The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-24


ways. possibility Of danger. There
was another thing. He knew how
afraid, and III willing she was
/ that Peter should get mixed I'D.
in anything to do with the secret
service, The idea was horrible.
Peter was not the right type. He
still acted first. and thought after
wards. Why. she would be safer
than he would - Petronella's
thoughts halted. She sat ior a mo-
nent. considering the idea which
had flashed INTO her mind She ac-
cepted it. She would go herself.
She would see what this lob en-
tailed. that Tony had given her
brother. u XaS fair to Tony fair
to herself. For the last three DAYS.
she had lived in the fullest happi-
ness she had ever known Il she
had been in a fools heaven. she
wanted to know. Going through
life. she had met many women
who were fools. Wasn't it likely
that she was a fool about Tony
Lance?
As Gallons As That
| CUPPOSE the men who had fol,
- lowed them across the desert
had discovered that Rene carried
papers. They might guess he
would not risk diving with them in
his possession, If he had strength
to hide. or DESTROY them. They
would determine, some how. to
search the wrecked plane. Ir that
case; when Peter arrived--wel1,
he might have returned with
worse than broken wrist! He
might not have returned at all!
Had Tony willingly intended to
let him run risk like that? Her
brother? Peter, who was half her
life? If ne had. he did not love her
as she understood love. She would
rather know. now. if he was as
callous as that. Was it even pos
sible that he had meant, all along,
to use Peter? Suppose Tony loved
her as far as he was capable of
loving anyone. but with his eyes
open to her. usefulness? Suppose
he meant to leave her again. with
a vague excuse, or without a word.
as he had done twice before? She
could not believe the evidence till
she had proved it. But she was al
ready terribly afraid. He had
never admitted her to his conf
dence. His plans had been vague.
Often, he still insisted she would
be better off without him. Only
happiness Of individuals mus. NOT
be allowed to matter much. II
they had to be sacrificed to his pur-
pose-well, they had! Suppose he
was a fanatic about his job. She
shivefed. Was this what he had
been forecastinG when he said
that?
Honestly. Petrel, there can't
be any danger" whispered Peter.
INC, dear, don't suppose there
is" she Soothed him. g
As she left the hospital, she saw
the car which had taken them to
Fayum this afternoon, standing
waiting. Waiting for Peter! Would
he agree to take her, withou;, ques-
ton, if she told Hassan that she
was going instead of Mr.. Malone?
It would be safer than hiring an
other taxi. whose driver she did
not know, who would certainly
have to be bribed, before he would
consent to take an Englishwoman
into the desert. at night.
She went to the car, motioned
to Hassan to open the door for
her.
Find the plane that crashed
this afternoon. whose lights we
saw coming back from Fayum."
But ne blinked at her. and shook
his head. He was waiting for gen.
tleman. not lady. Too many Bed
otins in the desert, to be safe. He
had his orders Petronella took a
quick glance al Hassan, anG de-
eided against bribery. She did not
believe he was an ordinary driver.
He would refuse. All she could do
was hail taxi. withdraw.
Then, HaSSan stopped her. "You
are Missy Malone. Is Mister NAL
lone not coming?"s Ys4,a>ay
He IS very much too In. He Is
in bed. in there
Then twill drive you. lam sor,
ry. Mademoiselle. You come in
stead? Everything IS altered?" he
asked, Everything is changed?"
=. Yes, everything is changed!"
She jumped in and he closed the
door upon her.
Drive the desert road, without
lights" she told him.
Under the deep blue of skv. and
the brilliant stars. Petrol sat taut
with apprehension. II was weird
and lonely, leaving the lights of the
city behind. The desert looked
ghostly and unreal, in the bright
moonlight. Her solitude, behind
her silent driver. felt heavy. She
mad to curb her imagination. She
had job to do. If Tony had asked
Peter to do Ii for him, surely il
must be comparatively safe? She
was q coward to shudder like this.
and start at the sharp black shad-
ows OF scrubby plants, and rocks
ON the sand. There was no one out
here except herself and Hassan,
and the Camel Police, who would
be guarding the olane. The desert
at night, she told herself, was
strangely beautiful. But she could
not manage 70 relax her elenched
hands and tense muscles.
i only she wasn't such fool,