The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-09-14
Chapter Is
MIR. Locke


MIR. Locke
LIE HAD come up without her
seeing him. He leaned COM
panionably against the fat sides of
the complacent BeSs. Hello, Lady
Bountiful." he said. what do you
think of my charger?"
as this the pony on which you
fed the sheriff."
Three thousand miles, and see
how she fourished under it?" He
stroked the hefty head.
You must have been good to
her"
Il am. Nothing but hand picked
oats for my faithful steed. But then
I'm naturally kind-hearted. Many
. supper I've shared with Careless
Grace. / call her Careless Grace
because of her laconic poses. Did !
ever tell you how she came to win
the Kentucky Derby?"
Cecily shook her head. She
thought: It looks as though you
had shared many a meal and got
ter the short end of it yourself. His
throat exposed by the open shirt
looked thin to her.
at was back in 80. Pappy hadn't
been doing well with the still. Did
tell you we were mountaineers?
Yessir. long line of 'em. Why. the
famous feud of :"
''Lochinvar from Kentucky?"
That's right. I'd forgotten
They both laughed.
Then Ceciiy said sternly, "You
forgot to tell me anything. And I'm
a little bit curious"
Let's sit this one out" He took
her hand. and, unproteSting, Ce-
ely sat down on a tuft of grass by
the roadside. Her compa n
Joined her, breaking off a long
blade ard blowing into it to make
3 shrill whistle.
He's like a little boy. she
thought.
Il always do that" he said con.
fidentially. ito let my henchmen
know when I'm in danger so that
they'll be about in case I need
help"
You're not in any danger now
are you?" she asked and waited
with undue excitement for the an
swer to such trivial question.
He looked at her and there were
no crinkles of humor about the
corners of his eyes. Il might be.
he said Lriefy.
We'll. 60 on"
"Oi. about the things you want
20 know? Well. ma'am, I'm now q
resident of Vickersport. In a man
ner of speaking. of course. I've
taken Lem Soderson's palatial cot
tage at the end of the North road
I've also borrowed LENS lmpos.
ing carriage"-he made a broad
gesture 10 include the broken
down wagon and Bess-"to trans
port few belongings to my new
home"
Rapidly. Cecily was remember.
ing the cottage" at the end of the
North road. It was a good five
miles nut of the village 1t was &
ramsh ack e shack which haC
fallen into sad need of repair.
"Of course. it's not much. but
when I've got my vines and rose:
climbing over the porch it will
have charm" he finished.
why didn't you come to my
party2" she said abruptly.
He didn't answer her at once. He
chewed thoughtfully on the blade
OF grass.
'You Didn't Forget
IT'D you know l had a party?"
IL she urged.
"Yes."
"Oh."
Il didn't know that the invita-
ton included me-"
1t did"
He grinned then. Then you
didn't forget me?"
of course not" She spoke light
ly with bright little edge on heI
voice. st isn't every night | fine
transient guests in my shop"
Il thought il might. have beer
the sprig of rosemary" he said.
tMy memory is very good. !
don't need rose mary" she an
sWered not ungraciously.
Look here" he said suddenly
Il wonder if you would forget
memory"
Which ore?"
he looked away from her, to.
ward the water. will you forge
that | told you my name was
let me see. what did say it was?'
Phillip Callen." she supplied.
That's it" he said. his eyes still
away from her. That was dumb
Fancy my picking name like tha
and then discovering that you art
entertaining man with tina
name"
How did you know that l was?'
The question rushed at him.
He smiled at her again. Opera
tive 81 told me. Cecily."
He knew her name. He knew
who she was. He knew that she
lived al Darelea. He knew PhilliI
Callen was staying at Darelea. Ht
must have inquired about her.
About your name" she said
-Or do you prefer to be calleC
Hey, Tom'?"
Call me Locke" he said,
locke. It's really my name
believe il or not" And so il was.
He looked at the watch on he