The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-21
DANGEROUS 3;}2Isl3
by ceAcE ELLIoT TAMoR

one was III his dTIIlS again. One
smiled up into his eyes, her lips
murmured against his:
"Tfe other ninety nine uues-
tons can wait"
Peter dined with them that eve
ming, as Tony had suggested that
he should. But IL was not quite the
family tete-a-tete he had had in
mind. The Journalists staying at
the Continental" were accus.
toned to sitting at one large table,
for dinner. They saw no reason to
vary their arrangements. The days
events in Cairo provided plenty
of reason for meeting and cofnpar-
ing experiences. After a moments
hesitation, as she entered the din
ing-room and saw the long table
laid for nine, Petronella was also
content that it should be so. Tony
should see this typical incident OF
her daily life, meet this represent
tative cleaning of hers, and Peters
friends. It would be better for her
if his vision Of a peaceful, placid
home life in England faded a little.
If he thought of her like that. she
would be condemned to be his
background, not his companion. If
seven hardboiled, keen Drained,
caastic-witted newspaper men
could not give him a new idea of
her, nothing could.
Peter did not even trouble to sit
near Tony. But Petronena did not
mind. There was no need. For the
first awkward ten minutes, after
Peter surprised them over tea in
the lounge. she had been anxious.
He. had spoken in grudging mono
syllables, while, obviously, he
tried to make UP his mind what
line to take with "this fellow of
Petreis." But he had seemed sud-
denly to decide in his favor. The
conversation had abruptly broken
loose. He and Tony had differed,
trollelia had thought ''this is how
I want it to be-" She had thought
suddenly of James, with, whom
Peter also treated her like this,
and smiled.
Radiant Reflection
T ATER, Peter had strayed from
1 his room to hers, TO tie his tie in
front of her mirror. She was sitting
before it. His chin knocked her
head gently aside. II like the chap,
you unusually radiant reAection!"
"I'm glad. You were so darn
highhat at first! As if il hurt you
to speak"
well, you haven't much to
thank him for, up to date. When /
first saw him, sitting there with
you, if | could have wished him
back to Adds Abbaba I should
have done so without hesitation. ]
thought heres trodblet But seeing
you with him, and getting talking
:. Well, there's something about
the two of you, when you're to-
gether, and something about him.
I think / can understand how you
feel. and believe you're right
"It was funny watching you
come round. Peter, I'm so happy"
"You don't have to 60 about
telling people that. They've got
eyes. Bad luck on Mike"
"He finds plenty of conpensa-
tons in Alexandria" M
Il suppose so; not exactly a one
woman man. What is the plan? Or
are you both too crazy to be able
to think ten minutes ahead?"
"He has three or four days here.
After that, if I love him-Peter,
will you stand by, to give me away
at the end of the week?"
STEADY, steady"
eff I'm willing to risk il, what
are your ohjections?"
81 don't know, but"
Will you miss me?"
"You know will. But it wasn't
that I was considering. want you
to be happy"
''That is asking lot Of life. But
I believe Tony Lance is the nearest
answer"
As usual, at dinner, the CONVEX
sation was almost entirely SHOP"
They all knew Tony Lance by
reputation, and wanted to question
him on Abyssinia: on his exrer-
fences in Manchuria and Arabia.
Discussion ragged first upon ne
side of the Italian question, then
the other.
For once, Petronella did not rush
headlong into the battle. She eat,
smiling family, listening, watching
Tony'S face as he talked. she
thought ahe has a good voice." It
was deep.
"The last saw Of it was from the
shore of Port Said" he was con-
Guiding. THE transports were en-
tering the canal. and the hospital
ships were returning, laden with
an unknown number Of cases Of
malaria, dysentery. and typhoid.
Personally. / think reports are ex-
aggerated. Italy is having COM
paratively easy campaign. She Is
not faced by a united country"
His eyes met Petronella's. He
stopped speaking and smiled.
How often she had sat at table
like this, listening to these men.
other men like them. Little had she
imagined Tony would one day sit
opposite her. Now, conversation
veered nearer home, to the inter-
nal and economic problems of
Egypt, and the question of new
treaty.
You're quiet tonight Petrol.
What do you think?"
SWELL, Egypt doesn't seem par
ticularly happy as it is. There must
be something wrong"
Masters turned to Tony, smil-
ing. That's the way she shuts US
up, when she's thinking about
something more important"
fCoprrisAt. fsss. Grace Elliott TGSlerl