was a pipe stuck in
the corner of his jaw and the rain
dripped off his snap-hrim hat.
YEAH" said Corrigan. But II
you'll excuse me, son, don't like the
idea of her being up here right now. "
81 know. In a couple of weeks I'm
going to bring a medico up and he'll
stay here in case we're delayed get.
ting bakk," --&<1
HE Knocked out his pipe. A queer
feeling was coAhg around his heart
as thestfAs drew near.
eff anything should happen to her,
RuekSfrTIe drew long breath and
went back to Allaire's dwelling.
Allaire was there with her faith.
full Rosa. but as Willett came in
Rosa unobtrusively disappeared.
Terry sat down beside the girl.
Happy. honey?"
"Of course. Married to a famous
and brilliant engineer. and a right
nice-looking fellow in the bargain"
"If we get through this. Allaire
we're going back to the States so fast
you won't see US for dust. I'll get q
job with Tyndall. He's big shot
Well go places"
He put q hand on hers and 1t fell
strangely hot. 81 never thought
much of those things. but ! do now
"Tm proud of you now. and always
have been. But you have so many
wonderful things to do yet" She
seemed to SILVER a little, suddenly
strangely.
whats the matter?" he asked
} anxiously. "All right, Allaire?"
Certainly I'm all fright. .StoI
babying me. you big tramp"
Copyright, 1855. By David GorthJ