The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-06-29
TWO AGAINST LOVE
by Frances Hanna

fresh milk, and poured gIaSSlu
for him. When Gramp shambIed
in q few minutes later he chuckled
over the sight Of the dignified and
proper Thorndyke Russell sitting
at an oilcloth covered kitchen table
eating warm cookies and drinking
unpasteurized milk with beatific
expression In his eyes.
"Guess we better 90 on outside
to talk, Mr.. Russell" Gramp sug-
gested.
Thorn thanked Mrs. Mack for
the cookies and followed Grafap.
Safely away from her sight and
hearing Gramp handed him q card
bearing the name: Ely Kettinger,
20 Maple Avenue, Austin. Texas.
printed on il in pencil.
"I'll let you know how ] come
out" Thorn said. aAnd and
thanks q lot, Mr.. Mack. I'm going
into town right now and see about
converting my securities into
cash"
Gramp watched him disappear
into the stable. A few minutes
later he heard car being backed
out Of the RussellS' garage. Gra1np
took off his battered old hat and
tossed il high into the air: followed
this gesture with stiff-legged Jig.
He began to laugh in his shrill fall
setto. his arms folded across his
stomach. Then, afraid Della would
hear him and demand an explana-
ton, he started toward the high
way, deciding to walk until his
mirth subsidized. For and this
was the biggest joke Of the century
IL Thorndyke actually bought
| the land from Kettinger. he would
be buying the thousand acres OF
Texas that the Macks had been
| forced TO abandonl E
Upon reaching the highway
Gramp turned the opposite direc-s
| ton from the produce stand, raYl1-
| bling along beside the cement road.
paying no heed to the steady
stream Of automobiles whizzing
past. Deciding to cross over and
60 down on the beach for awhile,
he peered near-sightedly up and
down the broad highway. saw
nothing very close. and started
across. Too late he heard the pow-
erful drumming of an oncoming
car; too late he tried to 60 back:
There was q terrifying screech OF
brakes, d smell Of scorched rubber.
and a piercing scream from the old
man. !.
NO Sissy
INTO his half-conscious daze pen.
l etrated the babble OF excited
voices mixing with the wall Of an
ambulance siren. The mist dissi-
pated from Cramps eyes. He
| looked UP to see who was holding
his head. Gretchen. His mouth
compressed with pain.
He - he only got my legs,
Gretchen. ] amt dead yeti What
you cryin' for7"
Two men in white uniforms
raced up with stretcher and start
ed to lift him, Set 60 of mel"
Gramp ordered testify. Il ain'i
goin' to no hospital. Take me home
an bring a doctor Delia's the best
nurse in -" Gramp tainted. an
occurrence which he was never to
forgive himself.
They took him to Seacliff in the
ambulance and put him in the big
bedroom on the left front OF the
manor. Tally and Bob stayed with
him while the doctor from Santa
Barbara set the bones and put .
| plaster cast on each leg. Grarnp
had refused an anesthetic but had
gratefully accepted the stih shot
Of brandy offered by the doctor.
Now he asked weakly. FINISHED,
Doc?"
eyes, Mr.. Mack. And wish
more OF my patients had your
staminals
Tally wiped the perspiration
from the old mans face. "Granp is
no sissy" Abruptly his face hard
ened. II only wish could get my
hands on the fellow that ran him
down. A hit and run driver
might have been q murderer for
all he knowsl"
sGettin' hold o. him wouldn't
help my legs none" Gramp said.
NO. But he'd have to pay dam
ages Bob stated. HE might have
killed you'll"
The young doctor handed Tally
a box Of small white pills.
"Give him one of these when
ever i becomes necessary to ease
the pain.s
There was d hesitant knock on
the door and Bob opened IL.
Iyn!"
Cheeks flushed, eyes bright and
defiant. she came in and walked
over to Gramp. 81 heard about
your accident, she said, sand ]
want to do anything ] can for you.
Mr.. Mack
Gramp looked at Tally, observ.
ing his establishment through the
| Aim Of pain over his old eyes.
That's fine, Miss Josie. You lest
set down beside me for spell and
talk to me about your grandma.
Well he glared at the others
what you standin' around here
TOR? Amt you got work TO do?
Leave me and Josie alone awhile
| Tally and Bob stopped In The
hallway and stared at each other.
= can't figure it at all. " Tally pug
lied.
| .Neither can /" Bob admitted.
sonly that Sis Is pretty much al
| right underneath that naughty exc
terror. Maybe Gramp win human
1 ize hers
| Tally started down the stairway,
pleased grin on his face.
/ Continued tomerrew.
fCopvrioAf. 1891