The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-11-14
Chapter 26'
Roses And A Card

ROEe olont want 10 see George.
- She hated him because he was
a fellow conspirator.
She didn't want to see Iris. De-
spite the older girls treachery,
her perfect willingness to ruin
any number of lives to win for
herself comparatively small sum
Of money, nevertheless Bluffs con-
science smarted when she thought
Of Iris. "Can she help il, the poor
sap, that she has no gray matter?"
Above all she didn't want to see
Tim. A curious feeling of hostility
toward him had been growing in
her mind. He had caused nothing
but trouble since she met him.
First there was the shock of his
accident; then the long hours Of
nursing him, entertaining him;
then the necessity-at least she
had felt it to be a neceSSity-of
establishing herself in Boulder for
the winter. Then came Iris, and in
her wake whole series of quar-
rels with Tim.
eff I'd found nobody at the
ranch but dear old Webby," she
unused, slowing her car down as
she neared Boulder, I'D have
hired a new foreman, left word
for Atkins that he was fired, and
gone on"
She brought her foot down on
the accelerator in a defiant squirt
of speed, and presently stopped be-
fore her own apartment.
There she carried out her plan
to the letter. She told the sympa-
thetic Mrs. Webb that she felt i'll
and was going to bed.
You sure look it, too," observed
the housekeeper. Them blue eyes
of yours are couple of sizes too
big for your face and it white as
a piece of writing paper! Beds
the place for you, all right. I'll
bring you some soup pretty soon
thatl put the strength back in
you"
And no callers admitted"
Let 'em try to get in; that's
all l ask-let 'em try!" was the
be1igerent assurance.
A little before six George
Weekes came, demanding ex-
citedly to see Miss Buff. He was
outraged when told she was in
bed and in no condition to receive
callers. Buff heard his protests.
But look here, Webby, she'll
see mel Why, she called me-
why, she was in Denver this very
afternoon! She can't be so awfully
ill"
In Denver, was she? No won
der the poor child came in looking
like she was ready to drop! Driv-
ing all the way to Denver in the
condition she was in to start with
.. I'm telling you, Mr.. George,
she's hardly ct or slept the last few
days. I've been telling myself she
was sickening for something.
Pneumonia. most likely, flu at the
least. She"
HAS she complained of a pain
In her cheSt?" Georges voice was
anxious.
"She amt the complaining kind,
you ought to know that. But
says she, her poor little face all
white and drawn, Webby dear,
put me to bed and don't let no one
In For I'm that sic.:,' she says, I
can't bear the sound of nobody
but you"
Buff chuckled drearily. Drama
was in the air, she thought. Web
by had caught the infection and
was staging a nice little act of her
own. Too bad to have poor George
worried. but Buff had had all she
could endure for one day. She
heard him depart, promising to
call later in the evening.
An hour later box of flowers
arrived. Buff looked on apatheti-
eally while Mrs. Webb searched
for the card. Mr.. Timothy Cor
lss" II said; and that was all.
We'll. what did you expect?"
the girl asked herself scornfully
when Webby had withdrawn in
search of vases. With heartfelt
gratitude for saving my life?' or
with all my love, Buff darlingl'"
She bit her lip to still its trem-
bling. Somehow she found that
formal offering of flowers, the card
with no personal word on it.
harder TO bear than silence. When
Webby sailed in with two tall Jars
OF roses, her young mistress babe
her take them away.
No Lack OF Attention
a ROUND midnight, she was left
\ TO herself. 1t appeared. she
thought bitterly, to have been her
most popular evening. Mrs. Webb
was kept busy between the tele-
phone and doorbell. Van dropped
in to borrow a few groceries: "If
you happen to have bit of steak
lying around, Webby machree, ii
wouldn't crush me utterly to take
il in charged" Various others of
her friends called or called up.
Some were so upset at the news
OF her indisposition that they sent
offerings: a detective story, bor-
owed week ago from a circulat-
ing library; cup of cuStard which
provoked scornful comment from
Webby; a plant from a florist, bear
ing many large leaves and few
violent magenta blossoms.
Buff had no lack Of attention that
night.
She was settling down to sleep