The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-01
Chapter &c . NJ
9Ef.t s.
Petrol Breaks Loose

SIldptcI ~
Petrol Breaks Loose
CHE told Peter briefly what had
~ happened, when he came round
to see her, before going on duty
that evening. She could not have
prevented him guessing, even If
she had wanted to do so. No ia
tigue could have explained the
white misery of her face.
"You were right, Peter. Tony
Lance just-went. He left me fiat!"
"The swine! The sWelled head.
I'd like to knock his block off. But
you know, darling, you did rather
Jump to conclusions"
II know. / exaggerated it all. I
suppose he didn't actually say
much" she confessed. YEARLY.
Perhaps Tony kissed any pretty
girl, and looked into her eyes. and
lied to her. She had been fool, to
believe that he was sincere.
1--WE got to forget him"
That's the spirit. But don't go
too wild. It won't help" Peter
warned her. But she must try it,
Petronella was determining, des-
perately. She remembered some
thing Marigold had said once.
jauntily: Men and buseS-there's
always another coming round the
corner" '''''2 q
AS a result of this resolve. the
ladies of Rangoon very soon saw
a change in Petronella Malone.
She became fiippant; much gayer,
thinner. and more attractive. They
ceased saying that she was sweet
girl, and watched her carefully.
. Peter wrote ten articles. three
OF which the Daily NelUs cut dras-
tically, but accepted. He and Petro-
nella dined together, in celebra-
ton. But although she helped him
as much as she could. by passing
on stray pieces of information, and
occasional photographs to him.
Petronella saw much less of him
during the next few weeks.
She was conducting her first two
violent love affairs. She ran them
simultaneously. One was with
Angus. an attractive. ill-mannered
young man. with mySteriouSly
bad reputation. The other was with
Graham Cox.
Neither were Peters friends.
One night she would 60 to the
same dinner party as Angus. Leav-
ing early, she would sit with hirO
in his new. streamlined sports car,
beside the lakes. Tie following
night, Graham would take her out.
Once or twice, he chose the same
parking place as Angus, in which
to make love to her. But Petronella
said nothing. She was trying to
behave with the same insensitive-
ness as Tony Lance had done. This
was the kind of conduct men like
Tony, Angus and Graham ex-
pected and encouraged in women.
She must harden herself.
Rangoon society watched the
triangle. and smiled. They sur
missed as to how far things had
gone. They wondered if Petronella
Malone ought to be warned that
neither Of the men were likely to
want to marry her. But decided she
was capable of looking after her
self.
Shouldn't have thought Petrol
was like that" Colin confided,
gloomily to Hugh. The other
simple, critical young men whose
friendship she h Id deserted,
reasoned and demonstrated with
her.
Abruptly, one evening, Petro-
nella discovered for herself that
Peter had been right. It came to
her suddenly. She had gone for a
walk beside the lakes. She stood
looking at the yachts from the
sailing club, which moved, with
little wind. across the translucent
water.
She was listening at last to the
voice of her spirit. It spoke clearly.
You Haven't Forgotten
you don't love Angus or Ora
A ham. You haven't forgotten
Tony. Neither Of them will ever
work q cure" All she felt was a
degree of friendship. and under
standing, for the two men. and
vague dislike Of herself. She had
aet them make love to her. but they
meant nothing to her. She was
sorry for them both.
When she reached home she sat
down and wrote to them. Her short
notes of apology, and partial ex-
planation ended both her love af-
fairs. She believed they had both
understood that she was hurt, for
they had demanded less of her
than scandal credited them with
asking. And they had confided
more than anyone believed.
Then, having asked her father
FOR the car, she was driven to
Peters bungalow.
She discovered him alone, scrib-
bling at the tablI on the veranda.
His thick, red hair was like a
bright cap in the light from the
lamp.
He rose to greet her. stretching
stifly.
Hello, old girl. Found time to
look me up at last!"
Eyes"
az say you look pretty miser-
1T hasn't worked, Peter. T've
broken with Angus AMI Graham.@
TIN glad. I dislike them hoth.e
mo, they're nice in some ways.
E z sfI.i just nislaid their faith that
He put IN arm round hsr shoul-