The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-07-05
Chapter u
Broken Engagement

Chapter ~
Broken ENGAGEMENT
sTM SORRY, Tally Jocelyn said
sincerely, meeting his bewil-
dered eyes. IF can find out any
thing for you, / viii. I've known
George Lawson since was child.
His daughter, Edith, is one of my
closest friends. think I'll drive
into town right now"
aDon't mix in anything on my
account" he said stif1y. 81 prob
ably wouldn't like being cooped
up Ia a cubbyhole all day, anyhow.
Ike being farmer"
Joceiyn flashed a smile at
Gramp. while I'm gone, Gramp,
win you please tell this grandson
Of yours the story of Bluebeard's
wives7 And how their woman's
curiosity lost them their heads?"
In her own room she changed
swiftly into a dark tailored suit:
pinned back her hair and set q
rakish black felt hat over 1t;
picked up her bag and car keys
and hurried out to the garage.
Women not only were curious, she
thought, they were also if1tuitive,
and she did not need much intIii-
ton to guess the identity of the
person responsible for Tally's dis
appointment.
eMr. Lawson" she began,
perching on a corner of his desk
and holding his glance firmly, Il
want the truth about this Talbot
Mack affair. Just why did you hire
him and then fire him?"
George Lawson, an elderly man,
dignifed and kindly, met her eyes
with twinkling indulgence. "Busi-
ness reasons, Jocelyn. Strictly
business. Our bookkeeper's report
discouraged US So"
ssPlease-" she implored. "Don't
put me off with courtroom suavity.
Mr.. Lawson. Perhaps I should tell
you. You handle all of Godfrey
Kensing's affairs. don't you? He is
Q very wealthy man and very
influential one. The fees he pays
YOU amount to considerable
money. You feel that you cannot
afford to lose so valuable client.
1 understand that. But, Godfrey
Kensing, for reasons of his own.
does not wish you to employ young
Mack. He issues an ultimatum.
Either you dispense with Talbots
services or lose his business. ] am
right. am ! not, Mr.. Lawson?"
His eyes dropped to the brief
before him. His fingers rustled
the pages nervously. "A lawyer.
Joceiyn, must keep his clients at
fairs strictly in confidence"
~But it Is true" she declard.
"A woman's intuition has always
been an enigma to me-" he reflect
ed. Strangely enough, it is nearly
always correct"
''Thank you," Jocelyn reached
over and squeezed his hand. Just
you wait till finish with Geoff!
He'll wish he had remembered a
piece Of famous advice: please,
God, help me to keep my nose out
Of other peoples business'T
Don't be rash, Jocelyn." urged
Mr.. Lawson alarmed at the vim
dictiveness in her voice. Edith
tells me you and Godfrey are GO
ing 10 be married the first Of. the
month"
"You can just tell Edith for me
that Pm neuer going to marry
Godfrey! Neverl"
BY the time she reached the
street she was trembling with in
dignation. She backed her car out
Of its parking space, rasped the
gears, and reared recklessly OUT Of
town toward the Dunes Country
Club. Geof. she remembered was
playing polo this afternoon. It was
only one o'clock and the game
would not have started yet.
Head Over Heels
JOINING to halt about fifty feet
~ from the entrance to the mems
locker rooms, she leaned on the
deep throated horn of her car un-
til Geoff, recognizing its peculiar
tone. came running out, his polo
helmet in one hand.
Il want to talk to you." Geof-
frey" she said with orninous stead
mess Get in and close the door.
What is it. honey7" he asked
uneasily.
'sThis." She pulled the engage
ment ring from her finger and
tossed il into his turned helmet.
= viii not marry you. Ever You're
mean and jealous and thoroughly
contemptiblel No :. don't say any,
thing. / found out what you did to
Tally and it's unforgiveable,
Geo7l He's had hard. frustrated
life. This was his first opportunity
70 use his ability; to make some
thing Of himself: and you, because
of pettiness, spoiled itls
Geod, put on the defensive. adj
mitted: All right. I did it. But it's
as much your fault as mine. You
told me for months that you
wanted to get the whole damned
family away from Seacliff; away
from California. You couldn't
stand them. Farmers. Peasants.
Squatters. You resented them. So