The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-11-30

knowledge was given me of the
horrors Of the dreadful night ahead
of us all. halted, terrified by the
silent urging Of something for me
to 60 back.
Fort Ben Ravens
THE impulse to heed that voice
l was so strong that half turned
back TO the waiting train. The por-
ter was picking up his step.
lose something, miss?"
'I--no. It's nothing. -"
He touched his cap, swung onto
the slowly moving car. | stared
after him hopelessly, badly shaken
by my desire to run shouting along
the platform, to race the gather
ing speed of the train. to be pulled
aboard.
VEfat on earth would Eliza ,eth
think of such a performance? ]
smiled involuntarily and turned
to meet her innocent answering
smile.
I'm so glad you could come. I"
she said warmly, taking determin-
ed possession of my suitcase with
her invariable. insistent courtesy
which Is impossible to resist, and
leading me to shiny little black
coupe that had never seen before.
"A birthday present" she ex-
planned, showing it off to me with
childlike pride. i've had it for two
weeks. I've already driven it to
town several times alone, so told
Mr.. Spencer not to bother about
getting excused from duty so he
could drive you out. The men are
all so busy. with one thing and
another" she added vaguely.
The explanation was plausible
and my moment of prescience had
vanished. / settled myself in the
car with the sensible reflection that
If Charlie were up to anything
might as well find it out now as
later.
For the next Ave miles my fore
bodings took a new direction. AT
first | tried to chatter nonchalant-
~. but Elizabeth's answers were
monosyllables delivered from the
corner of her mouth with such an
air of painful concentration that
was glad TO take the hint and turn
my attention to the road. This
fortunately, was graveled and
smooth. for we attacked ii with
all the furore of a terrier wor.
rying large snake. We rocked
and bucked, the road coiled and
Strengthened while we charged on.
ward. the hot. dry wind swirling
backward the dust of our passage
Elizabeth sat painfully erect
her blue eyes boring ahead, both
hands on the wheel. elbows vel
in. On her face was the look oil
firm kindness had seen when she
was gentling a nervous horse.
swallowed q hysterical giggle anc
elutched the side Of the car as We
SHE'D past truck. one wheel kick.
ing at the rim OF the ditch.
A quarter OF mile farther or
we turned on two wheels through
the open gate. narrowly missing
a deft-footed sentry. and entered
the post.
Fort Ben Havens is one of thosg
familiar rectangular ccmmunitIe.
that dot the prairies OF the Middle
West. The nearest passenger train:
stop at the village FIVE miles dis,
tant and except for Q few scattered
dwellings and q general store tho
spiked iron fence shuts cut cnly
fields and fields of nodding corn
In contrast TO the surrounding
country. the post itself Is as sleek
and groomed as a city park. w
had entered at one end OF sht
rectangle. Ahead Of us stretched
the smooth turf Of the parade
ground. facing IL on the right wa.
the long row Of barracks, on thC
left the officers quarters: beyond
at the far end Of the plain, the liaj
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