The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-05-01


afire because old Clark struck him.
There was a fire in Weston linked up
with Weston boy who had teased
Lance.
She came out on the Cleveland
lawn. and saw she was right. She
could smell gasoline. She could see
the thin ragged figure working earn
estly. piling kindlings against the
most vulnerable part Of the old house,
where the old shingles were. Already
there was big charred place. and
the flames licked high
She forgot to be afraid Of Lance;
she ran at him. Lance. stop I'll How
dare your she called as If he were
one Of the small boys she used to
chase and scold for cruelties and dep
relations. He Strengthened with
scream. and ran.
There was no time to do anything
more than try to beat out the fire,
first. and waken the household next.
She snatehed up piece of canvas
dung over some bulbs: it beat out the
actual haaes. Then she raced to the
front porch. dashing open the French
windows with porch chair when
they proved to be locked. running up
stairs. calling as she went. She ham,
mered at the door she knew was
Georges. She heard his bare feet
strike the floor. He flung open the
door scarcely awake.
Eve" he said sleepily, smiling at
her. his hair tousIed like small boys.
Then. more aIertly. Whats wrong?"
She told him quickly. He was
practical and steady as always in
emergencies.
60 on up and waken John and
Matte" he said 'I'll call Adriano"
Saving The Old Portrait
THEY were all out and down in a
4 swift excited nightmare. Adriano
shoveled earth on the foundation
where the fire had taken most hold
while George played the garden hose
on the higher places. and the others
beat desperately to keep the flames
from spreading beyond. Presently
il seemed forever-they stepped back
from the conquered blaze.
60 home now. Eve" George was
beginning. when she cried out and
pointed. The flames were bursting
from around the corner Of the house.
And the fire company had not come.
Without stopping to see If she had
obeyed him. George and the other
two men ran to beat that down also.
II had gained what looked like fatal
Roadway.
Eve thought suddenly of the valu-
ables within. 1t was still safe to enter
the house. The silver. Mrs Cleve-
lands exquisite linens. the Stuart
portrait Of old Lancelot Seymour.
Georges records.
I'm going after the valuables, in
case the house does burn down." Eve
said to Matte. Matte trotted reso-
luteiy after her: she had lost her head.
but not her sense of duty.
Together they unlocked the old
portrait, with its alert scholarly eyes
under the turban. SO like Lance's in
shape and size. They put it outside
the front door and carried out the
drawers of silver and linen and
dragged out the priceless Sheraton
sofa.
Il guess that's all we can. manage"
Matte said. But Eve remembered
something more precious still.
Georges records. his trays of seeds
and seedlings. The smoke was pour
ing through his workroom window
now. She shut her eyes against the
smoke and tipped the lacquer cabinet
on its back. dragging it across the
floor, finally to the front door. She
eased it down the front steps. painting.
and laid it triumphantly on the grass.
The firemen were changing in. thank
/ heaven. at the wrought-iron gate be-
low her. She could go home
Then looking up. she saw that the
actual portrait lay on its back just
| inside the hall door Matte. in her
excitement. had carried off the empty
frame. from which the picture had
Jared in dropping it.
Eve stood upright in the fresh air
a minute. The smoke was swirling
out of the back room, it was danger
Gus to stay on the porch longer. She
started down the steps with the pic
ture in her arms. only to be cannoned
into by Lance Seymour. shaking and
blazing-eyed.
what you got?" ne snarled. grip
ping her arm.
THE painting of your ancestor. You
don't want it burnt up" She was
frightened. He was more nearly in
sane than she had ever seen him. He
shook her arm with strength she
had not known him to possess.
IF | can't have it nobody shan"
he shouted at her and began dragging
her. the picture in her arms. back to
the door. AS she struggled with him
corner of the picture struck her
head. Her last recollection was of a
yell from Lance. of being dragged into
the smoke within and of screaming
George
Copyright. 1857. Margaret WiddemerJ
In the excitement Of the fire. Eve
admits her owe for George, Monday.