The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-10-21
Il1I ~
Bx MAX sALIMARs /

body slip to the ground, and saw
to my horror that Ottilie stood
just behind me, her eyes dark and
frightened, and behind her. Huge
and FIeuriot.,
There. lies the greatest cartoon
| ist Of his age" Fleuriot announced
quietly. But I could wish that he
had not landed with such force on
my abdon1enp
Hugo gave 4 short laugh
You've all played your parts
most nobly," said he, Except me.
! appear to,have filed the role Of
the clown in the circus who takes
the knocks and looks foolish. bur
it seems to me it's time we got q
move on" He gripped Ottilie with
his free hand.
She looked up at him piteously.
But Hugo" she began, and then
suddenly her expression hardened
ooh, well" she said, "if it's foolish
to have saved my life. I've nothing
more to say. Come on, then. lets
go!"
But 1 fingered, tor there was
more to be decided than that.
Geiss's body could not be left alone
on. the hillside, neither could we
| find room IN the car for the whole
party. Someone had to stay behind.
and I had a feeling that that some
one would have to be me.
But Eleuri0t lad sersed my
thought. NO. mol" he said sharply.
1T Is ] that must stay. It is my
duty. I will remain here very
pleasantly with the corpse and the
lunatic, and you vii. send a car
back for me from. lie Trayas. See,
the wind has shifted land the fire
will spread no moro"
looked up and sas that il was
true. Even as / turned back to him,
the first drop of rain struck cool
~ s5ss
TO Have And 70 HOLD
|" "A LII the same" said dubi-
Il pusly. Il don't like leaving
you here alone but he cut in
sharply:
Once more. insist! It is my
days work. and, Furthermore, i
feel there Is little something that
should be adjusted between two
members OF our party"
/ glanced over my shoulder
Ottilie was already sitting stifiiy
IN the back of the car. with an ex-
preston that said she didn't mind
who sat next to her so long as il
wasn't Hugo. while he. on the other
hand, was standing stiff7y aloof.
nursing his wounded wrist and
staring gloomily out over the
valley.
NAll right" said resignedly
III 20. but ! think you've chosen
the easier job"
The trip back was simple mat
ter. once we had located the track.
for the fire was dying and ii was
comparatively easy to see the road.
We came to lie Trayas in the gray
light of dawn to find that the street
was empty, save for one car which
held my attention as we drew up
at the barrier.
In the tonneau Ada. disheveled
and wild-eyed, clung to the arm
OF an il1passive but gray faced
Virgoe Wills. It was Ada who first
caught sight Of US. and with some-
thing between a sob and a scream
she scrambled from the car and
came running towards us: bun
quick as she was. Dunning was
quicker. He was cut of the His
PIANO in flash. meeting her half
way and gathering her into his
arms.
We were all on the road now.
and as turned to speak to our
friend the lieutenant. trying to
make him understand that I
wanted 9 car al once to take me
back to Fleuriot. felt Ottilie pluck
at my sleeve.
Archie. she whispered. "do
you think that Hugo realizes he's
going to merry nae?"
I heSitated. II believe something
OF the sort has occurred to him.
] answered cautiously.
Then" said she. "for mercy,s
sake. make him do something
about 1t cuicklyl"
IcrOssed to Hugo and touched his
arm. "Old man" I said. .the PRAYER
Book says to have and to hold.
but in this case its the latter verb
that matters. She's waiting for you
to kiss her. ard | cant get back to
Fleuriot till I've seen you do H."
as the words left my
mouth. he had swung round to her.
his arms wide. and In another Sec
end they had closed about her.
liz drove back through the
scnrched and smoking countryside.
with an inuuisitive soldier beside
me and taciturn gendarme in the
rear. and as ! drove. | felt singu-
larly lost and lonely. Tor IL seemed
hat IN ell this weller Of marrying
and giving In marriage. there was
no place left for me. But when
saw FleuriOt sQuatted phiiosophi-
eally under the blasted oak. knew
then that there was still q world
1f men left for me untangled by
he snares OF petticoat-strinRs
FIeuriot. l said, as he rose TO
erect me, "are you u1arried?"
He griuned back at me. young
nan. am too wisei"
Then said !. syou and have
/ lot in common, for we are two
Tree men in q prisoned world"
But he shook his head. smiling
.ynicalIy but very kindly. my
young friend" said he. say that
% me In . years time and ! win
1Aiieve you.a