The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-07-23
Chapter Two
Loyalty Comes High

Loyalty Comes High
A NKROM swiftly went 10 her,
"A took the gag from her mouth.
Her lips moved Dut no words
came. only vague croaking sounds.
Deep anger stirred within him for
the renegades VINO had tied that
filthy rag so tightly. and a wave
Cf darkness crossed his checks.
He passed behind the gIrl-she
could not have been more than
nineteen, ne thought-anC inspect
ed the knots that held her fettered
He snuffed the match. let II fall
from MS fingers. Then be nun
kered down, working swiftly IN
the dark. Short seconds later the
ropes fell away and she was free.
Her voice came then huskily:
THAT branding iron! Don't
leave it"
"In get i, ma'am." he said, and
crossed to where a glow marked
is site. He came back to her with
l. "You been hurt"
I'm all right. Those those
men on the fioor?"
They won't bother you any
more. Be a good idea if we got out
Of this. Two Of them polecats got
away. / reckon there's more where
they came from. Can you walk.
na'am?"
y think so. VIII you strike an
other match, please?"
She aroused his admiration by
her poise and serenity. He found
himself wondering why she had
screamed. That branding IRON
With a rasp a third match in his
hand burned blue and yellow
against the gloom. Framed in
chestnut curlS her oval face was
before him. leaping from the shad-
ows. Strength lay in her features
and a latent storminess. She was
standing now and her tailored suit
could not conceal the lovely lines
Of her slender figure.
Her eyes lifted TO his own, re-
turned his scrutiny directly. I'm
glad you came. My name is Lee
Lee Trone."
Il was wonderin' I'm Abe
StreeseF." He lied evenly
You're a range man. Stranger"
"JEst driftin' through"
Would you take job"
Ranch work."
"On ranch.
There's a difference" He asked
itsoftly.
There may bet depends"
What on?"
She shrugged. Her eyes were on
his. In them he read something
that stirred his blood, that has
tened the beat Of his pulses against
his will.
A Bargain
CHE said. This business here
> there's a connection some
where. My father runs the Rafter
7. Cattle. High-grade beef It's
Eprouting wings.
AnlZrom started her toward the
doorway Here It was, he was
thinking: circumstance and a
Etresk Of impulSlveneSS IN his ma
fure were once again showing him
toward q quarrel Of which he knew
nothing. He sighed and vet his be-
ing Quickened.
He should ride away before the
web OF this new trouble enmeShed
him He stopped by the doorway
and silently handed Lee Trone the
branding iron she had told him not
20 leave behind. UncOnsCiously. he
noted its brand.
We had better be clearin out
ne szid. '-Fhose shots must have
been heard"
Keeping 70 the shadows they
moved toward the street reached
j. This place has a reputation.
Unsavory. Shots are common
dead men. too / don't think you
c0uldurag the neighbors near here
fiu the authorities have come and
gone. They may be watching.
though" Lee said.
Hes did you get here2
i have a car. Have you decided
20 take that job offered you? The
pay wlIl be $3.50. payable regular
~ once month
Ankron'S lips purSed In a sound
whistle. You iryin' 10 buy man
Rger?s
I'm trying 10 buy loyalty"
Does il come that high?
Il haven't found any. yet"
There was no irony IN her answer.
only WiStf1lness.
Against his VIII her words had
moved him. You don't know a
thing about me. Miss Trone-"
-Ahe. will you take this lob?"
Her voice touched him Il
brought a strong appeal 70 that
streak o. impulSiveneSS that had
eger been his undoing. Yes" he
said al taEe il.
He found Ter hand IN his. She
Eaid: you have q horse"
lie Folded. The buckSkin."
Eo2 won't need q 1T. then.
III see you a. the ranch tomOr-
roE. Pie Rafier 7 twenty miles
due SesL Youll fnd Il Well oe
expecting you BY supper" With a
EEle -khe turned and lef; him.
walking Zap dly down tie darn
street
lie watched rcr ua;.l she
Etoppe3 ard entered . 'ooc raN,Sh