The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-05-09

AS always, whether he had been
away hours or days, the thought
of going home to Judith warmed
the cookies of his heart. The
knowledge that 1t was to such a
poor home, one so utterly un-
worthy of Judith, blew against the
warmth like an icy breath. taking
something of his you'll. Taking
much of the confidence that had
been his in the woods.
Storm Clouds
LIE TURNED down a tent bor-
IL dered lane. 1a
Number 16 is at the very end OF
the line and under a tall pine"
Reuben remembered; Jimmy and
Judykin would be asleep but Jul
dith would probably be busy as a
mailer getting things shlpshape. 1t
would be fuh helping
He stopped short, looked around
in bewilderment. Just a blackness.
A vacant space. Had he missed the
way in his haste? Made wrong
turning? NO. Here wa the pine. A
ridge pole. A roll of canvas--but
no welcome-no Judith
Fear clutched him like a giant
hand. Had something happened?
The road up was treacherous in
spots
BY the time he reached Pixies
store his breath ragged at his
throat making speech, for the mo-
ment, almo-t impossible. "The bus
1T didn't get in?"
"Sure it got inl' like opening
barrel of sugar paused to wipe his
perspiring face on his shirt sleeve,
"But your missis and kids weren't
She hadn't comet Judith had
scorned the camping ground! He
might have known
"When your wife didn't come on
the bus naturally concluded she
wouldn't show up until next week
and / didn't hurry to get the tents
up, see?" Pike explained reason
ably.
Reuben. said nothing. Judith
hadn't come - Until that moment
he hadn't known how much he had
counted on Judith's coming.
II had plenty to keep me busy
can tell you. They" the store
keeper and handy man gestured
widely, "can think up more jobs in
one minutel There's no keeping up
with theml But" in an injured
tone, "if you'd a limited that Mrs.
Oliver might drive up
"Drive? Mrs. Oliver"
Got in about FIVE or there
abouts. If you'd told me-"
Where is she?"
'sMr. Brent took her to the Wind
ing Hill cabin" The camps busy
body informed Reuben. They're
up at the pavilion dancing now. I
seen EN- going"
Muttering unintelligibly, Reu-
ben left the store. Vaguely he
heard Pike saving something about
getting the fixin's up at day.
break bit somehow 1t didn't
make sense. One thing only was
clear in Reuben's mind. Judith had
come and despite all his fore
thought for her comfort, it was to
Gary Brent that she owed it. A
greater comfort than Reuben Oil
yer could provide.
Outside he hesitated, uncertain
Which way to 60. disappointment.
jealousy, black rage took complete
possession of him, plotting out
sanity, reason, a. black storm
clouds obscure the sun. Senseless-
ly. beyond all reason. he blamed
Judith. That she coulN do this to
himl Humiliate hirnl Accept IA
vors from Gary Brent whom he
despised. II was bad enough to
have to work under him, but for
his wife 20 accept favorS--
Mechanically he turned in the
direction Il Plot is. The ground
seemed to rise up and hit him. The
stars left their sky and came down
to whirl about his head. The mu-
sic from the pavilion drummed
against his orain--She had gone
dancing with Gary
Not since that far away day
when he had discovered the theft
of his first SIS had he felt so out
ragged, so murderous. He felt the
same sense Of injury too, Felt the
same desire tc retaliate. The sound
of laughter, echoing through the
night. added thunder to the storm
of his passion.
fcsfyvsxts. 1885. sas.eks S--ka Fwx.sasJ