The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-08-23


whether or not that necktie party
comes off,"
A muf1ed groan escaped Kay as
she realized the diabolical clever
ness of Josh Hastings scheme.
Il thought you'd see the pointI"
His voice held a cruel satisfaction.
"How about coming over now, and
getting the holy knot of matri-
mony tied good and tight? Then
I'll tell my story, and your friend
Gaynor can clear out, with his
necksaved, anyway"
Kay'S mind worked like light
ming while Josh Hastings was talk
ing. Her momentary weakness left
her. and she determined to meet
his brute force with cunning, in
stead of futilely trying to defy it.
How can tell you could save
him, If / did marry your" She had
an air of considering his sugges-
ton. "How do I know this thing
you say you know isn't all a bluff"
You'll have to take my word for
that" Josh Hastings growled.
You can't expect me to trust
your word, when you treat me like
this, can your" Kay gave her arm
a sudden jerk but his grip tight
ened on her wrist as though op-
Grated by an automatic device.
It's all one to me-" Josh Has.
tings observed. sI'll wear you
down in time" He glanced around
the cellar. mot such a gay place to
spend week or two, if you ask me.
I'm giving you the choice of marry
ing me now. and saving the neck of
this Gaynor bird, or Of marrying
me later, for the sake of getting
out of here"
You can't force me to marry
you'll" Kay blazed. mo matter how
long you keep me, can refuse to
marry you when do get outl"
Sure. There's a chance of that"
Josh Hastings admitted with an air
OF brutal detachment. 'That's the
reason I'm making this other prop
osltion, so you'll have an incentive
to go through with the marriage
without any fuss. On the other
hand, kind of reckon that by GO
ing easy on food and keeping YOU
here long enough, / can break your
spirit so you'll be glad enough to
say YES The way I figure it, it'll
be lot pleasanter if you say yes
now and save your boy friend into
the bargain"
A Rash Accusation
WHAT is it you know. that will
w save hin?" Kay demanded.
Tn not telling that to anyone
but the sheriff"
y don't believe you have any
thing to tell" Kay tainted.
An ugly look flashed in Josh
Hastings eyes, but he made no
answer.
Unless you're the murderer
yourself" Kay goaded.
I'D be apt to mention that If I
was, wouldn't II" he sneered, but
Kay detected a strained note in the
hoarse laugh with which he greet
ed this suggestion. sIook herel''
he temporized. IF / tell you what
I've got to tell the sheriff, viii you
agree to marry me now?"
I'm not making any promises"
Kay answered Warily, s'but I'll
never marry you without hearing
it first. I happen to know that you
were up there at the scene Of the
murder, and that you haven't said
anything about it"
Josh Hastings grabbed Kay's
other arm, and swinging her round
so that she faced him, he bent down
and peered into her eyes.
What are you talking about?"
he demanded roughly. you're
eraxy!'
Already Kay was regretting
her rash statement. She'd have to
be cleverer than that to trap Josh
Hastingsl
Perhaps I am" She felt his grip
loosen at her Indifferent tone. Fol-
lowing a sudden impulse, she
twisted herself free. and made q
dive for the door.
The next instant, she was rudeIy
pulled back and held in suffocat-
ing embrace. Blind panic seized
her, and she struggled like a mad
thing to break away, but the
powerful arms only held her the
tighter.
Forcing her head back, Josh
Hastings deliberately kissed her,
then carried her in spite of all her
desperate struggles TO the far end
Of the cellar. Kay twisted around
and sank her teeth into his hand.
With howl of pain and rage, he
dropped her and made for the
door.
Before Kay could recover, ne
had rushed out and slammed it be-
hind him. The next instant, there
was the grating of a key in the
lock. and Josh Hastings muffied
but raging voice came TO her
through the heavy wooden door.
Have 1t your own way, you
little devil" he shouted. SIN
through with bargainingi And I'm
through with proposals Of mar
rage, tool I've used this place be-
fore and know what Il win dol
I'll be back to take what I want
when I'm good and readyl Then
Wen see how you feel about wed@
ding bells-perhaps!"
With this sinister threat, he
stamped up the stairs. leaving Kay
erouched in shivering despair on
the floor. where he had flung hen.
fcoPyrseAss 1857, Maris de Nervoxa1
Ted everhears o ennver@eio@
through his cell window, tpmerrews