The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-07-16

Are you ready 10 leave Lnat
young lady's name alone?"
Scrap gritted his teeth, then
yelped with pain and rage as Ted
put on pressure. ''Yes, damn you'll
Let me gol"
Ted dropped the arm and
stepped swiftly back as his victim
tried to struggle to his feet, then
sank back in an exhausted stupor.
'sDon't forget" Ted warned. IF
il ever happens again, / won't stop
short Of broken neckl Get me?"
With nod and Thanks for
the fair play" to Mike Kelly, Ted
turned and strobe out. To his re-
lief, Kay was nowhere in sight, and
the horses were waiting as he had
left them.
Painting from his exertionS, but
with wild sense of citation cours-
ing through him, Ted mounted his
horse again and watched the bank
door for Kay's temperance.
Hes A Snake.
HER eyes half blinded with tears
! Of rage and disappointment,
Kay stumbled out of the bank and
ran over to where Ted was watt
ing with the horses.
She was absorbed in her own
troubles and hardly glanced at
Ted, so failed to notice his new
look of power and restored conf
dence that the fight with Scrap
had given him.
He resolved not to mention his
encounter, handing Kay Flicker's
reins in silence.
Hurry up and get away from
here" she gasped, selling Flicker's
reins and fiinging herself into the
saddle. A touch of her heel to
Flicker's flank sent him ahead at
startled bound.
Without questioning her haste,
Ted followed suit, and the two
pounded down the main street of
Red River at breakneck speed. For
several minutes after they reached
the range, Kay set the same pace,
not pulling in until she felt she had
herself enough under control to
speak without having her voice be-
tray the panic that possessed her.
The blow she had had was all the
greater because she had never for a
moment doubted that she would
have the insurance money to re-
build. Her thoughts ran in incoher-
ent circles, seeking a way out, but
apparently there wasn't any.
No matter from what angle she
looked at it, she was trapped. With
out money to rebuild, how could
she carry on? Even If they went
without the house, the barn was
the hearts blood of the ranch in
winter time. And Aunt Kate and
Babs couldn't 60 on visiting for
ever. Perhaps they could all get on
in the two cabins, but how could
she break her promise to Ted Gay
nor2
Would you rather not tell me
what's happened?" Ted's voice
brought her back from her desper-
ate future plans to the present. Kay
pulled in, and turned toward him.
No, you may as well know now,
as later. can't get any of the in
surance money" With a rush, the
whole story poured out in answer
to his unspoken sympathy.
And somehow, know Josh
Hastings is behind it alll'' she
ended passionately. Il wouldn't
even put it past him to have burnt
down the ranch to get his own
wayl"
She stopped short, suddenly
aware that she no longer had Ted's
attention.
Josh Hastings!" He echoed the
name, without hearing any of the
rest of her TRADE. is Josh Hastings
the owner of the Flying Six? You
never mentioned his name be-
fore"
Yes" she answered breathless-
", held by his hard set look and
changed expression. what do you
know about him?"
How long has he been here?"
Ted ignored her question.
About three years. Why2 Do
you know him?n
Is he big man, with a red face
and very blue eyes2"
Didn't you see him 60 into the
bank?s
Ted shook his head. "He must
have slipped BY me while was
watchlrif fracas down by Kelly's
joint" vaded a more explicit
account Of the use Of his time dur
ing Kay's absence.
Yes - you've described him.
That's the one. Tell me what you
know about hinl" Kay demanded
eagerly.
Il know plenty" Ted answered
with grim emphasis. II won't tell
you any more now, but perhaps /
viii some day. He's a snake. and
a damned clever one
I've known il all along. Kav
took long breath, but you're the
first one I've met who agrees with
me on that subject. Even Dad
didn't see through him, although
I'm willing to bet some Of the
troubles that have hit us since Josh
Hastings bought the Flying Six
can be laid at his door. He's deter
mined 10 be the biggest cattle man
in Montana, and TO pull that Off,
he's got to have our ranch added
TO his.
fcopyysgAs. 1857. Narss q Nevpaadl
Ted snRkesss plan q save kha Ease