The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-08-11


ONE afternoon when AnkrQm
- rounded a bend IN the dry
frash he was following ne came
aorlptly face 70 face with another
Tcer-the golden girl Betty
= ne was surprised by this IN
expected meeting. she appeared
equally so. But AnkrOm arvIng
Witnessed previous samples of heT
excellent acting. would nave been
willing 10 bet his last cent that
she had -omehOW deliberately
engineered TINS encounter.
Her curls were tousled by the
wind. for she persisted IN wearing
her hat topped BY its chin-strap
On the back Of her neck. Yet he
had TO admit that she made a most
enticing picture.
How does It happen that
you're still staying on at the
ranch?" Ankrom inquired.
I'm suffered on Ratcnford's
orders. lie forbade my leaving
until after the solving Of the mys-
terry surrounding the death Of
Kelbon Dream
Then you admit the col0nel's
real name was not Struthers?"
Sure-why not? They could
find that out easily by a little IN
vestigation | don't think IA want
them 10 look into things too
closely"
afTNrL--
She regarded him thoughtfully
"NO / don't believe / VIII an
sweT that now Perhaps when
all this IS past ! NAV"
But be did not grab at the bait
she dangled with that last SEN
fence. lie said. What were you
dong IN that cabaret in Peso
Pnto2"
Her eyes cloudcd. u worked
there You don't like me. do you?
Is i because YOU saw me first in
there"
IF ! don't appear TO like you"
Ankrom evaded. 1t IS because of
the manner Of your introduction
20 this ranch"
A strange light had come into
her eyes. he thought They looked
somehow darker. deeper. When
she spoke her words were low and
vibrant. as though great feeling
lay behind them
IF there was deceptio. in the
way came 10 the Trones II was
only in my association with
Dream. II happens | lent myself
70 his plan when he approached
me because il seemed to offer Tire
only possible escape from my en-
virOnment Do you think | would
not have stopped to anything that
offered me my chance"
In that moment A k o m
thought her almost beautiful. His
glance must have reflected the
thought. for her face went white
and She turned her horse abrupt
ly I'm gong back TO the ranch"
They rode possibly half nile
in silence. The pace was fast at
first but gradually slOwe2 Then
Ankr0m pat a question DO YOU
know what Dream was no to?'
In coming out here2"
Yes. IN irving 10 get at his
purpose. ! don't think he'd have
come unless ne saw money !" the
scheme. Il appears to me that he
was not acting on his oWn-that
De was following the riders OF
some man IN The backgrounds
why DO YOU think that?"
That's hard 10 explain Queer
things are g0ln' on IN this Coun-
Try Some man has been sharp
ering up his knife foG Old Man
Trone. That night YOU called to
me IN Peso Pinto, a bunch OF
thugs had lured Miss Lee to an
empty house / busted in as they
were threatcning her with a red
hot branding iron. Sort Of Spec
t3cular. isn't it?"
but or course they weren't 60
ing 10 use il, she smiled Yes
quite mciodramatic IN this hum
drum day and age"
Those Boys Are Experts
4 MOTHER thing about this
\ business" Akron went on.
"Trone has been losing cattle
Ru,ilcrs have been workln' his
range IN a wholesale war. An I'm
here 70 state those bows are eX-
pcris. They're ridin' Trone beef
CIT % this country in truckS-an'
they're getting away with IL
There's head work back OF that
Dream is crafty IN his wav but he
never rai the brains for that
Dream. . sroI 80't wonder. was
t-st tWC- e.t pawn ID . biE-Shot
game
You're thinking" she said
"thai Dream Wog iat have been
interested ~ cattle Well oerhacs
tie man v-- ,a.ak was eea1nf
Dream lsat interested .a cattle.
either