The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-04-18
Chapter IL
Not A Gentleman

Not A Gentleman
CLOSETED with Dick Blout her
- lawyer, with Judith and jim.
Amanda Goodloe faced the situa-
ton with her usual indomitable
courage. True to precedent she
said: well sell off some land.
"You can't give land away now.
Amanda" Blout told her gently.
"You mean-?" incredulously.
mo one will pay taxes on it.
Outside dog barked. Inside,
Judith sat motionless as a statue.
Jim drummed on the table.
Cant you stop that noise and
suggest sJmething?" Amanda
asked irritably.
Jim stopped drumming. He met
her cold gaze with colder one.
I'VE might" he began.
Never mind" Amanda, antici-
pating and fearing his suggestion,
cut him short. do you think,
looking hopefully at Dick, "if we
catalogued the King Charles plate,
the mahogany"
"It won't bring enough" .Qa
"Can you suggest something.
Judy?"
Judith, could suggest nothing.
She went through the days in a
sort of walking coma. Tossed
through the nights in fearless
agony. Gary had gone. She was
waiting--again. Marking time, de-
spising herself because she did so,
but not able to stop. No--Judith
had no suggestions.
The conference ended, as 1t had
begun, with nothing settled.
you'll hear from me in a day
or two" Amanda escorted Dick to
the outer door. Something must
be arranged at the bank" She had
no idea what that something would
be.
Oddly enough 1t was to Reuben
Oliver, her unwanted guest, that
old Mrs. Goodloe went for advice.
Or rather he appeared before her
in her greatest moment of bewil-
derment.
He came into the booklined Ii
brary where she sat alone. He
came awkwardly. The natural
grace that was his of-doors.
deserted lin in this house He
walked stiffiy as though insure of
his tread on the polished floor. He
said shyly: you've been so good
to me. Mrs Goodloe."
A \ L. J..
aside: I'VE try to make our guests
feel at home. Mr.. Oliver
His smile was like a ray Of sun
shine across a still pool: at has
beer the happiest time of my
whole life"
Happy? III - in a strange
house?"
at has not seemed strange. It's
been like--like--" almost he said.
''home" Remembered he'd never
really had home.
While he hunted for the right
word Amanda studied his face.
What she saw there made her say
hastily: BE seated, Mr.. Oliver"
Reuben did as he was told.
Amanda said without preamble.
SIN told you are a very successful
business man."
Swept Clean
ORDINARILY this would have
- pleased him. Sent his shout.
ders back an inch further, sent his
head up cuckily. Now : flush over
spread his pallor. He could not feel
a ease with old Mrs. Goodloe Per-
haps she dio not mean that he
should. He tried to relax in his
chair. sat up straight again. Put
one hand in his pocket took II out
and said: I've had a couple of
lucky breaks, I've hoed a long.
hard row. too" q.
"CabbaRe?" politely.
He laughed out boyishly Cab
bare, al the start"
Tell me about t."
''The dav ! ran away from the
orphanage. 7 came upon a truck
load Of II unset in ditch. The
owner - CisSv Rogers father
gave me half for helping him to re-
load earned nv first S. peddling
II In the str. cts"
She looked az him with new In
terest. Whatever the man. he was
honest and lnashamed "And then
what did YOU do7"
Il went to the Michigan woods. "
Embarrassment left him. Here was
something he could talk about. Il
did about everything q kid can
turn his hano 10. Helped the cook
In q lumber camp az first. then got
out in the forest NV SIS bill made
me mighty independent. Then"
he could smile about il now.
someone sto'e IT,"
'TragicP'
"Yes. but the best thing tha,
ever happened TO me. ! got down
10 real work. 7eplacing that five
spot was not easy
Il have .ost my last Eve Ama0.
da confessed slowly ''You are 3
practical man. Advise NJ