The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-11-14


a last visit.
THAT DeMuth girl was here a
little while age" she said. I'D
have come and told you then but
Mr.. George called up again and
talked my arm off"
'Tris-here?" Buff commented
family
Mad as a wet hen, too! When I
told her you wasn't well she said
she was glad to hear it and no more
than you deserved. / said few
things my own self then, Miss Buff.
I'll say ! didl There's a snake in
the grass, if there ever was one,
and so / told her."
The girl in the bed held her
peace. She had not foreseen that
Iris would come here: she had not,
as a matter of fact, given much
thought to Iris once her scheme
was exposed. It troubled her a
little that Tim should have told
the other girl of Bluffs activities.
But she was too bruised and sore
to mind another ache.
She fell at last into an exhausted
sleep; reused once to murmur,
Tim" in grieved tone; then sank
fathoms deep in healthful slumber.
At half-past ten the next morn
ing Van drifted in, drowsy-eyed
and wishing to borrow" some
food for breakfast. Webby's usu-
ally cheerful face was glum as she
supplied his needs. At the door he
remembered to ask:
Miss Buff better today, hope?"
She's better" the housekeeper
said briefly.
A few minutes later George
Weekes telephoned and was given
the same information.
'Fine!" he said. "Is she up?
Can / see her, Mrs. Webb?"
Not today; she said not today.
Mr.. George"
well, give her my best and tell
her I'm coming out tonight any,
way just to chat with you about
her."
At noon Tim arrived; Tim who
was stern and tired looking; Tim
who, Webby's warm heart told
her, needed food and comfort.
I'm sorry you can't see Miss
Buff today" she began glibly.
But you'll let me fix you little
bite of lunch? An omelet, now, and
bit Of broiled ham"
She Amt Here
LIE shook his head. Twill you ask
Il Miss Buff if / may 90 in and
speak to her for just minute? !
won't stay, I promise not to tire
her; but must see her, Webby."
"She said most particular she
couldn't see anybody today: not a
SOUL"
He looked alarmed. "She's really
i'll then? I thought -. :" He did not
tell her what he thought, but fixed
his eyes on her anxiously.
Her own broad face grew
troubled. mo, she's not i'll; not to
say i'll, exactly. l think it's more
that she--that she wants to be left
alone. Today anyhow"
He nodded. II can understand
that. Tell her so for me, will you?
Tell her I'm feeling like being left
alone today, too."
It was late in the afternoon Of
the second day before Webby's
ingenuity, not to say cheerful UNI
truthfulness, failed her. Tim and
George came together to the
apartment. There was purpose in
their stride, in their voices, as they
demanded to see Buff.
Cor if she's too i'll to have visi-
tors, we want the name of her
DOCTOR" was Tins stern edict.
Webby sighed, recognizing that
the psychological moment was
upon her.
"She amt here" she told them
simply.
''Not here! Great Scott!" Tim
ran his fingers Though his hair
and turned wildly toward his
friend. "She's been taken to the
hospital! She was a lot sicker than
we knew. What hospital, Webby?
The Community? Get going
George or perhaps we'd better
talk to her doctor first"
She amt in no hospital"
mot? Then where"
II don't know" Webby rubbed
one fat hand over the back of the
other. "All I know is that yester-
day morning"
Yesterday morning? But she
was ill"
shut up, old man, and let her
tell her story" George advised.
Yesterday morning she got I'D
around six and asked me would
/ get her some breakfast while she
packed. She"
Packed? Say"
The housekeeper looked at him
patiently. "Mr. Tim, all got to
say is do you want I should tell you
about Miss Buff, or don't your"
Tim scowled. Garry on!"
While she packed-that's what
said. And she was shutting a
suitcase when | called her to
breakfast. She had me come in
and sit down while she ate, and
give me instructions. They was"
she fixed an eye which was at
once apologetic and defiant on her
liSteners--"to give out to ANYBODY
that asked that she was too sick
to. see anybody for a while. She
said to keep it up as longs I
could; ard done So"
This time it was Weekes who
spurred her to further speech.
And Miss Buff? What did she
do? Did she tell you where"
No, she never. She said to keen
this apartment like it is till the
months up cause it'll be pleas
anter for me than the ranch. At
the end or the month, I'm to move
her stutf--she glanced about the
living room-''to the ranch and
stay there till her father gives r.