The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-01-28
Chapter 3S
DiSAGE EEM EMIT

DISBURSEMENT
"CURE, like it. but what are you
- doing down here?" Willett an
swered. "Fox with you or some
thing?"
"No," Allaire said, forcing smile
George isn't here"
"You didn't come down alone?"
"All alone, Terry"
81 don't get it. What made you
pick this jumping-of place for a
sightseeing trip?"
"It isn't sightseeing trip" HeI
voice was low. Il came down be
cause IL wanted to be with you
and l was afraid you might not
come back for long time, if ever
and. Terry, life didn't seem to mean
a thing without you"
There it was. girl showing her
heart. That same girl whom George
Fox had once seen gently probe the
spiintered leg of beautiful QuiRer'
ing thoroughbred and sigh5ias a
loved chilG were dying. A,girl put
ting all her chips on the turn Of a
wheel I'd
Terry could only look at her. In.
itiative and act;on-those qualities
had always been hers and he'd loved
them in her. And she'd followed him
down here?
This girl of private cars, and
stone mansions. and silver evening
gowns; this girl il town like Pro
piJnrire. 1t was impossible. She
didn't know what she was getting
into.
Eve as he recognized those quail.
tiles of initiative and action, some
thing warned him-something whis-
pereS-somethi1g sat on his shout
der and yelled il his ear stay hard
the sof; stumble. Stay hard. NO
good can come of this to either.
"Dou you mean to tell me-?"
He stopped. Why talk about it?
But the girl wasn't afraid.
"That I'm in love with you, Terry.
I've always been. l guess, but l.
well, hat so much to learn"
you're not in love with me-" said
W;llett.
Terry" -s. -.. f.-
You're in love with George Fox. "
he repeated. 1t was almost an order.
you've had a row. maybe"
TERRY, l haven't had a row with
anybody but myself. haven't come
to you on the rebound. l came be
cause ] knew yoL wouldn't come to
me and we shouldn't be kept apart
And nothing will If you love me-
Obviously. he was expected to an.
swer. There was sudden uncertain
apprehensive note in her voice. Did
that hard brown figure love her. that
fighter and builder and descendant
of the Cavaliers? Oh, why didn't he
say so?
Willett turned suddenly and went
over to the window. There were little
beaGs of sweat upon his brow.
He could see the streets of Pro
pionoire. smell the stale seafoam and
coffee beans. There was a man sitting
on the curb across tie street. He wa:
a cripple and a beggar and there
were lots like him in this town. Whar
a place for Allaire West when Foz
could offer the Court, of st. James!
A million miles betMeenheF world
and his and did she think she could
cover it by mechanical distance? Oh
by love? Women can't stand some
things; they have to be prepared
And she had no preparation for thi!
life. and it wasn't fair to her, A.
Besides. and his mouth grew grim
there was nothing ether could Offer
the other. Love? Sure, fever cared
about love. didn't It? Love had saved
his mother when she followed Law
renee Willett. hadn't it?
Lovei For heavens sake. what wa:
it? She had to go back. it was only
right and sensible and decent, anC
some day she'd thank him.
WOMEN have to be prepared fol
w some things. He hoped his 81
lence and his back would prepare
her. He took long deep breath anC
tried to make his voice steady.
Stay hard. you fool. or you'll boil
stumble. Stay hard: you have a jol
to do and nothing on heaven or eartl
is going to stop you.
you've got to go back, Allaire
Take a room here for the night anC
tomorrow I'll put you on the north
bound steamer. This is no place FOL
YOU"