The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-11-15


hadn't meant what se sa:d lssi
night. He'll bargain with Esilsiy az
you would have bargaincd.''
Kathleen relaxed for The first
time. ooh, I'm glad. Belief IN ths
integrity of your family means so
much, Bridget"
She remained at the wiraeu,.
laughed heartily at her fatte: .-y-
ing to control the old cur 81 t
bucked down the hill with c..2pkIne
chains, and then she stiifenec.
The moment the car was OF: OF
sight, Beatrice Gregory @ha3 ap-
peared. For moment she stsr:icG
the Macdonald lodge, i;.c1 IS
though assured no one was watch
ing, set off across the drifts towards
the mine trail.
Beatrice Gregory had questioned
Old Balmy about that back route
to his cot, Kathleen remembered.
Kathleen wasted few moments
arguing with herself. beratirg her
self for her suspicious. But couldn't
that have been her fathers reason
for reassuring her? Hadn't he been
trying to throw her off guard2
She thrust her arms into awhile
ski coat she had made from a Hgpi
blanket, pulled white stocking
cap over her curls, donned Ga.
loshes, and set forth in the wake o:
her aunt. 1t was easy enough -
follow her tracks. They led. as
Kathleen had suspected. to, the
summer mine trail. then back
towards Balmy's cot:
Kathleen came quietly up on the
terrace and peered in through q
window. Beatrice sat before, the
table, sheaf of letters spread be-
fore her; a stack of envelopes TO
one side, the right side. Her face
was obscured by the blue smoke
Of her cigarette.
You Can't Do This
COFTLY, swiftly, Kathleen
- slipped around the house to the
front door. Beatrice couldn't do
this. She found she wasn't lighting
for Old Balmy; she WASH trying
to protect the MacDonalds. she was
trying to protect her belief In the
integrity of her own people,
Opening the door she stepped in.
Beatrice was no longer smoking.
both hands were occupied with
opening another envelope.
Aren't you proud OF yourself"
observed Kathleen.
Beatrice Gregory started, then
laughed. "We should have EN-
ployed you as detective instead
of a vampire: we'd avehad better
results" She went on reading.
Aunt Bee, you can't do this. ]
shan't let you" !!
do ,oI,atr gtoaned the woman.
didn't my own father write these
letters? Haven't / the right to read
them?"
"Not without BalmyssI permis-
sion. but is that all you intend
"Oh, stop your unmitigated NOR
alizing. You weren't too noble TO
use your own method pi raining
the right-of-way. ALI I'm tryinR 10
do is learn If the information these
contain Is worth the price your
father Is paying for them.
"Paying7" echoed Kathleen,
@You mean Balny will sell them7n
Don't be a bigger fool than nee.
essary. I'm speaking OF the replace.
ment Of cots. All" she exclaimed
in triumph. 'this letter Is dated
June II. That means the next will
have the story of the strike and
fling"
It was then she screamed,
Kathleen saw tiny spiral OF
smoke burst into rosy fame. The
next moment the flame had licked
at the old, finder dry letters. lifted
them into a whirling blaze. ran liz
stream down the table coverstnahe
fringe. The top of the round table
was an inferno and in the center
lay,Balmy's Bible, an ancient web.
leaf book given him by his mother
and priced above all possessions.
The whole scene had changed
in a second. Kathleen rushed for.
ward and slapped at the flames
with her bare hands, crushed the
palm Of them down over the cloth;
pressed the fragment left over the
book. then smothered the book 10
her.
The rear door had opened. Old
Balmy, breathing heavily, had en-
tered. He looked at Kathleen but
spoke to Beatrice. Il trust We are
satisfied. Miss Gregory. Ye've
made the decision for u.s.
Kathleen stared at the table. The
letters were filmy cinders. Proof
OF the claims priority had been
destroyed for all time.
Gently, Balmy took the book
from Kathleen and she was aware
Of her hands. The palms were
scared. quivering areas Of agony.
And she was aware OF her position.
Il was as compromising as that OF
Beatrice's. Shed never before re-
allied how much this queer old
fellows regard meant 70 her.
She could explain. But then
again she couldn't Beatrice was
her aunt; . Gregory. She met his
questioning eyes and her own.
filmed with tears Of pain. were
yelled with lashes. lest he read the
answer.
Splendid work, lass" he COM
mended. We must get you 20 the
hospital. Angus Gregory Is steam.
ing up the hill"
With surprising agility be rushed
out to stop Gregory. then rushed
back to wrap the hands with soft
linen and to help Kathleen and
Beatrice into the car.
fcety@i91t, 1854. fss.-s sss-a.I
Monday: Christmas presents.