The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-11-03

DAt CF10GAI4y yOO LG SOuIS W SIdAI
as long as you can. Well. that
won't be more than few seconds,
my deari got the report from
Denver on the early afternoon
mail"
"Did you, indeed?" she inquired
politely. II hope it was a nice re-
port; though probably not. seeing
the mood you're in"
buff. ,rilI you quit this pretend
ingl"
"Tim, tDiII you tell me what
you're talking about?"
about the land George and I
bought from-from Latshawl It's
been sold. You're the only person
in Boulder who knew we'd listed it
with a real estate agency IN Den
yer. ! suppose" he went on Bit
terly. "you felt very SNUG and
philanthropiSh-"
She shook her head rebukingly.
I'm sure there's no such word,
Tim! You mustn't take liberties
with the English language like
that"
"You to talk of taking liberties!
Buying up a lot of land that's
worth about fifteen dollars!"
did pay fifteen dollars for it?
That doesn't strike me as philan-
thropy on a grand scale, Tim dar-
ling!"
Don't call me darling! won't
be cajoled. You know as we'll as /
do that you paid exactly what
paid for it last summer: that, aside
from the agents commission, !
,71:.and just where ! did before that
deal went through. can't believe
it of you, Buff"
"That's nice" She curled a foot
beneath her and beamed. Because
you don't have to, Tim! mean I'm
not a philanthropist. I'm not feel
ing a bit SNUG. | didn't even know
that your land was listed for sale.
Summing it all up," she finished
cheerfully. sit must have been at
least two other people who bought
it. / should think I'm as innocent
as a babe in arms"
'Enough's Enough
LIE stared at her, his fixed con-
Il viction that she and only she
could be capable of so foolish an
investment doing battle with what
he instinctively realized as the
ring of truth in her voice.
But - who else? The lands
worth practically nothing. Unless
someone's kidding himself that
there's really silver there but
Eve taken specimens from almost
every square foot of it It's a dud,
| tell you! Whoever bought it
threw away lust that much
Maybe" she ventured "the
purchaser was induced by the
same motive that you were!"
"You mean"
She shook her head. 81 wouldn't
know the technicalities of it, but
| seem to see this Iris girls hand
in the transaction. Anyhow. |
didn't buy it! didn't know it was
for sale, let alone how much you'd
paid for it last summer"
Word of honor. Buff"
She scorned to answer save for
the direct gaze of her blue eyes.
He ran a worried hand through
his hair. Iris is definitely out"
he said. She's the one person in
the world who wouldn't buy what
she spent weeks and-and the en-
ployment of all her arts and graces
in inducing me to take on. But
here's what. Buff. This fellow Mes
bit--he's the head of the agency
in Denver-said that the pur-
chaser offered certain sum for
the land. Nesbit didn't know it was
the exact amount George and
paid for it last summer. And the
name signed to the deed is James
Smith So obviously an assumed
name that Nesbit would have re-
fused anything but cash. The
whole business doesn't make sense.
Or waiti" He shot her stern
Flance Il see it all now! Your
( father bought it. You told him
about last summers affair and per.
suaded him to- Hey. wait
minute. where are you going?"
"Into my bedroom" she said,
over her shoulder, ITO stay until
you've gone. Enough's enough. If
wanted to help you financially
I'd do it. as you remarked before,
fairly and Squarely In fact, !
think I've been about as fair and
square in my proposals to you
proposals and propositions both,
for that matter-as anyone could
be. ] wouldn't go pleading with
my father to reimburse YOU for
isl"
But you've just come back
from visiting himi And its certain
ly queer that the exact amount
- The slamming of her bed
room door put an end to this
speech. He took his hat and stalked
out, for once Indifferent to Web
by's friendly greeting.
At ten minutes to ten the next
morning the telephone rang. Buff
was putting on her coat to go to
the University.
ats Tim" said a meek voice.
Look here! Could you see me for
a few minutes if / came right
out?"
81 could not! I'm due at a lee
ture. Anyway. I'm not especially
anxious to see you--ever again"
Continued tomorrow.