The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-04-06
Chapter Il
Married To Trouble

Married To Trouble
THE cruiser Inns. Gallant is
lying off Valencia" said Tony.
They are evacuating a whole
batch of poor devils tomorrow,
and taking them to Portsmouth.
Will you go?"
IF you want me to. But how
shall | know you are safer. she
begged. "You can't leave me won
dering till reach England. That
would be too much, Tony. Though
believe should know if any
thing happened to you. my dar-
ling.
He frowned. 81 want to see you
safely away before me-" he in
sisted. .-,s.
but if / waited two days, I'd at
least know if you'd got through.
And Peter. how do know you
won't both"
He stopped her. Peter isn't COM
ing. A little while ago, if he'd had
this chance. he'd have taken it.
But now. with things looking like
happening here. his lob is in
Madrid"
my job will soon be in Valen-
ella. helping Clare" His arm went
round her. He smiled at her.
But not yeti Look here. I've an
idea. After ! leave Burgos. | shall
go home: either by ship or by air.
We're going to have a fortnight.
at least. in England together tell
you what III try TO do If all 5 well.
I'll either send you a wireless
message. or I'll get hold of q plane.
and fly over the Gallant as you
pass FerroI. and wave to you But
failing either piece of actual evil
dence that I'm still alive. you
mustn't worry. you must go on
taking If for granted I'm all right.
till you hear the reverse One can't
always be uD to time. But I'll try
VIII that dn?"
She kissed him. That will do.
Thank you. my darling"
49, Misery
CITING on the deck of Inns.
- Gallant" PetronelIa played
snakes and ladders with Rosita, a
little girl who spoke no English.
and was now six wears old
The decks were so packed with
her fellow refugees. that il was
best to play some game which did
not entail running about Petron-
ella blessed the young officer who
had lent them this apparently in
ternatiOnally popular game. He
was one of the first people she had
seen when they came aboard. and
was an old friend She had once
danced with him. aboard another
ship. in Alexandria His game had
kept this olive skinned child good
now for an hour. while her mo-
ther wepE and tried to sleep.
The days were improving as they
steamed up the coasts of Portugal
and Spain. The cold. the strain. and
their crowded conditions had made
the shelterless decks a misery in
the Mediterranean. until they
passed Gibraltar. At one period
the g0od-natured British sailors
had thought it expedient to line
the rail. 10 prevent those who had
lost everything. and. therefore.
saw little reason to cling to life.
from allowing themselves TO be I'M
resiStingly washed back with the
green seas which broke over the
dec',s Eut that had been their zero
hour. when they had run straight
out OF Valencia into high seas.
Most people had been horribly
sick. Gradually. patient kindli-
ness. and amazing organization had
succeeded Desperation had given
place to resignation.
Those who. like Petronella, were
good sailors. had all been a little
hungry for the past two DAYS. But
despite the discomforts. she and
the Younger people had managed
to enjoy their rescue
I'VE may not have much to offer
you to eat. but there's always
plenty of this in the British Navy"
Lieutenant Jim Blake had rallied
them. as he gave yet another cock
tail party in his now commandeer-
ed cabin. z
But there was little comfort one
could offer to these silent men and
women on deck. who sat. huddled.
looking at the coast of the country
they had left.