The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-08-27
Chapter As
Proof At Lasti

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KAY chung to him with mufied
sobs as his grasp involun-
tarily frightened.
Tied! TedI It isn't youl It can't
be you'll"
There, thereP he soothed, and
again following his involuntary
impulse, he kissed her hair.
With a breathless gasp of hap
piness, Kay raised her lips to meet
the kiss that must next inevitably
find its way to that goal, but with
a startled oath, as though awak-
ening from a dream, Ted drew
back.
'T've got to get you out of here,
he said gruffly. And before Kay
could answer, he stopped and
grasped her about the knees, raiS-
ing her. to the ceiling opening.
Hang on" he ordered, "and I'll
hist you up"
Puzzled and hurt, Kay grasped
the edge Of the opening, and the
next minute found herself on the
floor above. A second or two, and
Ted was beside her.
"Quick!" He grasped her hand
and pulled her to her feet. 'The
first thing is to get out Of here"
Together they made for the dim
opening that led to the starlit
night outside. AS they stepped into
the street, Ted showed Kay sharply
TO the right.
CHANGING down to discover the
reason for his abrupt movement,
Kay's eye caught sight of the
crumpled black form, slumped
against the edge of the road. She
shrank back against Ted, clutch
ing his hand still more tightly.
is it Josh Hastings?"
mo. Worse luck, Ted growled,
leading the way to his mount.
Kay hesitated as he motioned
her to the saddle. what are you
going to do2" she whispered, in
sudden fear for him, as the signifi-
icance of his appearance became
clear to her. How did you come
here? Have you escaped? They'll
get you againl"
Never mind that now" AS she
still hesitated, he stopped and
lifted her bodily. into the saddle,
swinging UP behind her. The next
moment, they were headed for the
open range.
A Note OF Bitterness
a WILD thrill ran through Kay
"A as she remembered that
former ride with him. For the sec
ond time, he had saved her! She
felt again that certainty that he
cared for her as she did for him,
and she relaxed in his arms. What
did It matter where she was going,
as long as it was with him?
For some minutes they rode on
without speaking, Ted walking his
horse so as TO make the least pos
sible noise. The silence Of the
mesa closed over them like a ca
ress, and as Kay looked up at the
stars, a great happiness and peace
stole over her. II didn't matter if
neither Of them ever spoke again!
Nothing mattered but that this
moment should stretch out to
eternityl
''I'm taking you to Cedar
Guleh." Ted broke the silence at
last, and his voice had a strained.
unreal sound. "A train goes
through there at 4 am. It viii stop
II you flag il. Get back to Seth and
the ranch as quick as you cam
"And your" Kay breathed.
I'm clearing out. There's moth
Ing TO stay here for, except to be
framed for a necktie party" His
tone had a note Of bitterness that
made Kay shrink back as though
he had struck her.
She made no comment, and
again they lapsed into silence, but
this time the magic was gone from
IL. Once more Kay felt the bewild-
cred hurt that Ted's inexplicable
change Of mood gave her. Inex-
plicable. at least, except from one
angle: that he was in love with
Marion Howell, and that what he
did for her was simply accepting
the chivalrous necessity Of getting
her out Of mess.
If that was the case, she GER
tainly wasn't going TO let him
guess her feeling for him, Kay told
herself proudly. She drew slightly
away. and Strengthened up.
How far is ii to Cedar Gulch?H
About seven miles"
~You haven't told me how you
escaped" Kay said after another
long pause.
In a few words, Ted related his
getaway from Fariey's posse.
After ! leave YOU I'm going
back 20 the mountains 20 lie low
nntii the hunt lets up. First I've