The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-11-02
Chapter is
Tim Blows Up

AAA DtOWS W
TIM, coming home from long
Il days work, had just time to
wash and brush up before the
clearinghouse dinner was served.
George had preceded him so ne
was unprepared for the chorus OF
congratulation which arose upon
his entrance.
Good work, old mani" said a
young college professor. I've met
Miss Carroll and admire her inn
mensely. But why not have given
US a hint before the paper got it?"
Lucky dog" sighed someone
else before Tim could answer.
"Only child Of rich and distin-
guished parents, smart as whip
herself, and easy on the eyes. Does
she have any friends you could in
troduce me to. Tim?" d
what" demanded Tim. sis all
this about?"
Half a dozen voices told him, in
full detail and at great length.
George, who understood the situa-
ton, sat gr:nning his enjoyment Of
his friends position. Under the cir
cumstances, Tim could not deny
the engagement; neither would he
confirm it; he flung evasive replies
in every direction and escaped
from the table as soon as possible.
In ten minutes he was confronting
Buff. for once alone in her living
room.
did you actually put II in the
paper?" he demanded. "If so-wen.
there is such a thing as playing
fair Buff Pm here tonight to let
myself be Tilted. Get 1t over in a
hurry, will you? ! can't stand any
more public congratulations"
To his establishment she said So
berry: Il didn't put it in the paper.
Tim, that is, If you mean the para
graph that came out tonight. But
suppose I'm morally responsible,
just the same. You were here yes
terday and heard what said. How
was / to know Van would tele-
phone to the society reporter and
vouch for the truth of his bit of
news?"
WAS that all there was to it?
The only basis for everybody
thinking and saying"
That was all there was to it.
But il seems to have been enough"
She si~hed. II suppose you're still
terribly :4verse to the idea-of
marrying me. mea Why. Tim?
You really dc need a wife, and II
more than ever | need Job, some-
body to look after"
Tim remarked acidly that he was
opposed equally to being anyone's
Job. or the subject of maternal
care.
This has gone beyond a joke"
he went on wrathfully. 'if it ever
was one to start withi You're too
young TO know your own mind, as
I've pointed out to you more than
once. However, if you feel you
must mother somebody, 60 adopt
yourself an orphan-twins prefer
ably"
No Modesty?'
CHE made no reply and glancing
- up he saw she was blushing
furiously.
Ard well you may" he went on.
Have you NJ womanly reticence.
no modesty? Coming here to Boul-
der and telling practically every
one you meet that you and | are
engaged"
That's enough!" The color re-
ceded from her face, leaving it
rather frighteningly pale. She
balled her small hanos into fists
and brought them together in her
lap Her blue eyes 81 emed almost
black. their pupils dilated.
Il wouldn't marry you now If
you were the last man on earth!
Practically everybody, indeed! You
sound a; if | stopped the very
newsboys on the street and confid-
ed to them my wild passion for
youi"
She leaped up and stood before
the fire, her small figure outlined
against the rough stone of the fire.
place.
"Pm not retracting a word I've
said, rernemberl l do think you
need Sonlehody to-to be with you.
TO be IA friend and comrade. /
do think 1 could have done lot for
you. But I'll not be insulted, Tim
Corliss, or accused of being deficient
h modesty AID what notl Not by
you or any other mani I'll call the
paper tomorrow and demand re-
traction of that paragraph. I'll tell
everybody know that so far from
being engaged to you, simply
loathe you! I'll refuse to speak to
you the next time we meet on the
street. /. -" she choked with rage.
He feltsuddenly greatly ashamed
Of himself. This girl had taken in
or rather let him stay where he
had already installed hinself-and
given him the kindest of care. If
in her friendly zeal she had gone
a little too far, il was for him to
protect her from herself rather
than TO hurl brutal accusations in
her face.