The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-05-12
Chapter 80
His Own Laws

His Own Laws
. EUBEN walked to the tents
AZ flap, united and flung it aside.
STOPPING to pass through it. he
tossed her a crooked smile that
reminded her absurdly Of Judy
kin's when her feelings were hurt,
''You're making another try for
Brent Ell? Wish you luck this
timel"
The flap fell shut behind him
wish you luck this timeI" Reu-
ben's words echoed through the
tent; echoed around the world.
They made a roar like thunder.
Judith, waiting for the rever-
berations to die away, stood star
ing at the still swaying tent flap
like one hypnotized.
Reuben had said that-ReubenI
But for his coat flung across
one of the beds and his pocket
knife lying atop a pile of blankets
she could have believed the whole
episode a dream.
It wasn't a dream. She and
Reuben had done the very thing
they so carefully avoided-ouar-
relledi Very thoroughly, too. but
at that they hadn't said all they
wanted to say. Judith knew il
by the turnult that seethed and
foamed within her. BY her tensed
fingers, curved like talons-mute
evidence that she wanted to
scratch and clawl
II didn't seem possible. What
had she been thinking Of to allow
such an impasse? Gran could have
avoided this vulgar situation cas-
lily. Judith felt a sudden shame.
"Gran was never hectored like
a trapped animal, Gran never had
to live in Casper Street or in a tent
and scrimp and save and worry
and try not to hate"
She had come further than
Gran. The going had been hard.
It would be harder. Infallibly
Judith knew that. What had just
happened between her and Reu-
ben was just the lifting of the lid
and letting out the first feeble
sputterings of FESTIVE volcano.
~ won't stay-I won't degrade
myself quarreling, fighting. I'll go
back to Casper Street in the
morningl"
"Then whatf" The tents sloping
white walls shrieked it at her,
'Then what-what. what?"
No matter what, she was going
away from here in the morning.
Going away from Reuben. She
hated him, crude, rude
Garyl If she went away now she
wouldn't see Gary, wouldn't go
riding
But of course she'd see Gary.
Wherever she went now she'd see
Gary. The knowledge sent her
head up. But Casper Street would
be unbearably hot
She hadn't dreamed Reuben
would dare to speak harShly to
her. Hadn't dreamed he had the
nerve. He'd always tried so hard
to please-flushed, suffered, been
embarrassed at her slightest dis
pleasure. Been servile ~ almost.
What had happened to change
him so entirely?
She did not blame herself.
Something or somebody - What
Who?
"Cissyi" The answer zigzagged
across her reason.
MOI Judith protested vehe-
mently aloud, mol" Her self re-
spect wouldn't countenance that.
Cissy had taken one man from
her--it would be absurd to have
her take twol
Reuben Acts
THE sun was well UP before
i Reuben found a semblance of
sanity. The finding had been hard.
His rage chung 10 him like myriads
or persistent prickly burrs. All
night he had roamed the forest
q jungle beast. Passion, raw. pri-
mitive stalked with him. He want
ed to strike, to hurt even as he
had been hurt. Reason tried TO
tell him that he was placing undue
importance upon a trifiing in
cident He would not listen to
reason. Judith had done this to
him-Judithi And after the way
he had shaved and scrimped TO
bring her here.
His mind veered to Pike. II was
all his fault for not preparing the
tent but numbering Pike wouldn't
help any now. He must prove 10
Judith that he was as good q man
as Brent-By gum that was what
he'd have 10 dol Not next week.
next month, next year. but now -
this minutel He'd show her. He'd
been a fool 10 take Judith and her
codes so seriously. Hereafter he'd
make his own laws. Live by them,