The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-04-03
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-oV GAGE HOT TAYLOR
Chapter 38
Reunion

uio Was TIE SItaIlseSI journey
= on mel life. thought Petronelia-
She was fulfilling prophecy AS the
gypsy woman. in her : n at the
D. by. had indicated she would.
she was making her way. Of her
own free will. towards besieged
city. But fear had left her. She had
never really had any power to
choose peace. and security. When.
temporarily. she had grasped it
she had found so little happiness
that she was glad to let it g. again.
In Valencia. she had had TO wait
for this train, to take her part OF
the way to Madrid. Later. where
the line was in danger OF beng
cut. a special car should meet her,
If RoWdon's wires had reached
Peter. For she had not waited TO
see his answer. Peter and Tony
might botsl be there. or only Peter.
Petrol sat limp:y IN her corner.
trying t. sleep. b. her thoughts
thronged too fast Only now and
then, they became fantasy. She
had arrived. No one had met her.
Sh> had had to seai Oh in the dark
ness for them. and when she found
Tony he was faceleSS: a cold. I'M
personal presence. who did not
speak to Eer. She woke, shudder-
ing. and saw he. travelling COM
panionS.
One OF these was a young cor
poral in the red militia. He had
stood, when she entered the COM
partment, with raised. clenched
fist. "Salud. Camaradal" He had
helped her with her suitcase. and
been surprised when she thanked
him in his own language.
'You are not afraid TO 60 10
Madrid?" She had laughed
mo. have brother there. He
will meet me at Albacete. unless
he's in hospital by now."
"In that case l hope you won't
join MIN too soon! Our convoy
will probably be bombed tonight
They are always trying 10 cut the
road"
He sat, now. peeping through a
crack IN the Tapping blind at
the dark. dry. serrated country
through which they were passing
The tram was OF dered to shnw no
lights. for fear of al. attack. In the
other two corners of the carriage
sat two Lew recruits. They were
going TO Join the Government
forces Like the mercenaries of
past wars. they hal sold their SER
vices 10 foreign country. They
had talked 10 the SpanIard about
their reasons for volunteering.
One was young Frenchman, en-
s. listing bes ause it had been dull at
home. and he wanted adventure
The other, a douT fellow. was a
South African of Scotch descent
He was prospector. cut of a job
He considered fighting better than
unemployment 'fsf''
Would Peter meet her at Alba
cete? This was the stop where
these men would change INTO mr.
ries. and where she hoped to find
a car. Or would she be forced TO
ask for a lift? Suppose Peter and
Tony had left MddrId? In that
case. she would have 10 act lnde-
pendentlv: obtain the help of the
British Consul: perform Clare
Horizons commission. ard leave
again Every day. families were
being evacuated TO Barcelona. and
Valencia. She would have TO leave
with them. If. bv any chance. she
did not find Peter Or. she admit
ted her real dread. if her meeting
with Tonv made if impossible for
her to stav
Sudden Death
OH leaned toward the young
- corporal:
will there be cars. as well as
your tories al klbacete?
He shook his head ''Onlv l. they
are ordered 1T Fight they have
too much 10 do TIE government
IS urging civilians 0Ieave. for the
sake ~ the better defense Of the
city. Besides that. Madrid has enc
mics inside. aSIWP.l as out. When
there IS 3 rand many are killed.
not by bombs. but by hand gren-
AIDES. flung from windows If you
should no: be met you shall come
with me- ] will see that there is a
place for you. But for your sake.
| would rather YOU had car.
Those devils are sure to have
heard that reinforcements are
coming UP tonight"
Slowly the train drew to halt.
He smiled. and shook his head
mo, we are not there yet; IN
half an hourl This is small sta
ton" Petronella stood up. anG
went into the corridor. The air in
her carriage was thick, and stiff
ing. Il was good to lean out and
breathe in the warm. night air
Air which smelled of the dusty
earth of Spain. which had lair
baking In the sun, all day, and
now was damped by dew. A dim
lantern was swinging, and a haw.
ker sold scrawny chicken legs &c
the men who leaned from the win.
dows. From the rear of the train
came burst OF angry shouting
"A porter passed below her.
li7eWhat IS happening?"
The Cheka were searching the
train for a dirty spy. They have
caught him He viii be shot. the
filthy swivel"
< She saw a young man marched
down the platform. Watching, pitt
fully. she wonder whether Tony
fisked the same treatment, wher