The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-10-19

| SIIdhlIS D616dLl u6T.
Blind to what she was doing, she
began to pour out all the protec-
tiveness, the detailed planning and
adroit management which had
been her lavish gift to Eleanor and
Lance, upon Tins listless head.
Like to talk bit?" she would
ask, slipping into his room when
breakfast was over and Atkins had
made his toilet for the day. With
out pausing for a reply, she would
curl herself into the window seat
and begin sort of monologue, sell
dom turning her eyes to see it he
was listening. She knew that this
sort Of companionship, which
broke the solitude but required lit
tie or no response, was the best
possible thing for him. So she MUIR
INJURED away, her lovely low voice
more effective than she knew.
Sometime ! plan to come out
here and make pilgrimage to the
old ghost towns; abandoned places
where once there were fiourishing
mines. suppose you know lots
about them. There Is one above
Ward, a tiny town up Left Hand
Canyon. There's cluster of old log
cabins up there. One used to be a
store. You can still see the shelves
and where the counters used to
be-"
Or again: "Can you believe that
Webby weighed only ninety-eight
pounds. when she was married?
Factl She showed me a picture of
herself at twenty. Poor dear, She
has a tragic history though anyone
less tragic in appearance and man.
ner l don't know. She lost four
children at one time: diphtheria.
She and her husband were living
at the back. of beyond. He was a
miner. BY the time they got a doc
| tor up the trail, and the anti-toxin,
il was too late. The oldest was nine
and the youngest two. The poor
parents buried them in the nearest
cemetery and went to Alaska. Mr..
Webb was drowned there. She
seems to think of all the queer
things that have happened to her,
that's the queerest: for a miner to
be drowned"
She kept up this rambling sort
of tale until it was time for Tins
luncheon. In the afternoon, she
went off for exercise, returning at
four o'clock.
Like me to read to your" she
would ask, and without giving him
a chance to refuse she would pick
up the interesting biography, or
the travel book which had been
begun day or so before, and
plunge into it.
George Weekes
PRESENTLY, when he was ale
lowed to sit in an armchair by
the window, she challenged him to
a game of cribbage. As his head
began to shake in dissent, she said
pathetically: II do love cribbage.
Lance and l used to play lot. !
can't read all the time, out here,
and have to stay until I can find a
successor to Atkins"
If it occurred to Tim that she was
in no haste to replace the foreman,
he did not mention it. He fell into
the daily series ofgames as he had
acquiesced in most of her propoS-
ais; because it was the easiest way
out of an impending argument.
Now and then. under her occa-
Sional and casual questioning, he
gave her hints of his own back
ground. He was an M. l. T. gradu-
ate, though he had been born in
Denver. He came out of college at
the beginning of the depression.
He and a man named George
Weekes had an assaying and sur
veyorS' firm in Boulder. WeekeS
did most of the surveying while
Tim stuck closely-too closely, it
appeared after six years of this
partnership-to test work and esti-
mates.
Like to ask your partner out
here for the week-end?" she sug-
gested one day.
For the first time he showed real
interest.
Gould we? I'd give a lot to see
old George"
Buff made a mental note to con-
suit DR.. Westland. A business con-
ference might not be what he
wished for his patient.
No, no business" he said when
she preached the. subject. But it
would do him a lot of good to see
somebody he likes. Go ahead and
ask him"
Weekes appeared Saturday aft
ernoon and Buff liked him at first
sight A somewhat plump person,
in spite Of his constant physical
activity, he radiated good nature.
Gray eyes twinkled behind incon-
gruous eyeglasses on a black cord.
His grin was infectious.-He shook
hands with Buff and thanked her
for her care of Tim.
"The old boys had a hare row to
hoe in the last year If it hasn't
been one thing. its been a gang of
'em. He tell YOU about" He
stopped abruptly, peered at her.
then changed the subject. "It's
mighty nice of you to invite me out
here. Miss Carrolll Is there any,
thing you want to say to me about
old iir. - aside from avoiding
mention OF business?"
mot thing! II you'll follow
me-" She led the way up to
where the injured man awaited his
partner and friend.
George Weekes' voice doomed
cut genialiy.
well, well, you old tenderfootI
Thought YOU could drive that cof-
feepot Of yours straight I'D Audu-
bon, trail or no traill How do