The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-11-11

4
in this world"
Sorry, lamb, but love an
otherp She tried to throw dramat-
ic seriousness into her voice but it
| quivered just bit. ITO get on with
our idea of this business: why, says
the imaginary buyer to himself,
would man pay twenty thousand
dollars for a couple Of holes in the
ground, plus some acres which
bear only scrub pine and kinnikin-
nick, unless he knew it was worth
all that and more; and mining en-
gineer and assayer usually knows
mot belieVeS, he'll reason, but
EnolUS it is worth far more? So he
walks into the Latshaw-Iris trap,
baited with the same piece of
cheese which caught you and Tim
last summer"
"Yep! But what'H be Iris's ex-
use for offering him the land-if
it's an engagement or wedding
present from Tim to her?"
She threw him a glance of tri-
umph. Sweet, foolish Iris doesn't
realize what she's doing, don't you
see? Our buyer thinks he's putting
something over on her - on Tim.
She prattles girlishly about want
ing the money for her trousseau,
or a house which she, in turn, will
give Tim for a wedding present
something like that. Yes, I know
that presupposes the buyer is a
trifie off color. Of course he isl
Would Iris and Latshaw be doing
business with anyone who wasn't?"
George WINGED, "Tim and l." he
suggested.
"Oh, well, the strictly honorable
and innocent fall into that class.
too" Buff assured him. II knowi
Lance-my father-has often told
me that the really honest business
man is the one who's been taken>in
time or two by scoundrels. Be-
fore that he thinks everyone is as
scrupulously honest as himself.
Lance should knowl" his daughter
concluded with a grin.
Sketch
A LII right. We've sketched the
"A plot of this business very
nicely. What happens next?"
"Nothing-So far as you are con-
cerned. You go about your busi-
ness as usual, for it's you Iris and
Latshaw-if it is Latshaw who is
working with her-will be watch
ing. But I'll be on the job. BY the
way, could you get me a photo
graph of Latshaw? So I'd recognize
him if / saw him?"
"Fraid not. He didn't go in for
having himself photographed dur
ing his brief stay here. But I can
do better than that for YOU" He
drew toward him several sheets Of
paper which he coolly took from
her desk. Didn't know / could
sketch. did you? / darned near be-
came an artist myself. Wish to
thunder had. now! Lookitl Here's
Latshaw full face. Notice the thin
lips, the little pouches beneath his
eyes ! fancy they'll be emphasized
now. He's hard drinker, you
know.
Here's his profile. See the tiny
jut in the nose? Broke it, perhaps,
years ago. Dark brown hair. get
ting bit thin on top" He touched
his own sadly Eyes sometimes
hazel, sometimes gray; gray when
he's keyed up. always. Tanned
well. that was last summer, of
course, but rather think he'll
show traces of it yet. He fools
about mining regions even in the
winter. and you know what the
winds can do in high attitudes.
Think you'd recognize him from
these?"
She studied the hasty sketches
with half closed eyes. Sure of it.
George. you can draw! Van would
give his ears to have your talent"
He'd look better without EN-
his ears, | mean. Oh, yes, / can
draw we'll enough. That's not the
trouble. The trouble is haven't
any imagination was born to be
an engineer. ! adore surveying,
outdoor work of all kinds All
right. Buff. You're running this at
fair I'm taking my orders from
you. It's going to be Internally
hard for me to be decent to Tim
about this engagement, but if you
think"
II not only think, ! knowi No.
body's asking you to wiring Tins
hand in joyful congratulation; or
to go around chortling with delight
over it all. But you can-and musti
be civil to him, keep your friend
ship as it is I'd just as soon," she
went on thoughtfully, "that you
weren't too cordial to Iris about it.
She'd be on her guard If you sud-
denly changed your attitude tow
ard her"
Buff was not surprised to have
Iris call her that same evening. She
had counted on Tins silence in
regard to his last talk with her.
She had been a little puzzled, in
fact, that Miss DeMuth had not
called before. Buff Carroll was a
card she no longer needed in her
hand; but it was not like Iris to
overlook the slightest advantage.
Her first words to Buff explained
the days silence.
Did you see it in the paper?"
she asked triumphantly. Darling,
l would have told you this morning
but had to be in Denver all day.
Just got back, in fact. | suppose
you've been trying to get hold of
me- Well. was | right. or was ]
right?"
'fYou were right" was Bluffs
meek reply. a hope you'll be hap
nv iris whatever corneS m vn,i
They chatted in this vein for q
few moments. then Iris brought the
conversation to a close. Tins
here, and the old foolish is jealous
even of youi"