The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-04-20
HE &ex.w,s,,s,:4t: .y k x 81,
Bv BLANCHE /SNifTH FERGUSON

DL-1 :S1-I Z Z - 80 - 49,
| ing on. NO use to preach thrift and
economy to persons who did not
know the meaning Of the words.
Five hundred thousand dol
lars will do it" Reuben figured
mentally, II have half of that
amount lying idle. I'll arrange for
the rest at the bank tomorrow"
He tasted in full the power of his
money. The taste was sweet.
AS he reached his gates Hugo
emerged from some bushes and
flung himself upon him. i,ie
"Well-well! Did you miss me,
old timer?" i+
Hugo whined his delight. ,
The man felt a Sudden need to
confide in someone. He went down
in the path, took the dogs head
in his hands, looked deep into the
adoring eyes. "She's coming to
live with us, Hugo. The princess
out of the fairybook."
His voice was a bit husky. Wor-
riedly the dog licked the mans
face insure whether his master
was happy or unhappy. Perhaps
Reuben did not quite know either.
She did not love him.
Judith, making her slow way to
the house with the measured
tread of a sleepwalker, was sur
priSed to find that much of the
restless uncertainty that had been
her portion since Gary's depar-
ture, had mysteriously left her.
She had saved Gran, Jim, the
Eedge-that was triumph. She had
saved herself from being one of
those futile. boring women, who
die by inches. crying for a happi-
ness that has eluded them. She
loathed that type of woman. Mar
ried to Reuben Oliver she weuld
be a busy person. Important. Be
loved. Unconsciously she held her
head higher.
That evening, in Grams own
bedroom she confided the news to
her. Casually. gayly. she confded
it.
wish me happiness, darling
and get ready to go shopping"
Mrs. Goodloe, at her desk, dog
gedly adding up long column of
figures, as though in the end she
could beat them down, smiled alb
sently at the girl from harried
eyes. "Wait-just second, Judy
Fourteen thousand and twenty
nine plus six percent"
Playing A Part
WITH a sweeping hand, Judith
w pushed the paper aside. Cap
tured the pencil. Didn't I tell you
to wish me happiness, young wo-
man? Where are your manners?
I'm going t marry Reuben
Oliver"
For the first time in all the years
old Mrs. Goodloe failed to meet
situation. She sat staring a long
moment, then collapsed in her
chair, repeating in parrot fashion:
"Going to marry Reuben"
She was still laughing shrilly
and crying feebly, when. an hour
later, Judith gave her a sedative,
tucked her in bed and put out the
light. When she closed the door
softly her grandmother was de-
handing, over and over, to know
which was preferable - to be
hanged for a crime one did not
commit or to get reprieve one
did not want?
Judith didn't know the answer.
In the morning Amanda was
quite herself.
The Goodloe-Oliver engagement
was nine days wonder.
Mrs. John Walleston Goodloe
announces the engagement of her
granddaughter"
A choice morsel of news. A
young beauty of famous family
about whom romance hovered
with capital r. was not to marry
Gary Brent after all, but Reuben
Oliver, man from nowhere, who
had literally pulled himself up by
his bootstrapS and whose doubt
full millions had grown quickly
and by devious ways.
Almost Immediately Goodloe's
Choice took on new life. Gay
house parties-one after the other.
Guests arriving at all hours, de-
parting at all hours. Reuben's shin
ing cars taking them thither and
yon--to the city. to shops, to the
aires, TO Gibson Island where his
yacht waited to steam down the
Chesapeake. The nights great
golden moon. shimmering sheet of
water-were made for romance,
music. laughter and through them
alt .daLced Judith,--a stranger.
Not the old reckless, gipsying. UNI
thinking Judith. but poised, care
ful person, an actress who had
stepped into a role and was con-
Sciously bending all her efforts to
give a good performance-that OF
happy fiancee to an important
man.
Gary, the old longing, were
pushed into the background. All
day and far into the night there
was never a minute in which to
think. She gave such clever irai-
tation of perfect happiness that
even Reuben was deceived.
"She'S forgotten Brent already"
he gloated, she loves me-"
And that was as It should be. He
felt not the slightest inferiority
where Gary was concerned. He
was better match for Judith than
Gary Brent with his tumbledown
old house. his mouldy furniture,
his lack of ambitaon-Gary accept
ed his poverty with the same srnil-
/ ing good nature with which he ac-
cepted invitations. I'm go-get-
ser--a better man"