The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-06-21
Chapter Is
Regulations

Chapter is
Regulations
IT WORRIED Jocelyn that
4 Godfrey was becoming increas-
ingly frantic. He seemed to have
forgotten his sick pony. Before the
end Of the evening Jocelyn felt as
II Tally and Geoff were playing on
opposite teams in a football game
and she was the football. Still, she
would not have been feminine or
quite human if she had not enjoyed
1t just little. She did.
At one o'clock the orchestra de-
elared half-hour's intermission
for supper. Lights went on in the
banquet room and the dancers
spilled in. 1t was gay and hilari-
GUS throng of young people. Bright
repaftee and quick laughter
heightened the excitement.
Someone called to Jocelyn:
where's that Texan boy friend of
yours. darling?"
Another called to Geoff: Better
marry her quick, old man. I've
heard these Lone Star men are
fast on the draw!"
Jocelyn, herself, wondered at
Tally's non-appearance at supper.
Turning to look into the now de-
serted ballroom she saw Thorn
hufrying across the floor, his face
pale and worried.
"Lyn," he whispered on reach
ing her, come with me. There's
trouble outside"
BY the time they reached the
rambling veranda knot of people
had gathered on the steps. The
moonlight Illuminated the scene
with almost daylight clearness.
Lyn pushed through the assem-
blage just in time to see Tally's
fist clip another mans chin and
knock him down. She ran forward;
recognized the fallen man as Art
Mason. one of the club directors
and a player on GeotFs polo team.
"Why did you do it?" she de-
rnanded angrily of Tally.
His eyes were black and cold.
I'm not sorry" he said.
Such unreasoning anger gripped
Jocelyn that the blood drained
from her face and it became as
white as her gown. "You-you
roughneck," she sputtered. "You
YOU
Peasant" he suggested, then
turned his back on her and strobe
on toward the parked cars.
Some of the group on the porch
came down and surrounded Art
Mason. One of the men helped
him to his feet and led him to the
locker rooms. Ruth Benton took
Joselyn aside and declared:
Il saw and heard the whole thing
and / don't blame that friend of
yours one bit! Art was talking to a
couple of other fellows when he
came out on the terrace and heard
Art wise-cracking about you liv-
ing In the same house with him.
Art had been drinking of course,
but IL wasn't a nice remark. He
should have had his jaw broken!"
aOh. -"
Without waiting for Thorn she
ran after Tally; caught him just as
he started backing his old sedan
out Of the parking space.
Tally" she cried. jumping on
the running-board and clinging
70 the rolled-down window. Tally,
I'm sorry said that about your
being roughneck. ! just found
out why you hit Art want to
thank you. lit was good of you
to resent gossip about me"
He did not turn his head. His
profile was uncompromising.
Your reputation" he asked.
why, you silly child, it was my
reputation / was fighting for. Do
you think want people to say I'm
trying to cut in on Godfrey Ken
sing7 Now get off my running
board or you might get hurt"
Oddly Tender
ToCELYN, stepping backward.
- stumbled and lost her balance.
fell between his car and the one
next to il. She cried out with pain
and fright. In a second Tally was
leaning over her. picking her up.
Are you hurt?"
N-no-I guess not. IL was
afraid you'd start your car and run
over me before | could get up"
Gee, I'm sorry" he said con-
tritely. "pve got the darndest tenn
per. You're such a tiny bit of a
thing-I wouldn't hurt YOU"
She relaxed against his shout
der. His face came closer to hers;
bis young lips set against her trem-
bling ones in a kiss that was oddly
tender. His fingers touched her
hair, moved against the soft skin
Of her shoulders. Abruptly she
knew she did not want him to LET
her 20. She wanted him to kiss her
again. II was all mad ano sense
less and impossible: but true.
However. he set her gently on
her feet: brushed the sand and
gravel off her dress. "Jocelyn, I'm
sorry about tonight. / didn't mean
to harm you or cause trouble. ]
was sore because ! figured you only
asked me here in the hope of show
ing me I'D before your friends as