The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-11-09
Chapter 16
Magic In The Valley
KATHLEEN was aroused by &

KATHLEEN was aroused by a
N quiet chuckle from Bridget.
"You know" she confided, "your
Aunt Bee would have had those
roofs covered by now. She's most
charitable woman. Only she would
have done il her way, regardless
of what the miners wives wanted.
think, dear, that this letter was
inspired by pique at your refusal
to bring her along"
Next morning, assured the pa
tients were asleep and the nurse
on guard, Kathleen ended her
night shift by watching the sun
rise.
From the veranda, where she
had sat that first day in Neutrality,
she waited for the first tip of gold
to appear above the mountain
peak. There was something cleans
ing and refreshing in the sight. It
seemed to wash away the prob
lens of yesterday and give hope of
better today.
There was the sound of tires
moving on gravel. She went 70 the
western edge of the veranda and
looked down. Donald Macdonald
was rolling his car down the drive
way. She watched him puzzled.
until he saw her and motioned.
II didn't want to risk waking
your PATIENTS" he explained in a
stage whisper.
Kathleen was touched by his
consideration. Slowly she went
down to stand beside him until he
adjusted the brakes.
"There," he brushed his hands
together. then turned to her.
Browning he studied her. Time
you had a break" he observed.
"Run back and get into your bib
and tucker. You're driving to
Carsted with me. Wen be back by
ten o'clock, you can sleep the rest
of the day.
Obediently Kathleen went to the
house, laughed little at the wan
reflection, and reported to Bridget
she was of on lark.
at will do you good" Bridget
assured her. "And while you're
away, forget everything.
This was more than Kathleen
could do. She drove down to Neu-
trality. conscious that the Gregory
miners, enroute to their work on
the day shift were watching her:
probably condemning her for be-
ing in a car with Young MacDon-
aid. She was aware of glances
which wanted to be hostile and
didn't quite achieve IL. when they
stopped before The Macdonald for
the breakfast she hadn't had. She
waved to the men on the Gregory
side and they dotted their hats.
Mayme served them and beamed
on them like white aproned Gu
pid. What did ! tell your" she
questioned and Kathleen couldn't
retort without revealing 10 the
man across from her that Wayne
had prophesied he would "go" for
her.
And then they were on the lower
highway. the astonishing world of
green and orange cliffs. scarlet
boulders and natural monuments
Of pearly white about them.
"Why Is IL the Macdonald min
ers manage so much better than
the Gregorys?" she Queried. Il
mean aside from their homes.
There isn't such 3 tremendous diff
ference in their wages, Is there?"
There's not enough difference
In the wages TO account for the
difference in their lives" he con-
ceded. However. you slipped up
when you said aside from their
homes. It's the homes that make
the major part of the difference.
know. The Macdonald miners
were very little better of when /
first took charge here. The board
Of directors thought was crack
pot when / told them of the
changes I wanted made. They
didn't see Il. wouldn't see Il, so l
started with my own money. ]
spent every cent my father left me
on the homes and the hotel; the
stores and the theater. The town
Is paying me back for the homes.
htl4 tttC Pc0p4C dtG pdll TIC
little at time. ] wanted them 10
have the feeling Of individual
ownership"
A Fighter
KATHLEEN looked at him curl
~ ously. Then he had had no
more encouragement than she was
getting. But he was a fighter and
q man.. Well. she Strengthened. she
was also a fighter.
THAT still doesn't answer my
question" she demurred. Il want
the difference IN positive terms
The main reason Is abstract
Have you ever lived in place like
the Gregory cots, and thought
you'd never know anything bet
aM~H8