The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-07-19

ing tnan ever naQ. just came
over to see Aunt Kate"
There was moments pause. As
Kay glanced innocently up at him,
she could see the natural flush in
his face deepen. That was the only
evidence of surprise he gave, but
his blue eyes narrowed.
mo intention of selling, eh?" he
echoed. "Just how are you plan
ming to rebuild, without your in
surance?D
'The same way the pioneers
did," Kay answered easily, thor
oughly enjoying herself. 'There're
plenty of trees to get lumber from,
and we've plenty of labor to do
the job
'Who put that scheme in your
head?" he demanded brusquely,
cutting short Aunt Hates excla-
nation of surprise. 81 never heard
anything so crazy!"
A shade of doubt erept into Aunt
Hates look of interest at this
sweeping disapproval of Kay's
plans. sss
Il hope it isn't crazy" Kay an
swered, with exaSperating calm
ness. None of us think it is. But
anyway were gong to try it."
The whole IDEAS as wild as a
locoed coXote!' He turned to Aunt
Kate : t, you stop Kay from
throwing away what little money
she has on such a crazy plan?"
Aunt Kate looked from one to
the. other, her eyes squinted in her
wrinkled face. Il don't quite make
out whatit's all about"
1T boilSs down to this" Josh
Hastings broke in inpatiently
without giving Kay a chance to
answer. "The insurance money has
to go toward paying off the mort
gage, SO Kay has nothing to re-
build with. I've made her a gener-
Gus cash offer to take the whole
ranch off her hands, so that she'll
have a neat little nest egg to live
on instead of running herself and
losing the ranch into the bargain.
And here she comes across with a
wildcat scheme to rebuild with
out any money"
That does seem kind of foolish -
Aunt Kate agreed. you'd better
not be so hasty, Kay"
Plenty OF Trees, Eh?'
THERE'S really nothing to dis
1 cuss," Kay tried to keep her
temper at this unfair attempt of
Josh Hastings to win Aunt Kate
over to his side. Its all decided.
The first thing I'm going to do is
to build an addition to the cabin,
so you and Babs can come home. /"
She turned to Aunt Kate, who
looked none too pleased.
Don't you agree to any such
thing, Miss Crandon." Hastings
swung abruptly from Kay to Aunt
Kate. 'You stay right here until
Kay comes to her senses" He
paused, and stared refiectively into
the distance. Plenty of trees, are
there?" he murmured half to him.
self, fixing Kay with his cold blue
stare. "Just where are all these
trees of yours?"
Kay was aware Of sudden gone
feeling in the pit Of her stomach.
What a fool she'd been to talk so
much until she'd made sure of
those few acres of timber on Old
Man Warren's ridgel Trying hard
to make her voice casual, she
sought to undo her indiscretion.
There's lot of timber back of
our north range" she answered
vaguely, adding with spirited sar-
casm in the hope of diverting his
mind from its present train Of
thought, I'VE haven't begun to
cut yet, naturallyl"
Some haul you'll have from the
north range" Hastings observed
with satisfaction. "And I cant
seem to remember much big tim
beFup. that direction anyway" He
gave shrewd chuekle and added
tolerantIy, Wen, I reckon you'll
have to make a try at ii, before
you'll Be satisfied sH
81 Kay'S premonition OF trouble, in
stead of being dispelled by this
change of attitude was greatly
strengthened. There wasn't a min
ute to waStel She must get in to
Old Mar Warren at once and get
an option on that landl Even
though she hadn't mentioned her
intention TO buy that up, Josh
Hastings could easily reason il out
for himself that that was the only
available timberland for her TO get.
She slipped down. from the
porch rail- where she had been
perched beside Aunt Kate. "Tm
afraid I can't wait for Babs TO get
home from school" Il was all she
could do TO keep her voice calm
and unhurried. 4 promised I'd be
right back"
Got 70 get started cutting down
that TIMBER" II was Josh Has
tings turn to be sarcastic.
Not quite yet" kay's effort az
an easy laugh wasn't any too sue
ceSSfuI. as she bent down 20 kiss
Aunt Kate. There's no such ter
rible rush. She hoped he couldn't
hear the pounding Of her heart
which drumnaed in her own ears.
She must get away now, az once,
and get hold Of Old Man Warren
before it occurred 70 Hastings 10
try 70 block heri
Wait q minute. Josh Hastings
put q OBTAINING hand on her arm.
fcesprssks. 1857. Marss 80 NerpaaaJ
Racing - Old Man warren's, -.
@osrow. Nay Il intercepted.