The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-10-17
Chapter IL
IT'S GOODBYE

OudptSI 10
IT'S GOODBYE
IVES" said Ruth. II noticed that
l. after meals l always felt ter
ribly queer-all light-headed, as II |
didn't care a boot for anything
but when that feeling had worn OFF
felt depressed and awful.
81 stood it for about a day; then
got desperate. The day before yes
terday. when the fat man brought
me my supper. l hit him on the
head as hard as could with chair.
1t knocked him unconscious.
81 went through his pockets and
found a pistol and took it. Then |
heard one of the others coming, so
I showed him outside the door. got
the key, and locked myself In. The
other two men stormed and shouted
a lot, but the window was too high
for them to get in that way. and
when they tried to break the door
down / shot at them through it and
nearly killed one Of chem. believe.
wish l had killed him.
after that they didn't try to
break in any more. But every now
and then they came and threatened
me with the most horrible things
If I wouldn't let them in. and prom
ised me a marvellous time IL |
would. I think that what they really
meant to do, when they found they
couldn't get in, was to starVe me
out"
She paused.
They'd have done it, too. IL you
hadn't turned up. was getting to
feel that I'd give anything for
chop. or even plate of rice pud-
ding. I'm terribly grateful to you,
really"
The child certainly had some
pluck. reflected Mahony. During his
wanderings about the world he had
known many women. but none who
would have been capable of holding
her own against a crowd of toughs
as this girl had done.
81 wonder what happened to
Billy Ross" she went on. did they
get him too?"
"Yes." answered Mahony. "But
not when they got you. Ross was
smashed up in a motor accident
yesterday. II he lives. which is
very doubtful. he'll be a helpless
cripple for the rest of his life."
He paused.
"You say you're grateful to me"
he continued. "Then | can ask you
a favor. You'll probably have to tell
all that's happened to your parents
and the police. You can't tell them
my name. because you don't know
it. but Id be very grateful il you
won't describe me too accurately to
them. And I'd like you to leave out
Ross's name altogether. He was
partly responsible for the fact that
you were kidnapped. But he can't
be punished any more than he has
been punished. II his name is drag
ged in the mud. his parents will
be the only people to suffer. | want
to prevent that. And that kidnapping
gang won't get away with it. I'll deal
with them all right"
"I BET you'll deal with them," she
L said. 81 won't say anything
about Billy Ross. If | tell my guar.
dian that | got into a taxi. and a
man jumped in with me and chloro-
formed me. that ought to do,
oughtn't it? Anyway. don't suppose
he'll want a lot of police fussing
around. He hates lot of fuss and
scandal"
THAT story ought to be all right"
agreed Mahony. But mind you
stick to it,"
"I1l stick to it," she promised.
But won't you tell me who you
are?"
NO." answered Mahony.
By this time they were passing
through Hampstead. and in a few
minutes they drew up outside the
house in Upper Brook Street. May
fair. where Mr.. Lee-Ramsden,
Ruth's guardian. lived. She got out
of the car and stood for moment
at the edge of the pavement. look.
ing rather wistfully at Mahony.
"Shan't we ever meet again?" she
asked.
who am | that | should proph.
esy?" asked Mahony.
Don't you want to see me agaiu?''
she persisted. ats a bit impolite
you know. to rescue a girl from a
lot of villains and then walk lightly
out of her life just like that"
Mahony grinned. He liked her
In ordinary circumstances he would
have been glad to meet her again