The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-07-15
Chapter Eight
Friend Or Foe?

AANA-A OA AOIe
aEVEN if this FIRE hadn't hap
~ pened, you were sailing very
close to the wind, = said Dan Steele.
"Yes, and what made this FIRE
happen2" Kay flung out darkly.
How far is Josh Hastings ready to
60 to get my ranch?"
Kay, I'm amazed at you'll Do
you realize what you are imply
ing?" Dan Steele gazed sternly
into the rebellious brown eyes.
Don't say that again: don't like
to see you receive a friendly offer
IN such a spirit"
Friendly offerl" Kay scoffed.
IF he's so friendly, why doesn't ne
lend me the Eve thousand to re-
build?"
I suggested that TO him. but he
feels that for your own good, you
should face the fact now that the
ranch izstoo much for you TO carry,
and give up the idea once and for
all. You can't afford to antagonize
a good friend, Kay. He's doing you
mighty friendly turn right now.
in offering his hospitality to you
ALL
Eyes. he's got me in a trap, and
he knows it. Kay sprang to her
feet and faced Dan Steele with
reckless abandon. But I'll get out
Of it somehow. You mean to be
real friend. know" she caught
her lip TO choke back a sob. "but
how can you be q banker, when
you can't see through that man?
Why can he pull the wool over
everyone's eyes but miner"
She turned away and fumbled
with the door-knob in a wild de-
sire to escape before she broke
down. Pulling the door open. she
gave little cry and recoiled
step. On the threshold, smiling and
urbane. stood Josh Hastings.
How long had he been there?
How much had he heard2 DimIy
conscious Of Dan Steele,s surprised
and apologefic. gre citing, Kay
pushed past the newcomer and ran
out of the bank.
Preventing A Loan
TVELL. we'll. Kay seems to be
y in kind Of a rush. Josh Hast
ings gave no sign Of having heard
any Of the conversation, out Dan
Steele eyed him uneasily. He had
never had much more than pass
inc noonso3s .torso. s4fftI. FTrr{s,,e.r
and as he looked now into his inn
perlurbable eyes that resembled
discs Of bright blue china in his
fiorid face. he wondered il pos
sibly Kay was right in her estimate
Of this man. He certainly hoped
that none Of Kay's wild talk had
been overheard.
Reckon the poor kid took It
kind Of hard about the insurance,
Hastings went on, and Dan Steele
felt his vague suspicious dispelled
BY the genial sympathy Of his tone.
She did. poor child. he an
swered with extra heartiness to-
snake up for his momentary un-
friendly thought toward his Wis
itor. After all. he mustn't allow
himself to be influenced BY q hys-
terical girl. which. IN spite OF her
good sense. Kav obviously was at
the moment. Shed counted on
having that money to rebuild
@She didn't take any too kindly
to my suggestion. | gather7n Hast
ings surmised shrewdly.
Dan Steele shot him quick look
and he added. From the way she
streaked past me | reckoned !
s wasn't rating very high with her
Fright them. Poor kid" His tolerant
laugh again allayed Dan Steele's
fears that he might have heard
Kay's wild accusation.
Shell -probably come around
when she gets over the shock and
has time 20 think about II. Dan
Steele said. 4 told her your offer
was q fair one and advised her To-
take II. Seeing how terribly she
feels. though, he went on, half
Illuminating to himself. I'm almost
inclined TO stretch a point and lend
her few thousand TO rebuild N.Y.
self
You'd be doing her anything
but a Kindness Hastings argued
earnestly. Its far better for her
% face the situation now. and take
this chance 20 get out. This fire
will really prove blessing in
#iisg1ise. in the end.
Something in what you say,
Dan Steele answered fhoughifully.
still, the interest on Eve thousand
isn't any too much 70 live on. And
some day. the ranch will be worth
. whole lot more than that.
sure i viii. il lis properly
handled. Hastings agreed "Bnt
with a girl struggling against all