The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-11-29
Gnapter 81
The Shirt Is Patched

The Shirt IL Patched
"T'M going after the sheriff Of this
! county" said Kathleen. Il am
over twenty-one years of age and
not under the dictates OF my
father. You'll either give me my
property or be arrested for theft. !"
Kit-Smyth clustered q little. but
past experience had taught him
this Kathleen Gregory was fear
less.
The bags taken from the car,
Kathleen looked through one
handbag and turned to kit Smyth.
Now. my power Of attorney.
You've stolen that from this bag.
] think you've gone Just about as
far as you re going to 90. No one
in this county or In this state, Is
going 70 listen to YOU when Eve
told my story. II we'd waited for
you and your right-of-way. those
men would have been dead Come
on. now. give IL TO mel"
Reluctantly Kit-Smyth reached
In an inner pocket and withdrew
the document. Kathleen looked at
IL TO be sure IL had not been tam ;
pered With. She moved her bags
across the lire onto Macdonald
property.
Now 60 wire my father that his
chance of claiming Was unau.
fhorized and willful in turning
The Golden Girl over to the rescue
of the Macdonald miners, Is pretty
slim. As long as he hadn't enough
trust In me to write me. you can
tell him for me. that ] am no
longer a Gregory and I'll appear
against him If he tries to bring
such a suit"
"No longer a Gregory -. hal"
Kit-Smyth jumped into his car
and drove away.
Kathleen stood 4 moment. She
had just renowned her own peo-
pie. The DonaIds would well
come her. but she wasn't ready 10
accept them as an alternative.
Was there no truly neutral
ground in Neutrality?
Balmy's housed YEARLY she
made the several trips down. The
old shepherd greeted her Joyous
ly. escorting her each time she
went for additional bags.
As Balmy had prophesied.. the
door was unlocked. there was fire.
wood and tes in the canister. As
she brewed the tea and toasted
old bread. Kathleen INDUCED in
serious thinking For the first time
IN her life she was truly alone. She
believed Donald loved her and
would ask her TO become a Mac
Donald. but even In his deliriuni he
had said nothing Of marriage. And
she had thought her father loved
her and believed in her.
Reaction from the dramatic ten
sion OF the previous days and
nights set in. She sought Balmy's
cot and for many hours turned
and tossed. Perhaps she had been
wrong In everything. She was
young, her father was old and Full
Of ripe wisdom.
The next morning Kathleen.
carried her breakfast to the ter,
race. Bridget found her there.
I'VE saw smoke coming from the
chimney" she explained. I'VE had
no Idea where you'd gone TO. kit
Smyth said you wouldn't be on
Gregory property. Why didn't
You come to u.s."
II couldn't. and this isn't Greg
DRY property. IT'S Balmy's. Bridget.
how have they heard about
Donald | mean?"
Bridget nodded, her eyes trou.
bled. He's fine. He needed the rest
perhaps more than anything. He
sent for his mother last night"
Kathleen nodded He had sent
for his mother. He hadn't sent tor
her.
THAT Awful Mani
~T>HE men are being transferred
to the Macdonald hospital to-
day, those who aren't ready 70
come home. Kit-Snyth ordered
them of the property. Doctor
Cleveland and he had peach OF
aWhat are you going to do. Kath-
ieenl Hadn't YOU better come up
with us7
aI'li wal, for Balmy. then I'm
going on"
Bridget waited . few moments
Is though uesirous OF saying soTne&
thing. Wei" she stood up. al'u
see you before you leave. Oh. she
thrust forward 4 package she had
been carrying. Mrs Macdonald
asked me to give this TO you"
Eashleegi barely heard her. Dom
cid hadn't called for her. He hadn't
sent word 70 her. Nothing else
fnattered She could at least leave
the scene with flags hyif1g. She
could at least greet Old Balrny in
festive attire.
Balmy would like TO see her
truly feminine. In her bags. some
where. there was q white rufIied
dress embroidered In tiny yellow
rosehuds She'd don that.
She Felt better after that: tied
her curls back with thin yellow
ribbon and went back 10 the ter-
race feeling more in tune with the
apple tree.
II was then she saw the pack
age. Il contained the other half
az the blood stained shirt: the half
Old Macdonald must have worn.
She would sew the two together
and give the whole 20 Bridget No
matter what laws the Gregorys
laid down. the people Of Neutrality
would no longer be divided.
The last stitch was taken. the
thread knotted when she heard
someone come around the house.
Donald Macdonald paused on the
sdee Of the terrace 60 look &C the
giri who waited. then be walked