The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-06-17


rehectively. Il just remembered
that neither of you mentioned
Bob's attitude toward the squat
tiers. What is Bob doing, anyhow?n
Thorn's mouth pursed primly.
Bob is more hindrance than help.
He mingles with the Macks. SYM
pathizes with them. eggs them on.
and pretends that he actually likes
theml He's making fool Of HIM
self over the young widow and her
brat"
"Ahal The plot thickens!" Nola,s
laugh was indulgent. bob was al
ways a non-conformist; at least
from your point of view. Thorn. /
have an idea he will give me some
good advice about giving away my
money"
Il don't see why you say that.
Thorn objected. Bob has no re-
spect for money or for the people
who have it Are you serious. Nola.
about giving it away"
.Of course am. Twenty mill
lions what can | do with it? |
can't possibly spend it in a life
time! | can give half of it away
and still have far too much for us
and our children and grandchil-
dren, my darling!"
Thorn cleared his throat nerv-
ously. "Then why not let me adj
wise you, dear? You always said
Grandma Jocelyn was shrewd and
she made me trustee of the estate.
I've handled the money very well,
haven't ]. Lynn"
you've hung on to it very
well!" Jocelyn retorted.
"Oh, let's skip the whole mat
ter" Nola said in sudden exas-
peration. I'D like a few weeks Of
peace"
PLEASE don't misunderstood, !"
Thorn began, signaling left turn
from the highway into the grounds
of Seacliff. 81"
"Shush," Nola commanded. did
you arrange for a man to pick up
my trunks at the station tomorrow
morning? ! have hardly a decent
rag with me-"
Devastatingly Good-Looking
ION THE second morning after
~ her arrival. Nola arose very
early. There was determination in
her movements as she dressed
with studied carelesSness in a spe-
cially purchased cotton frock and
low-heeled san dals. Her hair,
which reached below her Shout.
ders, she let hang in girlish dis
array. Her basque-style frock,
bought yesterday afternoon at an
exclusive shop in Santa Barbara.
was tremendously becoming: vet.
to the inexperienced eye, it would
seem merely a blue housedress.
So far. she had not been able to
get one single look at any Of the
Mack family. Thorn and Lyn had
seen to that. Well. she was not ac-
cuStoned to anyone curtailing her
movements or knowing what she
did. As a matter of fact, she pre-
ferred taking the initiative into
her own hands. wishing to meet
the Macks in her own way.
Now. on tiptoes. she stole down
the back stairway past the button
servants quarters, and sauntered
around the far end Of the dividing
fence.
She approached q tall young
man standing with his back to her.
His thick black hair shone in the
morning sunlight. He appeared
preoccupied in Harvesting two
horses to a pillow. As Nola drew
nearer she heard him singing soft
| ly in rich baritone voice. A smile
turned up the corners Of her
mouth.
"Good morning" she said.
Looks like it's going to be hot to-
day."
He finished buckling the last
piece of harness before he turned.
He looked at her dress; her smiling
face: her loose blonde hair. He
smiled.
Hello"
Nola thought: 'Ivn must be
blind or crazyl The man is devas-
tatingly good-loo kingl" She asked,
"Aren't you young Talbot Mack?1
Sure. And your"
''Nola cranston. I'm visiting the
Russells."
"Oh." His smile disappeared.
bob told me about you. You're
the heiress from Boston who is GO
ing to marry Thorndyke. I hardly
expected to see you on this side Of
the fence"
"And why not?" she demanded.
Il saw no Keep Or signs
His eyes were guarded, distrust-
full Haven't you heard about peo-
pie who live on the wrong side Of
the railroad tracks? | live on the
wrong side of this fence"
Nonsense. There isn't any right
and wrong side unless you believe
there is. And don't. You sound as
If you had an inferiority complex.
What's the matter with you. any
how? You're young and healthy
and good to look at.
And poor as Jobs turkey" he
added. And farmer. Peasant Is
the term I've had applied to me
lately"
Which sounds like Thorn
Nola smiled. Surely you pay no
attention to him2 He's really a.
darling but be doesn't realize the
day of ancestor worship is past
Don't tell me you haven't got 3
sense Of humor? think this whole
darned business is the funniest gag
I ever heardin
Tally met her sparkling dark
eyes. A slow grin spread over his
face. Maybe you are right. Maybe
! lost my sense Of humoF when
lost the last cotton crop in Texas"
fCopyrsoaf. 1881