The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-02-25
Chapter Seven
Rioting RangoOn

'f1E1 SAID GOOD night, shudder-
u ing, now. not from fear, but re-
action. They were safe. They had
never really been in danger. But
she kept remembering tn a t
scream.
Peter was going back to the
town, he insisted. She was worried
for him. His slap on that angry,
insolent cheek had been typical
of the iubliant way he reacted to
trouble. And it was useless to try
70 stop him returning. he .
Material for that article at
lastl" he grinned, looking sideways
at her. But she retorted in quick
anger: -f.-s'
Tragic, horrible things are hap
pening, and you're treating it like
a picnic. You'll write a rotten
He looked abashed. After al mo-
:ment's silence, his hand found hers,
He patted it,
d as usual" -"-'
s.l What are you going to do?" she
asked gently. /
Drop you home, and try to get
Collins car. Probably the police
will make use of us. if we volun-
teer." He was thoughtful at last.
She sighed. "All right. know
! should only be in SIC way. But
do be careful" she besought. do
you think you could telephone me.
later. Colin?"
"If l have the chance" he
promised The reflection of a large
fire. somewhere near the river,
was red in the sky. When they
dropped her at her gate they saw
that the garage was empty, the
house lights full on. Father was
also out in rioting Rangoon. But,
for Petrol. there was only waiting,
Ay Maung ran out t. meet her.
Telephone ringing and Thakin
going quickly" he explained. She
found out that their only Indian
servant. the PAM wallHh. was ter
ribly afraid. His lank brown knees
shaking, his blanched face salaam-
ing In AFFECT terror, h begged
some prehensible favor.
Ay Maung translated. .'He says
Burmans killing all Cooringhis, he
anthide." hesmiled disdainfullys
Tell him to lock himself in my
bathroom. No one will kill him in
Petronella Ssdid = not telephone
fBeAn or Betty for fears she might
block the line for q cali from Colin
sers Peter. But the two girls tele-
lphoned Separately, to chatter ex-
Eitedly about atheif experience.
Explaining, she alphabetically dis
posed of them as quickly as pos
sible.
"You mean to say you're all
alone in the house. Come round to
us!" protested Betty.
"No-P@ rather stay here. In
case Peter wants anything"
When she heard a car in the
drive she ran out on to the veranda.
But it was only the neglected,
faithful Mr.. Crampling.
'Petrel. I'm glad you're here!
If you weren't home, | was coming
out to look for YOU"
'yhat was nice of you, but I'm
quite all right" The telephone
bell rang. and she left him. He
followed her into the drawing
room. 1t was her father.
"We haven't been called out yet.
but we've got to stand by, with
machine guns. There's nothing to
worry about. The situation is well
IN hand. Just 60 quietly to. heds
Crampling came up beside h6rs
and insisted upon taking the pie
. from her. 'Pm staying here 81
lone. i don't think it is suitable f0f
, Petronella to be left alone. If this
business spreads, there will be
gangs going round teErqrizing. and
looting." he pronounced. heavily.
She could not prevent him stay
ing, but she felt shy and irritated,
rather than grateful. The express
sion of alteration in his eyes meant
nothing to her, because his head
was gray.
For half an hour hey sat op-
posite one another. awkwardly
1apSing into long silences, The tele-
phone rang again, This time it was
Peter. He sounded less excited,
more buSineSs-like.
Running A Canteen
1--WE been given the job of pa
i trolling. We have to stop bus
loads full of rowdies coming in
from the country. looking for a
scrap, and search them for arms.
It's anyone's fight, this riot and
they all want to join in. ! believe
father is at present firing down an
empty street with a machine gun,
10 intimidate them. We shall be
out all night. They have armed
US. but there's nothing to shoot at.
Later on, we're going to evacuate
some Cooringhi families from q
Burmese quarter. If they're still
alive. They're barricaded in at
present. The Burmans have threat
ened to massacre them as soon as
they get the chance, and they
mean il"
you'll be awfully tired before
you're through. Where is your
headquarters?"
'The police station. Yes, ! could
do with q drink already. Colin
sends his love. He looks business
Like enough, carrying q revolver,
but he doesn't know how 60 load