The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-10-18
Chapter Three
Return ENGAGEMENT

PUFF CARROLL" Buff told the
ID young man, els the hardest
boiled proposition you'll meet west
Of the Mississippi. For example,
she hasn't the remotest intention of
letting Atkins-G.S. - get away
with this sort of thing. Whatever
you paid him will be refunded to
you. And Atkins loses his job.
Pronto!"
That brought MIN upright as she
had intended.
Don't tell me you're the Carroll
grill The one who climbs the high
est peaks, rides the meanest horses,
bosses her poor parents within an
inch of their ivesl"
She WINGED but said valorously:
@''Tis true tits pity; and pity It's
'tis true.'"
He finished it for her with
mournful relish: "And that he is
mad, tits true l must have been
mad to believe a cowboy and a
ranch owner could be named At
kins. An English butler in a play,
yes; or even a Cockney clerk in
something by Walpole; but never a
Colorado rancher." He sighed. Il
thought you CAROLS were safely
IN Chicago. You're a restless lot,
aren't you? ! suppose your father
will be along tomorrow
mo. ! came alone. Toto shut
up the house, and one thing and
another. Now I suppose I've got
70 60 TO the bother of finding a
new foreman. Damn Atkinsl"
He slumped back once more in
the long chair. "Your profanity.
my dear child, does not shock me
If such was your intention. It
bores me. But then everything
bores me at the present moment.
Most Of all, the terrible silence of
this place."
Her brown eyes studied him
closely. He looked i'll, she thought;
Ill and unhappy. His clothes hung
loose on his big frame, there were
deep lines plowed on each side of
his mouth. Her fingers itched to
sketch that mouth. It was at once
cynical and sensitive, though she
was confident il had been made for
laughter. She wondered what had
set II in its present grim lines.
81 like the silence" she offered.
you will too when you've stayed
long enough"
"Stay? But / can't. Didn't you
Just offer to refund my money?
Anyhow ! couldn't stay. now if /
wanted 10" -'e-'
This aroused her natural per-
versity. Il don't see why notl There
is certainly room enough for us
both. If you're afraid I'll ask you
20 climb, or ride, or-or do any
Of the strenuous things you men,
toned a while ago -"
The conventions" he inter-
rupted CURLY.
"Poohl Who cares about 'em out
here? Anyway. there's Mrs. Webb.
She's chaperon enough for dozen
people-if one weighs the conven-
tons" she added for her own
private amusement.
He turned a lack luster eye in
her direction. 81 remember now
you've written some one-act plays
and skitS for smart magazines.
don't think I'm strong enough to
bear up under that sort of thing.
Take il all in all, you don't seem
70 be what the doctor ordered. I'll
be on my way as soon as can
pack"
dot" she said cordially. "And
you may have noticed that the sun
goes down with a bang up here,
especially this time of year. | don't
want to hurry you" The screen
door slammed on his retreating
back.
Fat Mrs. Webb combined de-
lighted greetings to Buff with re-
grets over losing the latest tenant
Of the ranch.
I'D promised myself, Miss Buff,
10 put little Gpeat on them big
bones of his before he left" she
said earnestly. eff you ask me, he's
a sick manor will be, if he don't
take care of himself. You send him
Off"
Buff shook her head.
"As a matter of fact, asked him
10 stay. But he didn't seem to care
for my looks, or style of CONVEX
sation. or something. What's his
name, by the way?"
'1Corliss. Timothy Corliss, his
mails addressed. From Boulder.
He amt leaving without his sup
per. hope?"
Depends on your powers of
persuasion, should think. I'm 60
ing now 10 freShen up a bit for a
meal of my own. I'm starved. Bis
cults. Webby? With fresh butter
and strawberry jam?"
I'm Or
WHEN she came down twenty
w minutes later, Tim Corliss
awaited her, his bag at his feet.
I'm of, he announced. "As you
pointed out, it's getting late and
that road of yours is pretty awful.
GOodby. Miss CARROLL So happy to
have"
But the money"
What money!"
The rent you paid Atkins. You
can't 60 without letting me refund
IL You haven't had value received,
you know. Why" she demanded
crOSslV cant voll he SanSihlo and