The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-01-29
Chapter SO
CARRIAGE DRIVE

4 LLAIRE was sitting up straight,
looking at him with shocked
amazement. Bucky Corrigan's face
seemed to be swaying back and
forth through blur. But there was
something that quickened her pulse
beat. Everything was so clear.
She sank back weakly for a mo-
ment and laughed shakily.
Corrigan looked at her doubtfully
and decided she could use a good
shot. He departed for the bar and
emerged with a glass in each hand
Just as Terry Willett came striding
through the lobby like a runaway
express.
Where is she. Bucky?" he de-
manded.
where's who?"
THAT girl. She walked of some
place. l can't let her go walking
around this town after dark alone"
"Oh, that GIRL" drawled Corrigan.
"Why. she went off down the street
with a little bald-headed man who
limps and has a cast in one eye"
Willett's fingers gripped his arm.
do you know where she is or
don't you. you thick Mick? l can't
waste time"
"She's out on the verandah," said
Corrigan hastily. as both glasses
nearly spilled under Willett's urge
for information. "And think have
made you out hero"
WiiietG had already departed. Cor
rigan looked philosophical. He had
one drink and then. deciding that
there was no use wasting the other
one, he raised it in brief salute and
drank that one too.
Terry went out on the verandah
and looked around. He saw her i'm
mediately; sitting in the shadows
and resting her white chin in the
palm of her hand.
"Oh." he said, relieved. there you
are"
Swiftly her eyes raised to his.
"Yes. Terry. here am. You missed
me. perhaps"
81 thought you'd be walking
around here some place. If you were
crazy enough to come down here.
you'd be crazy enough to do any
thing"
She arose and linked her arm in
his.
You could protect me with car
riage drive" she said. Under your
supervision, of course"
"All right" he said. "If you like"
He escorted her to the street and
hailed a carriage. The girl seemed
glowing. Distance had been de-
feated. and now uncertainty. The
question mark had vanished. In the
carriage she put both her arms In
his and spoke close in his ear.
Terry" she whispered, you can't
fool me again. I'm here to stay"
Willett tried to say something.
"Quiet. darling. | know all about
everything now. Not that had to
know about it to realize loved you,
but to realize you loved me. I'm so
proud"
Damn Corrigan." he muttered.
Nothing matters any more. does
it. Terry?"
He sat up. every muscle tighten.
ing suddenly.
Everything matters. 1t won't
work. Allaire. I'm not going to drag
you around after me. Your place is
in the States. and the States don't
offer any attractions to me. don't
care about anything up there. We'd
both be lost. I've got this job to do
and l told you l was going to do it.
and after that I'm going to shove
some place else. Where do you fit in
with that picture?"
LAS your wife. Terry"
Willett's face twisted. He leaned
over and took both her hands in a
fierce grip.
He was silent for a long while and
the carriage creaked and swayed
through a night whose darkness was
thinned by the myriad lights Of the
town.
"All right. Allaire." he said so
berly. 81 just wanted you to look be-
fore you jumped. | wouldn't have
you hurt. bit If you're game enough
to take chance we may come
through" he laughed shortly. God
knows am. Only I still think you're
too grand girl to waste your life. -
"And you're too grand to waste
yours" She smiled at him, tina. love
.ly, soul-stirring smile.