The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-02-23
Chapter Five
Thick Az Thieves

DETER looked across the table
I and winked reassuringly at
Petronella. Knowing how she felt,
he was grateful to her for making
so little fuss about it. He admired
her restraint. In her place he
would have blurted out awkward
questions at the outset; how often
could they meet? How far was
Kemmendine? Could he come to
the Club this evening? Instead. un-
ruffied. she was asking about the
riots. There were more important
things they wanted to know.
slow are things here, father?
We gatkeie ed from your last letters,
and from the Captain. that you've
had strikes. What is the trouble
exactly?" She left the rest of the
pumping to Peter.
Probably, once she got going,
socially. Peter had said, she would
meet a good many more people
than he did; knowledgeable people.
Girls went everywhere in this
country. They were spoiled and
had their heads turned. It would
be good for her to have to collect
useful information for him.
Burma for the Burmans is the
cry" Colonel Malone told his son.
He was glad the boy looked like
taking an intelligent interest in the
country. 1t was to be encouraged
There was nasty business in Chit
TAGGING. The English Club was sur
rounded. There was a good deal of
fighting. Women and children had
TO be taken aboard several b.
ships. Things are quiet again there
now. here, in Rangoon. Burmans
have been demanding that they
shall have monopoly of the dock
labor. AT present t e Cooringhis
get most of it. They are quicker.
cheaper. more reliable workers.
But / think you have missed most
Of the excitement"
Petronella spoke casually: "a
man called Mr.. Merrill, on the
ship, told me he thought the real
trouble was only just beginning,
father"
Colonel Malone was impressed.
"Oh, you met Merrill, did you?
Well, he ought to know. But I'm
surprised at him, talking to a girl
like you, and soaring you about it.
What did he say?" Astonishing, he
thought petulantly. A fellow like
Merrill would talk to his daughter,
and tell her things he'd have given
a lot to her himself.
That's the reason government
officials talk to girls" she laughed.
"Fhey know It goes in one ear and
comes out of the other. The trou-
bles in the government OF Burma
seemed rather involved to me-"
She lies beautifully thought
Peter. who knew what Merrill had
said. She was right not to tell
father. Merrlll nad nau COCA
evening In the bar, before he sat
out that dance with Petronella.
'Never mind. If you're not too
tired. you can drive with Peter to
his bungalow, Just to see where
he's going to live. The driver will
bring you straight back to rest, till
tea time. You'll feel the heat. at
first, after the ship. After tea I
want to take you to see the Grants.
You remember they bought you
home from India. when your
mother died? They have a daugh-
ter out. Jean, about your age"
1--WE wanted to go to the Gym
khana Club to dance at six-thirty.
We wanted to meet several of the
people off the ship. They're going
up-country tomorrow" Peter told
him hardly.
Before we all scatter" added
Petrol sadly.
"You seem to have arranged it
already. But. of course, ! know
what ii is--ship friendships. I'll
take you along to the Gym myself.
Petrol, and meet Peter thefe.
Someone will give him lift. | ex-
pect. But you're to come straight
home to dinner when the dancing
ends, at eight o'clock"
Less Pleasant Things
DETRONELLA sat beside Peter
4 in the back of the car. which
took them through squalid
crowded native streets to the Kem-
Tnendine Chummery.
This country might lay a spell
upon him Peter thought. It was
sunny and colorful. The Burmese
had such smiling, honey. colored
faces. The women dressed with
such fragile. exquisite art. But
there were less pleasant things to
consider. This heat, which sent a
stream of perspiration continually
running down your spine. The
dirty cutters, flies. and dust, Of the
meaner streets. The scattering of
chewed betel nut, staining the
ground. The beggars. The short
paragraphs in the Rangoon papers,
describing horrible murders.
which seemed everyday affairs.
How many years would he have
to spend here, he wondered?
Would he be able to withstand the
moral rot he feared? What would
the other men at the chummery
be like? Would rice milling prove
deadening or interesting occupa-
ton?
Knowing his own restlessness,
Peter was afraid. Merrill had said
there was going to be a lot more
Co.