The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-08-05

| the evidence for later" He slipped
| the gun in his pocket and picked
up his hat. Sorry to be all this
bother, Miss Kay. I've go to be get
ting on now, but while I'm away
you try to remember every single
thing you can about this Gaynor."
Where are you going?" Kay
asked fearfully. $500
"Over into the Clear Water basin
| to look up his mother and sister
first. Then I'll report to Sam Cut
ter's deputy and come back by the
pass and search around there some
more" Qtq ee
you'll let me know the minute
you hear anything, won't your"
Kay tried to keep the desperate
anxiety out of her tone. 1--WE have
no telephone now. but you could
get hold of BabS at the Flying Six,
and she'll ride over and tell me-"
"Sure I will" Zeke Farley
climbed into his saddle and rode
off.
Ted's Volunteer Nurse
THE early morning sun shone on
the glistening dew that out
lined the bunch grass in the small
clearing on the south slope of the
central divide. It tinted the dark
green branches of the surrounding
pines and tamaracks with golden
fiecks, and one or two first rays
finally searched out the tumbled
down shack.
The door of the shack slowly
opened and girl stepped out to
lean against the door frame. Her
whole attitude suggested intense
WEAKNESS. AS she closed her eyes,
her face looked deadly pale in its
frame of black hair.
Strengthening up, she glanced
back through the door, then tip
toed down the two dilapidated
steps and walked through the dew
drenched grass to the center of the
clearing where the sun was
strongest. She took several deep
breaths, picked a bit of fire weed
and stood idly twirling it.
It was exactly a week since Ma
rion Howell had looked out of her
strange abode to find wounded Ted
dragging himself toward her. No
sooner had she brought him inside,
than the storm had broken.
Ted had lowered by the slender
est thread between life and death,
and Marion knew that nothing but
her care and nursing had saved
him. She had thrown herself into
the task as a natural human re-
Spouse to the desperate need of
fellow creature and as a welcome
escape from her own thoughts and
troubles.
Two days before Ted had APP
peared, NJ ario ms father had
brought her to this hut, stacked it
with provisions to last several
weeks, and told her that If she val
ued her life and his, she must wait
there. in hiding, until he came
back.
His wild manner, coming as 1t
did after a mental breakdown, had
terrified her into acquiescing. She
was entirely in the dark about his
reason for this move, but she had
suspicious that she hardly dared
voice to herself Deciding it was
best to humor him, she had lis
tened carefully to his instructions,
and promised to carry them out
to the letter.
He had made her swear that on
no account would she let there be
any sign that the hut was occupied.
While it was extremely unlikely
that any one would penetrate to
the tiny clearing, he wanted her to
lie low, if they did, and give the
place every appearance of de-
serted hut.
He left her a small oil stove, and
a few gallons of oil. which he had
packed up, along with the rest of
the stuff, on the two pack burroS
he had brought with them. Adj
moniShing her on no account to
light a fire. he had gone off, taking
both their horses and the burros,
after scene that made her shud-
der even now.
It was her promise that had made
her hesitate moment when her
Mortified glance had first fallen on
Ted. The severe battle she had had
to save his life had been her own
salvation, Marion realized as the
days had slipped by and her father
had not reappeared.
There had been no time for
thought in the intensive nursing
she had had to do. 1t was not until
dawn this morning that the fever
had broken. and she had felt any
assurance that the battle was won.
From Teds deliriouS mutterings,
Marion had been able to piece to-
gether something of his story. In
this close association with a per-
feet stranger. she had come to be
convinced that her first appraisal
Of him had been right. and that she
could wait with confidence until
he recovered sufficiently TO tell the
rest OF his story.
As she stood there in the sun
shine, she felt her strength grad
ually returning. She decided that.
as soon as Ted should be strong
enough to leave. she would 60 in
search Of her father. if he was not
back inside Of the three weeks he
had stipulated. She would give
him the full time he had asked for.
but after that she could no longer
stand this inaction.
fcoptntsAt, 1857. Marie Dc Nsrpawal
Searchers Tor Ted fsnd he tinw