The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-18
Chapter Is
Almost Legendary


Almost Legendary
"DEOPLE call her The Petrel,'
L Michael told Tony. Her bro
Their is special correspondent on
your old rag, the NelDS. Name,
Peter Malone. You may have met
him? He's a fine sleuth for trouble.
Or else they both are. No one quite
knows how much success he owes
to Petrol Whenever anything is
going to happen. he and she turn
up full month or so ahead of most
other journalists People who
know them say, Hello, something
is up. Do you know who that is?
The Petrell' They're nearly always
right. It's certainly a good name
for her." Tony Lance sat listening,
his face averted from the lounge.
Michael did not notice that he was
tense with interest. He was too
much occupied with watching
Petronella, until the elevator
closed its doors upon her. He
turned to Tony, and went on.
"She started going around with
him when he was a war cores
pendent; went everywhere with
him; saw him through fantastic
scrapes. She used to ride a motor
cycle. Once in the Balkans, she
carried one of his dispatches to
the frontier. dressed as a peasant
girl, telephoned it to his paper, and
arrived back in time for dinner
with the censor! Of course, the
stories about her have grown like
rolled snowballs, but she's the
pluckiest thing I've ever met. It
isn't as if she enjoyed danger. She
doesn't. She told me so. There was
a time, during that shindy in Dam
zig, in 1888, when she nearly threw
it up to 60 home and marry a man
she didn't love- But she could not
do it. She's in love with some man
who doesn't seem to come up to
scratch. She adores her brother,
and was made faithful"
Tony told him. II know her,
Mike. I've met her. Twice, when
she was very young. Then at a
party you gave in your fiat in
London" Michael looked startled,
then curious. 4fs
"Why didn't you say so before?
Why. of course. | rememberl You
commandeered her and saw her
to Victoria Station. That was be-
fore realized shew out of black
stockings and a gym dress | met
her nearly two years later. in
Rome. and fell fiat for her. Tony.
she's very sweet, a lovely person.
Though she's sophisticated. she's
childish, in some ways. That was
why, last Christmas. l thought I'd
landed her. She wanted to forget
the other fellow. | thought she had.
! was too sure of her, I let her get
away Now. we're just friends.
Here they come. What did | say?"
Like grsyhounds. when the shut
tiers fly up. showing the track, and
the electric hare before them, five
men rushed out of the lift. and
threw themselves across the
lounge. Tony recognized Masters,
of the Echo. Tim Cooper, of the
Express Mail, Peter. with his eager
red head. and blue eyes. Petronella
Malone followed up the rear more
slowly. Masters collided with
waiter, and sent two glasses flying.
She apologiZed. Peters hip sent a
chair rolling on its side. and the
contents of ladv's handbag spread
themselves on the floor. He called
back over his shoulder. Terribly
sorry!" Petrol helped recover the
coins. powder. lipStick. She went
into a corner of the lounge, and
awakened a press photographer.
who. camera at mis- side. dozed be-
meath a newspaper. She sent him
stumbling out after them.
"You see!" smiled Michael. He
stood up. Excuse me. will you?
They seem so excited, I think I'll
Just ask her what's up, and per-
haps go along"
eco ahead"
= "Petrel!" Michael went to meet
her.
OnOck vi My Lille
"uELLO, Mike" But even as she
L L turned, she saw Tony Lance.
Her hand went to the back of the
nearest chair, and held it. She stood
quite still, looking past Michael,
straight into his eyes. For a mo-
ment, Tony thought she was going
to faint. But in second. her mind
had adjusted itself. She smiled.
Her lips said, Eyes, Mike?" He
heard her telling him: 1.-THE police
are trying to stop demonstrators
from coming into the city over the
Nile Bridge. There aren't enough
of them. I think there is going to
be horrible fighting, unless they
are reinforced. was at Shepherds.
Mr.. Wallis came in, hurt. He said
the students were all armed with
sticks and iron bars, and hitting
the police over the head and shoul-
ders, as they rode. He thought they
would be forced to open fire."
Michael listened, but he looked
from her face to Tony's with a
puzzled expression.
'You know Tony Lance, Pet
rel?" He spoke stiffiy. Something
was up between these two. Re-
served devil, why couldn't he have
said something just now, instead
Of letting him go fulsomely on
about her? If he hadn't seen her
since the day of his party, why
couldn't they behave like normal
people, and say something's
sAre you coming along. Tony?"