The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-01-06
Chapter Nine
New Friends

Chapter Nine
New Friends
N1ELDA'S land was ploWed. The
lettuce was planted in long.
symmetrical rows. Each time she
looked out at the vast level stretch
Of ground she had a sense Of un-
reality. Was il possible that she
was actually running a farm? In
volved with soil and seed and an
unsmihng young man In blue leans
who came to turn up. the damp
earth?
Yet there were times when she
felt Bill was laughing at her. But
he really wasn't II. was Just some
trick OF expression in his deep blue
eyes.
Medals meeting with Manuel,
the 12-year-old son Of the Moresi
family. occurred one morning
when she was returning from
town. The boy was in the road.
beating a small white dog. She
threw on her brakes.
Stop thatl" she commanded.
"Sez who?" the boy returned
impudently.
She was out of the roadster In a
flash. her eyes blazing.
IF you don't stop I'll give you a
taste Of what you're giving that
pupl she threatened.
you and who else?"
Realizing that anger wouldn't
get her anywhere with the lad.
Media changed her tactics.
DO you belong to the Boy
Scouts2" she inquired sweetly and
saw the boys face light up.
No: but I'm gonna some day."
They won't take you in If they
find out you are cruel TO animals"
Alarm appeared in the boys big
black eyes.
you amt gonna tell EN-. are
you?"
Not if you promise you won't
do 1t again. You know Boy Scouts
are supposed to do good deeds"
The boys eyes dropped in
shame.
Il never thought o. that. | won't
do IL again. Honest" BY way of
proof he patted the dog. Nice
Rover"
See. Media exclaimed. you've
made him happy. If you keep on
being nice TO him I'll help you get
into the Boy Scouts"
Gee" was all he could say, but
Ii carried wealth of gratitude.
One day when Media was hav-.
ing her car serviced at a roadside
station fear the rancho a gray Sc
dan with young man and woman
il il stopped abreast of her. Her
instant reaction was. I'D like to
know those peoplel"
There was q clean. vital look
about them. The woman-She APP
peared to be about Is or c6-had a
mop OF red hair and alert blue
gray eyes. The man was tall and
broad-shouldered. They returned
Medals gaze frankly.
Aren't you Miss Barrier" the
wora9n blurted out.
Nelda nodded.
We're the PowelIs." The wo-
man laughed. That laugh was like
g9y banner flung open I'm Doris
and this hunk of fine-looking mas
culinity i my husband-Squire
Rav Powell"
With that introduction sup
poe We should consider ourselves
acquainted. Ray said. smiling.
We have the same Alma Ma
ter. Doris cut in.
"Stanfcrdl exclaimed Media.
Glass of Sc. Doris replied and
added. we live about two miles
the other side Of your place
You're farmers Media ex-
claimed incredulcusly. her glance
taking in Doris's creamy skin. her
slender. shapely hands. her smart
suit
And howl This from Raw. ave
love Ii because we can breathe out
here with all this land around Us.
Media continued 70 stare AZ
them. Stanford graduates And
4HEN &EtSu Is II 1QSF were E1EnaHk~
ed with living on a farm.
We raise lettuce and tomatoesi"
Again Doris's musical laugh ac-
companied her words.
Before she drove out Of she sta
ton Media he'd accepted an inyi-
tation 70 plav bridge "a the Powell
home some night soon.
Home For The Holidays
CHRISTMAS was only q week
- of. Jack came home for the
holidays and Media met him at the
bus station In WatsonviIle. The
pride she felt IN him when he
alighted from the stage. tall. dark /
and striking inoking. gave way 70
fear when she took q second look. !
Instinctively. she knew that some !
thing was terribly wrong
HIS boyiSh exuheFance Was
zone: there was q d0llnesS in BIS
dark eyes. his greeting aaS not
the happy. HI. Reiafipe OF his
former homeceninKs hns ! brief
ssHow are vou. Ss
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