The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-11-07

tered. The pots Macdonald had
| propheSied would be used during
a rain were there. The ceiling was
discolored by previous rains. II
sagged in places. was crudely
patched in others.
An iron stove stood in one COR
f1er Of the room, a tiny coal fire
| burning. Kathleen made a move
to replenist it but the child
stopped her. "We only make big
ones in winter" she admonished.
"Onee upon time" began
Kathleen and stopped.
| f"L4tfere was Golden Girl"
prompted the child. and when
lgKathleen didn't go and she
Iriz right up out of the mine an
she had golden oranges In her
hands and she give us all we conlc,
eat And she was so beautiful we
was all blinded. Us kids made up
that one. she confided. when my
throat don't hurt no more III tell
you all of it."
Kathleen told fairy tale then.
1t was the truth but to the listener
unbelievable. A story about a
Golden Girl who lived in Golden
room and slept in a bed of Gold
and drove in Golden chariot.
And as she talked she saw the
poverty about her. Under the
.child's guidance she rubbed the
bony little chest with goose grease
and kerosene. When the coughing
started again she fed her what she
assumed was a precious liquid of
crushed onion and lemon.
Go easy on it,. warned the
child. "Pop's got miners cough.
Don't you know what that is? Well
you. are green. It's the rock dust
that gets in miners lungs Most all
nuckers have it; all the Gregorys
anyhow"
Kathleen might, have Learned
more but the mother reappeared.
her face set in white. stoical lines.
"Can't you tell me?" begged
Kathleen.
I" 'Tain't much" sighed the
woman. 1.-THE boys at school tried
to make apparatus like the Mac
Denalds. damn them, have. They
couldn't. The bar broke when
Johnny was up. Only his leg is
broke but where can. get a
doctor? They said they were takin'
him to Carsted. that's twenty miles
and those bones a rubin"
But there are doctors at both
Mines" protested Kathleen.
You're Crazy
lust for the miners. There's a
- Macdonald doctor but I'd ne'er
trust lad of mine 10 his hand. We
have to pay for the Gregory one
and ! haven't the money. They'll
wait for 1t in Carsted. or we'll go
charity"
Kathleen felt an insane desire
to rush to the Gregory mine, lift
the doctor up by the nape of the
neck and bring him t. the cot: and
in so doing to walk over Kit
Smyth. preferably on his plushy
face.
= AN Balmy~ said pray beliyin'
an ! did"
Kathleen stood up, rigid with
determination. ''I'll get the Greg
DRY doctorl"
She was off like a whirlwind.
For once the car started without
too many objections. Reaching the
mine she went directly to the
emergency hospital to find the doc
tor studyingsa medical magazine.
You'll come with mel" she ex-
claimed.
What Is it?" he asked.
Don't YOU dare ask questions"
But. nv dear young lady. how
will know what I'm going to need
IL don't know what kind"
"Oh," Kathleen relaxed. "A
schoolhoy has broken bis leg. They
were taking him to Carsted."
Right" The man was on his
feet giving quick orders 20 two
nurses who haC appeared. 'I'll
bring him here. Ruth. you come
with me. lie turned TO Kathleen.
We'll take nv car. | can convert
IL into carrier Come on"
Kathleen rode beside him and
enroute talked Of the little girl as
well as her brother. 81 didn't learn
their names. she confessed. II IVES
so furious at YOU for refusing 70
take eases unless you were paid on
the SPOT" III
You are crazyla The ear didn't
slacken its pace but the force OF
the doctors words brought Kath.
leen to q short stop. I'D take every
case in this town on both sides Of
the road for nothing UNDER
stand nothing If could. Do you
| think | ike to camp there at the
mouth OF the mine playing soli-
taire: picking slivers out of miners
fingers: dressing an occasional
break when could be making my
self useful? Good God, Young
woman, If il wasn't for old Balnay
drumming into nv ears my re-
sponsibilitv to the miners under.
ground. the chance Iced of an ex-
perienced man: the hope that some
day the Gregorys would get some
thing besides gold into their veins
and allow me 10 serve everyone:
If il wasn't for Old Balmv. I'd have
been out of Aere three years ago.
I don't think can stand il much
longer. Here we are. I'll be up 70
the house as soon as ! finish with
the boy"
SIN paying you. Kathleen told
him. and as he demurred. i don't
want the Gregorys firing q man
like you. Bat don. tell anyone. Let
L sSmy5A think the family paid."
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