The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-04-05
Chapter 10
Lave And War
"IIrIIY do you think there will

htbI 90 you lnlhh LEcIe WIZ
be raid?" Petrol asked
Peter leaned forward Because
we were left IN peace last night
is the reason everyone IS beng
given Actually. it is because rein
forcernents have Joined the rebels :"
Are you sure? How DO you
know"
1--WE been out all night"
During the day she found that
his information had been correct
Others were spreading the same
news round Madrid. whipping II
into panic There was a scared
high strung look on peoples faces
That night they all three dlned
together "As a matter Of fact I
shall be very surprised If Madrid
falls before Christmas Tony
stated PetrOnella was amazed. but
Peter agreed with him
This place. by nature OF rs posi-
ton. is natural fortress
They're recruiting naFd. They
have food" Tony added.
1T seems impossible they can
hold oct. she shook heI mead To-
day. she mad seen weary. DIS
traught refugees waiting to be
taken down the road to Valencia
She would never forget their faces,
Th-y had been people without
heart They had left treasured
homes behind them. to be looted
and sp1iled But safety was a
dream which few believed trey
would ever attain. Milltiamen nad
been helping pile them. their BE-
longlngS. and their children. INTO
lorrIes and on 10 pltiful little carts
There had been Wrlnklcd old PEG
pie. and tiny babies Some Of tGc
children vino had been wounded
wore bandag"s.
There another reason why II
will GO on" Tony told hcr Soon.
Spain will be pleading fol- non
Intervention as hard as we are. Ii
won't be her fight any longer TINS
country Will be the battle-ground
for duel between Communism
and FascIsm. Backing each Side
will be the powers who believe
they dare not let heresy win See
if I'm moi right II wont be fight
between landlords. and peasants.
any longer
=, Later IN the evening PetrOnelia
asked her question Tony is your
Job here nearly finlshCd?" He
looked hack al her.
you're my Job AS soon as
you're ready To move. well 90
home"
3 darling Iiar!" He wanted her
to leave Spain But she knew ne
would not stay away I'm that case.
your iOD is here I'm staying"
They argued with her. but halt
heartedly TOnv wanted heI here
but he wanted her safe Two CON
Trajectory things But if II mad 10
be a choice, he would let her de
eide He believed that her life was
her own. 10 risk. if she preferred
danger 20 suspense and loneliness
in England.
But at least. they both insisted.
she must agree II go 10 the British
Embassy They found il better 10
shift for themselves hut in the
present suspicion. panic and con-
slant Smelling End air attack. il
was unsafe for her TO go out into
the streets
VERY well. tomorrow If they'll
have me-" she agreed.
That night. TIE city OF Madrid
lay in darkness There was a silver
crescent of a new moon They sat
on the veranda Of their hotel. wcar-
ing coats over their paiamas. and
listened TO the hum OF insu-gent
planes approac hing. Petronella's
hand was in T0ny'S. warm and
sure 1t was strange. TO feel al once
so happy. vet so afraid. They
looked up Against the enchanted
blue of the sky was silhOuetted
the skyscraper of the TelefoniCa
It's lights were lowered as the
drone of the Sovoias grew in vol
Tune.
'Its odd-rd forgotten there
was skyscraper in Spain"
at makes a target the insurgent
artillery can't miss" Tony told her.
In the hush which preceded the
din of anti-aircraft. of the scream
ing whine. and deafening exploS-
ions of bombs falling on the honey
comb of University city. and the
Puerto del Sol. Petronella remem-
bered that Aunt Maisie had fore
told this night, as she lay dying.
Strange Wedding
ON the following day. Petronella
~ purchased her mattress and
moved to the British Embassy She
was transported thither in a car
upon whose sides. back and roof
were whitewashed the words:
''Cuerpo Diplomatico," Evacua-
ton of Women and Children" and
whose bonnet was draped with a
Union Jack.
Then began a new, strange life,
spent chiefly in helping the other
British women, who soon became
her friends. to cater. and wash,
and clean. for between two and
three hundred men. women. and
children.
After a thorough inquiry, Pet
ronella had felt il impossible to
advise a refugee center so near
Madrid. She wrote to Clare, offer
ing to organize a camp further
FROM tho rifv or IN helm in anv