The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-07-30
Chapter Eight
Aiasuueratie

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WHILE Lee TrOne went of 10
W meet her friends. and to take
them 10 luncheon. Blur Ankrom
took himself TO a small restaurant
on side street labeled. Greasy
Spoon. and put some grub under
his own bell. II was. therefore, n
a fairly cheerful frame of mind
considering the prospect Of trouble
that lay before him. that ne re-
TUNED to the car and gave himself
Up 10 speculation concerning the
appearance, habits and characters
Of those old friends OF his-the
Strutherses.
Colonel Struthers would be a
stuffed shirt. he mused-a pom.
pOus old belligerent with horsey
notions and little depth. The
thought brought an amused grin
20 Ankrom's lips. Should the Col
Onel be such character, Lee TrOne
would find her work cut out at
tempting to get around the lie that
Abe Streeter was an old friend Of
Struthers.
a man whose emotions had long
been controlled by an iron Will, he
could not understand his feeling
toward this girl who had come so
preclpitously into his life. That he
was drawn 10 her ne realized. and
the knowledge irritated him, made
short his temper. He stroVe to fight
against her charm. There could
never be anything between them;
70 push their acquaintance deeper
could only mean sorrow and heart
break for one or both. This frame
Of mind had been one reason for
his reticence during the drive this
morning.
There was another cause. He had
headed for this country in an effort
70 leave his past behind him--to
live as other men had the right and
freedom TO live. But already the
promise Of further turmoil was
driving black thoughts across his
mind. Nowhere. il seemed, could he
ind the peace he craved. Where
his reputation failed TO follow. he
found himself embroiled in new
difficulties: new trouble enmeshed
his steps. So he had always found
II IN the past.
His father. a frontier marshal
until checked in mid career by
dry-gulch lead. had in his time
made many enemies, some of
whom survived him. One of these.
two years ago. had found occasion
20 slur the marshal's memory
With gun smoke Young Ankrom
had purged the insult. That Incl
dent had started Ankrom on the
trail Of No-Return.
In many ways il had been 3
lucky shot with which he had
cowned Storm Dream that dav The
man had been a former rustler.
man whose draw was speedy as
striking snake. He had that dav got
in the first shot vet only Ankrom
had lived TO tell about il. for An
krom's FIRE had been more accu-
rate. Since that day a constant
food OF trouble had forced the
marshal's son to become a past
master in the art OF draw-and-
shoot: had forced him also from
the trodden trails in self defence
Because Of these things. Ankrom
long since had resolved to live his
life alone. The life OF gun mans
wife was in his opinion no fl lot
for any woman. There should be no
place for sentiment in Ankrom'S
mind. the dictates Of his heart
should be discounted.
But though he had made these
decisions firmly. and lived up to
them as well. never before had
he encountered anyone like Lee
Trone. Despite the shortneSs of
their ACQUAINTANCE he could recall
her features wildly: her vision
was before him during all his wax
Ing hours. He could not get her out
Of his mind.
Voices drove IN upon his con-
sciousness and he looked up. There
came Lee nowg and with her a man
and girl. The Girl got but a glance
from him: II was the man that
drew his eyes,
He was naeli dressed this fellow
Was. and short. pale and handsome.
Around forty-eiRht in years. There
was laughter IN his eyes. Ssrdonic.
knocking laughter. though his lips
were grave and closed.
Lee said. Colonel Struthers.
this is Abe Streeter. the friend
told YOU Of Abe. shake hands with
Colonel Struthers."
''Howdv" Ankrom nodded. and
guessed the gods were chuc-
king For the owner Of that hand
stretched out 20 his was the cousin
q Storm Dream
Why?
A hkROM read amusement into
II the faint smile with which the
fellow said. Glad 20 meet Up with
you-Sfreeter.
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