The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-30
Chapter IS
The Gipsy's Prophecy

The Cipsy's Prophecy
MO SOONER had Peter gone t.
~ Spain, than the full storm
broke, the revol. started, Rebel
ships from the North African colo
ny landed their foreign legionaires
at Algeciras, and seized the piov-
ince of Huelva. Soon. the rebels
held control of Spanish Morocco
the Canaries, the Balearic Islands
most of southwest Spain. and Ma
varre. the large area north of Ma.
drid.
In Madrid itself. Petrol read
there were many with insurgent
synpathieS, so that lorry loads OF
Militiamen. bristling with arms
patrolled the streets. Private COM
Wandered cars. 1pilling Militia
men from steps and wings. dashed
up and down Gale Acal5. searched
houses suspected OF harborins Fas-
cistS, and fired at those appearing
in their windows. if the search had
proved unsuccessful Orders were
broadcast. dismissin" officers oil
the armv from lieutenantS. up
wards. Martin Rowdeh: heard the
rattle of Militia machine guns. at
lacking the Elontaiia1 Barracks.
above the heavily censored report
which Peters voice read to him
from the press room She read Pc
ter's dispatches. Once, he man.
aged 10 fly over 70 the French side
of the frontier. where the beaches
were still filled with holidaymak-
ers. who sat watching the war
He sent photographs. to his paper.
which he had obtained in France,
of the rebel troops under General
Davila, attacking Irun. IN e y
showed peasants in blue overalls.
slung rifles. and red berets: Carl
lists in khaki. With white skiing
socks. and Sam Browne belts: wo-
men. who had joined in the rebel
lion. and were armed. like men.
Soon after Peter made this expedi-
ton. they learned that his plane
had been Communicated by the
Government forces
Petronella met some Of the refu.
gees, among them. he friends the
Lorillos from Madrid. They ar.
rived at Victoria Stat.oE. with the
equivalent of a few pounds. in
pesetas. a pathetic bundle oil
clothes. and two tiny suitcases
This was all they had been able tc
save from the beautiful villa
which she remembered as their
home. She remembered that they
had a son.
"Where is Emilio?"
"We do not know, Miss Malone
He is fighting II was his duty" the
mother answered. She accepted
Petronella's invitation to stay al
the cottage. with storm of CRATE
full weeping. Peter had managed
to send letter oy these friends
It had escaped the censor. In it he
said: Tony has turned up. so were
both staying at the Bristol and
see good deal of each other. II is
lucky for me. He has a friend in
the Telefonica building. and I may
find il easier TO make. and receive
calls. with his influence. He says
Spain will be an International bat
tie ground. befor> this grim bust.
ness is settled | asked him if he
had any message for you, old dear
know you'll want to know his an
swer. He said. NV congratulations
that's all But he talked about
you. He said il seemed odd TO find
me alone. He feels. as | do. that
you've chosen to 10 the most sane
thing you could With such a job
he couldn't help making you a
poor husband. And even though he
loves you. he couldn't give il up
But he wants you TO be happy"
Even though h: loves me,
thought Petronella, and tried, but
failed. to feel scornfu' of Tony's
exaggeration.
. Staring Headline
THEREAFTER, Peters | e tier
L was long and interesting, filed
with calmly stated details of the
revolution. The fact that no censor
stood beside him. finge. on switch,
had not tempted him to exagger-
ate. One or two scenes of brutality.
which he had seen, he recorded.
But the letter gavc an impression
of truth. which other screaming
headlines, announcing widespread
atrocity. had not. Martin Rowdon
thanked Petrol. when he received
three of the four sheets, and pub
liShed most of it as an "uneen-
sored letter from Spain" The news
became worse. Despite Peters pri-
vate assurance that most Of the
bombs they are dropping are buds,
and do little damage" Petronella
found it impossible not to be anx-
ious. In the streets, every few
yards. Peter was told to "Manos
arriba." hands up. and had his pa
pers examined.
James was very understanding
Of her wretchedness. This was the
first real danger Peter had en-
countered. since she left him. He
knew her superstitious fear that
fate might, Selling this opportuni-
~, separate them from one an
other permanently. But there was
an additional reason for her ankle
fy which ho Hid unxf sfpIa~v&apA