The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-01-28
"TerrY, look at me-"

set like stone, even though his hands
clenched behind his back. She knew
the answer to her question was
there. that It was useless to ask, yet
she had to anyhow.
Don't you love me, Terry?" she
said quietly.
Have l ever done anything to
make you think l did? Allaire, you
don't love me-"
"Stop telling me what I do or
DON'T" she said spiritedly. Answer
me-"
Il try to keep my path clear Of
women" said Terry tensely. They
get in the way. They should stay
out Of a mans way-when he has
work to do"
She stared at him, white to the
lips. And because he didn't know
how long he could stand there look
| ing at her without going soft as a
sponge, he turned back to the win
dow.
Her lips trembled. He was hard,
and somewhere along the course of
his battling life he'd lost the capaci-
ty to love. Or, anyhow, he didn't love
her.
And she could crawl back to the
States defeated and ashamed and
lost, the spirited youthful Odyssey
ended.
1t was pride that came to her aid
then, fash Of pride that wouldn't
let him see how hurt she was. She
turned impulsively and left the room
quickly and silently. step ahead of
hot angry tears.
He didn't want her. He didn't love
her. And he was going on without
her.
CHE went downstairs through the
- smelly lobby and out on to the
verandah. her reaction here the same
as it was everywhere else when she
was disappointed. angry. hurt-to
get out into the air, the fresh open
air.
"HeyI" 1t was Corrigan's voice,
that "big lug's" partner. He was
striding across to her from the bar.
She wished he'd go away. but Cor
rigan wasn't wired TO-. mental telep-
athy.
where are you bound?" he in
quired. eff you're bent on wasting an
evening, | know all the best ways to
waste EN-"
Thanks, Mr.. Corrigan. but really
I'd like to be alone"
Corrigan was scrutinizing her
thoughtfully.
"Say." he said abruptly. you're
not that polo babe Terry met in the
capital?"
polo babe"-heavens. how far
away that seemed.
81 probably am" she said with a
slight smile. -
Corrigan looked at her with awe.
1--WE often wondered what you were
like. Only I'd imagined you with
wings. Let's have a beer"
She didn't want a beer. but this
husky, enthusiastic specimen with
the jaw like the front of a locomotive
seemed to know her. She looked at
him curiously.
What gave you that idea?'
Wasn't l in Jail the same time
Terry was? Didn't see him stall of
the police until you'd left town? Say,
there aren't many women Willett
would have done that for. In fact. l
would have bet my shirt there
weren't any,"
"Mr. Corrigan-" she said breath
lessly. what do you mean?"
"Mean?" said Corrigan. why,
aren't you the girl who took a pot
shot at Spig on the docks one
night? Oh. don't look startled-Tve
seen a lot of Spigs popped off. There
ought to be a bounty"
why shouldn't be startled? He
was IN jail?
Listen" said Corrigan, do you
mean to say you didn't know it?"
y Know it?" She suddenly felt as
though the earth was shaking gent
hlys She sat down Will widening eyes.
please" she begged. "tell me all
about it. Mr.. Corrigan Oh, it's so
important. didn't know. didn't
Dream"
So you never knew he walked into
a pinch for your" Corrigan rubbed
his jaw. well, If he didn't tell you.
why should II"
Because it's my right to know"
she said fiercely. Come on, Corri-
gan. spill it."
Come on. Corrigan spill it. Bucky
grinned suddenly. She wasn't fool
ing around; she wanted to know
something.
"Sure, it's your right" he agreed.
"You wondered why l thought You
had wings? Because that man
ditched his father and his job to go
to jail for keeping his mouth shut.
With every hour worth its weight In
gold. he stalled along until you left
and then he took twenty lashes to
square his sentence so he could get
out and get moving again."
Copyright, 1855. By David GorthL