The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-12-13
Chapter 81
Casting Seeds

Casting Seeds
YOUR mother is upset be-
cause of bad news?" inquired
Tuck.
"Yes. That is it. Bad news
strange. perturbing news. News
that we do not understand. But I
do not make myself clear. won-
der if you have been told Just
where Professor Murchison. my
cousins husband, is at the present
rnoment?" His brown eyes darted
TO each face.
why no. we haven't" Michae::
replied. 81 had an idea he was
away on a business trip"
"Yes. Someone told you that?"
Tuck spoke up. Mrs. Deane
told me that" she said.
"Yes. ] see. Well-we, too, think
he is away on business trip But
we are not sure just what this
business is-or when he is ccm-
irg back"
Silence.
4 will tell you the whole story"
said Devoe evenly. "He went away
one night. and did not tell anyone
where he was going-not even his
wife. Until last week-and YOU
can imagine the SUSPENSE, the
wonder. the fears-until last week
we heard nothing from him. The
pollee had attempted.to trace him
and lad failed Then we had a
letter from Chicago saying that
we were not to worry. twas a
very short letter. indicating that
he is perhaps absorbed in-presslng
work OF his own, but it gave no
indication of his exact where
aboutS or the time of his returning.
As matter of fact, it was most
unsatisfactory. but it treasured
his wife to certain extent. How
ever 49," he paused, and then went
on "Our private affairs are not
what trouble us. 1t is that others.
with malicious tongues are at
tempting to cause us trouble. II is
worrying my mother greatly. and
Mrs. Murchison too"
Il 3on'S quite understand. MIR.
Devoc." Michael looked up from
the little pile of crumbled toast OF
the table before him.
DEVICES face darkened. mo. I
hesitate-but | must speak of the
matter. You ladies' will undoubted-
ly hear of this, be subjected to
these rumors-l must guard YOU
against them. The woman who
lives next door to you Miss Lis
sey-has a most uncomfortable
tongue. and a strange mind For
no reason ct all she will manufac-
ture ugly stories out Of whole
cloth. end repeat them every
where. II seems that she has dis
covered that the Professors abb
sence has caused us great worry
that we have not been sure of
his exact whereabouts. And she
is telling" froWned angrily-
"she is telling that he has gone
away with another woman and has
left his wife for good. 1t is ieal-
ousy. of course, which you will be
able TO understand. She hates
youth and beauty. She hates my
cousin because she is young and
beautiful. But it is most unkind,
and most annoying"
Mrs. Murchison does not be-
lieve that?"
Certainly not. Nothing could
be further from her mind"
And you?"
He was taken by surprise. He
looked at Michael queerly 81, too.
am convinced that she is very
wrong" he said gravely.
Then your point is that Miss
Lissey is telling libelous stories
and must be stopped"
That is it exactly" he paused.
at seems best to give you two
ladies the facts. You may have
noticed the marks of strain on nv
mother and Mrs. Murchison at
the Deanes' the other night?" He
looked at Bunny squarely.
Predicamenr
MO" Tuck answered him. "Of
" course we wouldn't. be look
ing for any such thing"
mo. of course not. unless Miss
Lissey had drawn it to your at
tention previously" He frowned,
then looked at Michael. what
would you advise me to dor" he
asked. You understand our pre-
dicament. We cannot possibly af-
ford to have ill-chosen rumors
and reports carried about the Uni
versity. II Is DAMAGING IN DIR
MurchiSon's professional reputa-
ton. and it makes the situation
very difficult for his WIFE
Michael considered. his head
lowered. The sun glinted over his
thick black hair. "Other people
are familiar with Miss Lissey's
mania for gossip. are they not7
With her abilities to manufacture
unpleasant storieS?"
They could not possibly be I'M
aware Of her tendencies"
Then, should think you have
nothing to worry about. After all,
il Is only temporary affair. When
DR.. Murchison comes back with
satisfactory explanation Of his
journeyings. people will forget all
about what she has been telling"
He lifted his head and looked out
OF the window.
There was another long silence.
Devoe was rubbing thoughtfully
at the handle of his spoon. Finally |
he spoke in a low voice.
THAT is just it." he said. "How |
do we know he will ever retfirn9n