The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-07
Chapter Is
; Michael's Party

r chapter 10
- 'lS Michael's Party
THREE months had passed. II
i was springtime of 1882.
Tomorrow, Petronella m US
start work again from $3.50 till &
o'clock. The Twilight Insurance
Company was not bad, she sup
posed. But it was far from good.
II only Martin Rowdon would
hurry up, and offer her a post at
the NetDs officel In the meantime
she must type dull letters. among
pleasant, dull people. She supposed
that was partly why she felt so
depressed this evening. That. and
other things. Nothing seemed very
right, these days. Aunt Maisie was
not well. She had had to see spe-
cialist just after Christmas. but
the famous mans diet, and pre-
scription, did not seem to be doing
her much good. Then there was
the quarrel with James. He scarce
1y ever came near her. since their
fight about Colin coming to live at
the fiat. Colin was not with them
any longer. but James still be-
heved she had felt more tn n
friendship and sympathy for him.
Peter and Petrol climbed the
narrow, dark staircase to the fiat.
They let themselves into the tiny
hall. 1t smelled airless. Petronella
threw down her book and parcels,
and opened the nearest window.
Outside. lay mist-blue darkness.
faint stars. above bright lights.
"What about new frock and
hat for your" suggested Peter. un-
expectedly and bluntly.
His sister turned. She looked at
herself dispassionately in the hall
mirror. So Peter thought that she
was looking dowdy. and unattrac-
tive. What did it matter. if she
wore old clothes, so long as they
were good clothes, and she looked
neat and fresh? Tony Lance was
not here to see new clothes.
A strange sound from the sit
ting-room startled Petronella. 1t
began like the last croak of a tuck
too, and ended with a shout.
"Petrel! Here's letter from
Rowd on! Com e and read it.
Quickl"
He was standing there, dazedly.
She took the letter. but the words
danced before her eyes, after she
had read the first few lines.
Peter was not entitled to a holi-
day. but if he liked to pay his ex-
penSes when he arrived there. the
NeUs would pay his return fare
to Germany. He could be gone two
or three weeks. 1t would "h e p
him in his struggle with the Ian
guage."
"I'm to visit Berlin, Munich, the
Rhine. the Rhur!" cried Peter. 81
can write some articles on my i'm
pressionS of the troubled state of
the country, and bring them back
with me. If get the chance. I'm to
hear Hitler and Goering sp a k.
Rowdon says he probably won't
use them. But. as was the case in
Burma, / may strike lucky. 1t is
my chancei Don't you see?"
'Peteri Oh, Peter! Have we any,
thing in the place to drink"
"Yes. the sherry Colin sent usi"
Solemnly they to e d Peters
luck. They were wildly excited.
The future. thought Peter. seemed
suddenly to be opening up.
Seems a pity you can't come
with me-"
She dismissed the possibility in
stantly. "Of course you'll do better
alonel What is happening in Ger
many now? shall like standing
on the edge of your newspaper
racket, darling, looking on"
working up for the elections.
Won Hindenburg should get. a ma
jority. The people trust him. But
the Nazis are climbing all the
time. There's going to be a lot of
trouble, if the Communists try to
stop them"
No PremOnitiOn
DETER, don't be reckless. Don't
\ act without thinking. Carry
the things you want to write in
your head, rather than on paper.
When will you go?"
"Rowdon suggests next Friday,
the ninth. Petrol, since I'm going,
there's something you've got to
know. It'll save you h having a
shock. It was the reason l was tell
ing you to buy some new toys,
really. The reason I'd like to stand
you new hat, if you'll let me. Be-
cause though James is a darn nice
chap, / know you're not really car
ing much, if he does take Molly
ABOUT occasionally"
Petronella stiffened. Quickly.
wha. are you trying to tell me?"
THAT you might run into Tony
Lance some day soon. He has left
the staff. He has left China. But he
came into the Office the other day.
You'd swami to look nice"
"Where is her"
nLondon, for all / know"
Petronella saw Peter off from
Victoria a week later. Her own
luggage was in the cloakroom. She
was going home, after Michael
Brane,s cocktail party.
TELL Mike I'm sorry to miss It,
but that I'll drink his health in
dunkel bier" said Peter.
YeS. Take care of yourself. dar-
ling. Goodby." She filled in the
time, till the party. by shopping.
Father had sent her five pounds.
She bought a wide brimmed white