The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-11-07
Chapter 20
RattIesnake

Rattlesnake
II ISTEN, Tim," George said
- presently, sitting on the bed
and holding one shoe in his hand
IF hear a rattlesnake rafting
] don't inquire into his motive.
don't even pause to find out il
he's annoyed with me or with a
chipmunk that's crossed its trail.
I just tell myself it's a rattler, and
! light out for other parts. Unless, u
he finished deliberately, 81 happen
20 have stout stick close at hand,
IN which case i"
That's enoughI" Tins voice
and eyes were angry. Girls didn't
behave well toward me-toWard
us both last summer; but she's not
the menace you're trying to make
me believe. Talk to her your
self"
mot mel" George tied shoe
string smartly, put on the other
shoe. and stood up. There's an
old proverb my grandfather used
10 remind me of: if a mule kicks
you once, it's his fault; twice, it's
your own. It makes no difference
10 me if the mule in this case has
all the beauty and charm in the
world. I'm staying outside the
range Of its heels"
Tim controlled his rising wrath.
Look here, George, you and I are
good friends. You stuck to me
through lot. owe you more than
] can say. But not even you can
call the girl l love a rattlesnake
and a mule" Anger retreated
before the absurdity of it. Both
men burst into a shout of laugh
ter, and for the time being the
subject was dropped.
Tim took Iris to call upon Buff;
a sweet and wistful Iris, charm
ingly courteous to the younger
girl, quick to admire the big liv-
ing room which as the weeks went
by had taken on more and more of
a look of home. Buff for her part,
though polite, was detached. Tim
was uneaSily aware that she had
retreated, in some feminine and
cryptic way. He could not find the
Buff he knew so we'll. For the first
time he saw her, not as a head
strong child but as sophisticated
young person who kept a COM
posed hold upon the tea table talk.
Tim tried to tell Iris something
of his stay 1T the ranch. Buff
smiled and returned the conversa-
ton to Boulder, its delightful
views. its educational advantages.
Tim seized upon Lance Carroll
and attempted to describe him to
Iris who evinced a pretty enthu-
siasm on the subject. Buff Suavely
countered by question concern
ing Iris's own plans for the future.
At last baffled and bewildered
by Inducements he could not in
the least perceive, let alone avoid,
Tim sat back in his big chair and
let the two girls chat as they
would
You're staying at the hotel in
definitely" Buff inquired.
That" said Iris sweetly, "de-
ponds on Tim. suppose you know
our story, Buff-you will let me
call you Buff, won't you? I can't
be formal with anyone who has
been so kind to my Tim!-it's ro-
mantle and a bit incredible, but I
assure you it's all true"
Irresistible Iris
DUFF cooked her head, spaniel
- fashion. Tim knew it for a
danger signal and stirred uneasily.
"Your Tim? Is the engagement
announced then? hadn't seen it
in the papers. And l have cause to
know" she said with a soft laugh,
that very little escapes the papers
in this town."
Iris threw Tim an imploring
look. "It'S-it'S for Tim to say,
don't you think? Under the cir
cumstanceS?"
Tim squared his shoulders. 81
was under the impression we had
already said all that was neces-
sary just nowl We agreed, think,
Iris, to let matters rest as they are
for time, at least"
Buff cheered him silently. She
had measured the strength of her
adversary with canny eyes and
knew it to be great. Iris was the
sort of woman whose appeal is
well-nigh irresistible. Hearing the
cadences of her lovely voice, see
ing the whiteneSS of her skin. the
natural crimson of her mouth, the
absolute genius in the way she
wore her clothes. the younger girl
wondered that Tim had not sue
cumbed a second time to her.
She compared herself, most I'M
favorably. with Iris: her trim
sport clothes with the expensive
frock the older girl wore: her small
hands, still bearing the summers
tan. with Iris's delicate white ones;
her unruly waves with Iris's sleek
black hair, her somewhat abrupt
movements with IriS's grace.
Poor old Tim" she unused. mo
wonder he fell. and fell hard, for
this charmerl But she shan't have
him-She most certainly shall not!
She's fake, through and through.
She means no good to Tim, no mat
ter what brought her back here!"
Her small jaw frightened and the
look of purpose Tim had learned
to recognize darkened her blue
eyes.
He fully expected the girls to
mart x.y;Kk noIJpacc IN hOth sides