The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-09-03
Chapter 81
Rescue In Smoke

"CMOKE!" Marion CROPPED her
y way to the door. and as she
pulled it open, a thick wave Of
blackness seemed to roll in on
them.
Gasping, they both ran out into
the clearing, but here it was even
worse. Through the darkness they
could see flashes of flame through
the trees to the east. ominous
crashes and cracklings filed the
air and the heat was suffocating.
"Flicker" Kay cried in an agon-
ICED tone. 1--WE got to get him!'
She started to run toward the
north end of the clearing. but Ma
rion grabbed her arm.
Don't be crazyI He'll have
broken loose long ago! The west
side is our only chancel"
She dropped Kay's arm. and
made for the precipitous west
slope. then drew back with cry
of terror, as she caught sight of a
tree that suddenly burst into
fame like a gigantic torch. A Sec
ond later, there was an answer
ing cry from down the western
slope.
''Tedi" Shrieking the name to-
gether. the two girls ran to the
brink of the sharp precipice that
fell away from a rocky ledge, and
peered into the blackness.
'Marion% They could make out
Ted's voice clearly now. and the
note of bewilderment in it. LET
yourself down over the edgel I'll
catch you as you slide"
Marion pushed Kay forward.
"You firstl" she commanded.
In the weird light of the blaz-
ing tree. they could see Ted, 80
feet or more below. braced against
the stump of a scrub spruce. Be-
fore Kay could protest. Marion had
forced her to her knees, and
showed her over the edge.
Sliding with utter lack of con-
troll. Kay tried to break her descent
by catching on to any protruding
shrubs or rocks. and a second later.
though it seemed an eternity, she
felt Ted's hand grasp her arm.
For a perilous moment they both
swayed, and it seemed inevitable
that they would crash on down to-
gether. but Ted pulled Kay onto
the tiny projecting ledge where
he had secured precarious foot
hold.
"Marion" Kay gasped, pointing
upward, and cutting short Ted's
amazed exclamation as he dis
covered whom he held by the arm.
Ted thrust Kay behind him,
steadied himself and called. Nov,
Marionl Quick"
Kay clutched a projecting root
with one hand and hung on to Ted
with the other, to break the shock
of the impact of Marion's body, as
he brought her to a sudden stop.
A second later, and the three Of
them chung to the cliff, which was
now lighted by a second tree that
had caught.
Sorrow For Marion
FOLLOW me" Ted's voice rang
L out with the harshness of a
military command.
Swinging around a projecting
rock, he led the perilous way
down, the two girls silently and
breathlessly following in his exact
footsteps. One last drop, and they
had reached the timbered slope.
Ted grabbed one of their hands
In each of his and raced down with
them to the foot Of the canyon.
Without a word. he helped them
across the narrow stream in its
depths. and they pushed UP the
other side.
Not until they were well up on
the other ridge did he pause.
Then with a broken Thank God"
he pulled Kay into his arms.
Ted! Tedl Where is Dad?" Ma
rion demanded imperiously. and
Kay pulled away with a gasp,
ashamed of the overmastering
emotion that had made her forget
everything but her own relief and
happiness.
"Marionl Forgive mel" Ted
swung around still keeping one
hand on Kay as though fearful
that she might vanish, but put
ting a Steadying touch on Marion's
arm. Seeing Kay here put every
thing else out of my head! Your
father. Marion" he paused help
leSSly searching for words to
break the news
Il knew it," Marion gave a pitt
ful groan. and put her hand 10 her
eyes. You don't have TO tell me
he's deadl'
In an instant, Kay'S arms were
around her. and she turned inquir.
ingly to Ted. He nodded.
Yes Marion. Merclfuliy dead
ssessssssSesssSsssssesa,