The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-10-31

saw a car appear. II SpeQ raP.QIy
then swerved into the driveway
of the other house. A moment
later, Donald Macdonald hailed
her, from the street below.
why can't you come up here?"
she countered evenly, as he sug-
gested her joining him.
forbidden territory" he re-
piled. IF a Gregory saw me cross
ing the line, he'd shoot before he
saw the whites of my eyes"
sHowschadish." she pronounced.
What would happen if Greg
DRY, man crossed to your side?"
Only. one man has ever tried it.
But then Old Balmy knows no bar
riers."
Interested, Kathleen descended
slowly. "And who is Old Balmy?"
"a Gregory shift boss. He lives
down the line. first house from
here"
Kathleen nodded. 81 noticed it.
Is his name really Balmy?"
mo. it's Campbell. Balmy's a
nickname. He's queer; religious"
Kathleen smiled. $50 Neutrality
doesn't go in for religion, either"
Macdonald returned her smile
and again she wondered at its
quality. ooh yes, there are two
Presbyterian churches here. Balmy
goes to each on alternate Sundays.
But let's forget the old fellow.
You have me apologizing again.
I'm really sorry offended you.
Il don't understand why I've been
so rude every time we've met"
Kathleen studied him mo-
ment. She could like him if he
were net a MacD Donald. 1t was the
Macdonald disposition, of3course,
which spoiled him. However he
was generous in his apology.
II haven't been exactly eourte-
Gus to you, she conceded,
Then we can be friends? De-
clare an armistice? Shake on it?"
What's Wrong?'
A CROSS the barrier their hands
1 met. Kathleen's clasp was firm
and in her eyes was sly laughter.
Less than tWenty-four hours after
she'd met him. Donald Macdonald
was shaking hands with a damned
Gregory"
wont you come up to my We
randa? I've grand view from
there and my housekeeper will
whisk up some coffee to take the
place of that you left in the grill"
Thank you, another time. Brid-
get and / must find living quarters.
Your hotel is lovely but if she is
going to write she needs quiet and
we both want something less ex-
pensive. Mayme wasn't very hope
full, she said we hadn't a chance
of finding anything to rent. What
do you Think"
Macdonald shook his head.
There isn't house in Neutrality.
unless you could rent the Gregory
half of this"
you mean this one here?"
asked Kathleen in surprise. isn't
this where the owner lives?"
Hardly. He hasn't been here
since his father died. Only stayed
an hour then. He's not man enough
to rough it."
Kathhleen's throat worked con-
vulsively as she swallowed her re-
tort. Her father. who disappeared
regularly into the wilds of Canada.
to set a pace for his guides. con-
demned in this fashion?
"But would you call living here.
rouShing it," she managed.
There's no steam heat. no cleo
tricity. nothing but the old house
built fifty years ago without a
modern Improvement added"
bridget and could manage"
Kathleen countered confidently.
Nov if we just can find the par.
ties who have the renting of 1t. or
would you handle 1t for us?"
MET exploded Macdonald. Il
wouldnt even call on Miss Dona-
hue in that housem
Kathleen wheeled. This was
more than she could take. with an
incentive like that / know we're
going to rent it. she flashed over
her shoulder.
Two steps away she was arrested
by a roar of laughter. Indignant.
she swung back. Macdonald was
shouting his amusement. Head
thrown back. white teeth gleam-
ing. he was laughing at her.
We're at Ii again" he explained
why cant we talk together for
1--WE minutes without quafreling?
What's wrong with yus?n
Every insult aimed at the Greg
orys. from Mayme's to MacDon-
aids, arose in Kathleen's memory.
Hands clasped tightly behind her.
cheeks white, brown eyes flecked
with amber, she confronted young
Donald.
what IS wrong with us?"ss she
repeated. do You believe in hate
at first sight?a
Macdonald sobered instantly.
The blue Of his eyes turned to
black. why YES" he returned
evenly. II believe do He
wheeled and strobe away.
Kathleen went swiftly down the
dirt trail towards Neutrality. So
this was the man upon whom she
was to have an aHaelioratiao ef-
feet: the one. Mayme had said
would 90 for her.
"He did" she hreathed. "and
howl.
One thing she knew: they were
going to move out Of that MacDon.
aid hotel, instantly. even though
they had to camp in the street; the
Gregory side of the street.