The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-04-18


ished he said: Sounds like you're
swept clean. all right"
Swept expresses it."
'T'm sorry. Mrs. Goodloe."
what have to oeddle seems of
less value than your cabbage. My
lawyer tells me that land is Just
-omething to pay taxes on.
Reuben With effort blurted out.
II have money. Mrs. Goodloe-
plenty of IT."
$50 I've been told"
The same hint of amusement
was in her eyes that he had seen
in Judith'S the day his horse threw
him. "She thinks I'm Dragging
she's laughing"
He Strengthened his shoulders
and said recklessly: 'Tll honor
YOUR notes"
Relief. Joy, hope, Lighted Aman-
da's face. She understood how a
drowning person feels when a rope
is suddenly flung to him. She half
arose from her chair trying to
speak. then. very slowly. and with
colorless lips sank back into it The
rope. almost within her grasp. was
being carried away by rising tide
an overpowering tide rushing
over her. sweeping her down
stream to inevitable disaster. She
struggled against it. If she could
Just touch the rope
your generosity is - is unbe-
lievable. Mr.. Oliver. | appreciate
it. 1 will never forget-but-" the
tide overpo Wered her despite one
last struggle - terrible to be so
weak ILL cannot accept. of
course" j i II
Not acecept?"o incredulously.
II cannot accept, payment from
a guest-or favors from-from--
strangersla fQfd QHANOdI
! "Boshn .T1t2 . 19lanGTT
She tried to echo it, Tried to be-
lieve it. IT wish it were"
"But it is absolute roti"
mo" Her moment of weakness
had passed. She said with the bru-
tai directness Of one who is sure
of her stan 1ards. true to them in
the face of death or worse. "Such
thing is not done by ladies and
gentlemen
Hatred
IT WAS his turn to flush. II didn't
1 know. In my world it's all right
to save yourself by whatever
means you can" He smiled crook
eddy. mot being a gentleman has
its advantages.
There seemed nothing more to
say. Reuben stood up. Sorry. I'd
like to help you, Mrs. Goodloe."
Il believe that and thank you'll"
Through an open window he
COZ Id see great stretch of emer-
aid lawn. Stone steps Great
clumps of box. He said: I'm your
worry you've overlooked some
thing of great value that's easy to
sell. You've lockwood here worth a
quarter of million at least"
Amanda got to her feet and
faced him. She seemed to have
great difficulty in keeping her
hands folded. Her shoulders were
up now. He felt her anger sluicing,
cold, like running water. He
thought: ''Pve broken another of
her blasted codesl'
Poor Reubenl Unknowingly he
had laid his finger upon the canker
at Amanda's heart. How could he
dream that she owed her wifehood
to that lockwood?
Only one person. her young
Stepson in a fit of temper, had
dared to fling it at her: my father
only married you to save the boxI"
It was itifully, searingly true.
In the years that followed, when
this lads extravagances compelled
sacrifices. the land was sold and
the hedge transplanted to suit the
smaller acreage - this explained
three rows instead of the original
one. Later, Amanda. left with the
rearing of her stepson's two chill
dren. often reflected with a grim
sort of satisfaction. Ghat she had
fulfilled her destiny. She had been
made a Goodioe to save the hedge
and bV .he grace of God she had
saved itl Now-now-
Her faded, narrowed. eyes were
cold. grew Sits 81 tee. 1Pm happy
10 know your stay at Goodloe
Choice has proved beneficial. Mr..
Oliver. Did understand you to-
l tiag,s gf 7ffq lfnIF f2HaSqi
II didn't say" He knew that he
was boipE politely eHdered out !
'I'sigssgshg tppF9ias Civ. HgHAll
NV car Is on Hfe Ways HaVN
Amanda bowed stiffiy. Reuben
save a good imitation of il. His coll
lar was suddenly too tight. I'm
still grateful TO YOU. Mrs. Good
lne." he struggled for self control.
IF YOU change-your mind"
Il won't change t."
He went hurried out Of doors.
He couldn't breathe inside. He
strobe across the lawn. turned into
the garden His eyes were hot. So
was his heart. She need not have
sent him away with a barb that
made il hard TO remember past
kindness. He hated her. He was
sorry she was a woman and old
CiSSv was rishtl He held a couple
of Jim Goodies I. q. U.'s-he'd
call then-exact his pound Of flesh
make him crawl-break that old
woman. too.
Blindly he turned into the path
Tint led 70 the swimming pool. He
did not see Judith until il was too
late 20 retreat.
f~sse-is1. fsis. sis.eGs S-igl FsvFssr.l
r~sys ~rreW-~ A MARRIAGE a aFrmmwaA