The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-11-02
Chapter 10
Old Balmy

KTT-SMYTH'S hand was or
Balmy's arm. Other mucker!
had rushed to the old mans side
but only Kathleen smiled.
In the yellow circle of light She
could see the mans face. his ex'
preston of patient hope. the glow
Of Joy gradually fading, a look o.
bewilderment taking its place.
Queer" he muttered. II could
a sworn it was Old Angus standin
there. It's the way he always stood
the stubborn mon. heels fiat to thu
ground so no one could move him,
"rm sorry to disappeint lyotis
Kathleen told him. qILih s6sT
Suddenly the face was illli-
mined. 'Disappoint," he echoed
@Ah. mol It seems dreams come
true in their ain fashion,"
Kit-Smyth. who had listened i'm.
patiently, took Kathleen's arm
@Now I'll show you"
~But I'd rather stay here and
talk to this gentleman" she OBJ.
jected.
my dear young lady," began
the Observation-Disclosures whimsi.
eally. "oh. very well. Miss Riley
this Is Balmy. shift boss. and Miss
Donahue. These young ladies are
from Chicago. They're stopping
here awhile. Judge they'll be your
neighbors. I've wired Mr.. Greg.
DRY for permission to rent the
Gregory house"
"Aye," murmured the old man
but he shook his head as though
70 clear his ears of Kit-Smyth'S
voice.
go on with your lunch," Kath.
leen insisted. perched on a timber
beside him.
aTve reached the pound cake
Will you join me?"
Kathleen didn't know which sur
prlsed her the more, herself in
this undignified position. lunching
with mucker, or the cake.
II made it," Balmy told her.
Perhaps you would have tea with
me some Sunday? This Sunday?
I'll have some more. I've no wife
TO make 1t for me. these twenty
years" he added.
Kathleen accepted for herself
and for Bridget. They talked OF
other things, his garden, the dog,
the mine, then when the others
reappeared he took Kathleen's
hand again.
Il don't talk overmuch, lass" "
he said. softly. and returning to
the cage. Kathleen wondered what
he meant.
Kit-Smyth discussed Balmy, all
or the way TO his quarters, an inn
posing bungalow on low hill be-
yond the mine.
Il wish | could get rid of that
man." he fumed. HE gets worse
every day. Take the way he acted
towards you. Miss Riley"
He acted the part of gentle
man." snapped Kathleen. "As far
as his calling me. whatever ii was,
/ once dashed through a store and
kissed a strange woman thinking
she was my mother"
"Oh, | know. but well, it's
his religion. Not that he breaches
II. but he insists upon living it'll
anybody hands him q dirty deal.
he blesScs them. Now what eaIpYoa
do with a man like that? You cant
keep on fighting him." FtsS
Bridget's laugh trilled out. ale
has you there" she admitted. SIS
that why you don't fire him."
Moving In
MO. AND he's getting too old to
~ work. Old Angus brough,
him over from Scotland and when
the boss died we found his will
had taken care Of Balmy from that
time on. He could work as long as
he wanted TO. He could own his
own property and IL he wanted
more he could have L. And when
he wanted 10, mind YOU. wanted
20 stop work. we were to keep on
paying him full salary and pay for
any hospital or doctors care he'd
need"
Kathleen's eyes were wide with
hope. Balmy had not only been her
grandfather's miner, he'd been his
friend. Now she could learn all she
wanted 10 learn.
Funny his taking you for Old
Angus" unused kit-Smyth as they
drove up before his bungalow.
Both girls admired Kit-Smyth's
home. II was roomy. bit over
furnished. but comfortable in q
manniSh way.
The Scotch woman who presided
over the domicile was dour and
Disappearing at his entertaining
young ladies. until Kathleen re-
moved her hat then she beamed.
you'll have plenty Of attention
from the GregoryS" ka-Smyth
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