The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-06-12
Chapter II
Interference

ITO YOU think a woman proud
~ enough to refuse your
money all that time-to make no
effort to patch up the quarrel-do
you think she'll tolerate your
finding her in her present cir
cumstances?" asked Brenda.
Linda is proud" he said again.
Proud as the DEVIL"
You're not exactly a lamb for
meekness yourself, my Hughl
Now listen to Auntie. First, write
the bank and find out whether
she's using the money you pay in
for her"
He gestured impatiently. mo
need to- OF course she's not. see
it all now. Why was l fool enough
to think she'd accept money from
me When-when-"
BE careful! You're not to tell
me about it. you know" She
paused, her thoughts busy with
this intriguing problem. LET it
alone, Hugh" she said at last. 81
mean-give me a day or so TO
think what should be done. It will
have to be the right thing. One
false move and your Linda will
have flown"
my Linda" he muttered, pass
ing one big clever hand over his
forehead. my Linda! How I wish
she were-again!"
His callers grave face bright
ened. "Grandl Fifty per cent of
the situation is okay, at any rate.
If I'd had both of you to struggle
with"
He snorted. "If you thought for
one minute. Brenda Burnham.
that Linda's leaving me was by
my wiSh-With my conSent-any-
thing but a bitter blow to me
then you're not the smart girl I
considered you"
Practically everybody on The
Street thinks you ordered her
Quit"
Then practically everybody on
The Street is a fool"
Perhaps. Hugh, do you feel
perfectly well? It's getting fall
ish, you know-and lots of peo-
pie have flu, and flu can so easily
go into pneumonia. Don't you feel
a little feverish and achy?" she
inquired hopefully.
what the dickens? - Brenda,
are you losing your mind? / am
in excellent health. thank you.
Not that it matters" he tackled
on with bitterness.
She sighed. 81 thought a tele-
gram to Linda. saying that you
were at deaths door"
He lighted another cigarette;
took his time about il. Then he
mentioned: "It's plain to be seen
you're fiction writeri"
"And a student of psychology"
she flashed.
"We-ell: there might be two
opinions about thatl Oh. calm
down. little Brendal didn't mean
TO hurt your feelings. Great Scott
Haven't I put my fate in your
hands?"
ooh. Hugh. have you?" She was
pleased and proud. "I'll do nv
very best for you. | promise YOU"
She rose for the second time. "I1l
run on back now and think.
There must be some simple. nat
ursl way out of this thing. and
we'll find it: you'll seel"
On the sidewalk outside Miss
Ormond was waiting for her
Thereafter" she pronounced
grimly. you're to telephone me
when YOU get these mad urges to
visit Hugh Saltusl At least I can
see that you're chaperoned!"
Too Large A Dose
THE other letter which inter-
l. ested Brenda that morning was
from Ned Barrow. It announced
that its writer would return by
the end O. the week. and de-
manded TO know what she had
done for his cause with Alaine
Alternately.
Thank Goodness this presents
no complications" the girl unused.
81 shall have a straightforward
talk with him. and either prove
or disDrove that story against
him. There's TO be no silly mis-
understanding in this easel"
Despite herself. her mind dwelt
on Mac. Since their latest quar-
rel they had preserved a sort of
armed friendlineSS: politenesS. at
all events. He inquired each eve
ming as to the progress of her
book: she in turn made courteous
comment on his newest advertis-
ing display. She knew all about
those displays by this time: en-
WED Mac his crisp. succinct use of
words. his economy of express
sion. Secretly she believed him
possessed of a somewhat rare
ability-and would have died be-
fore admitting it to himl
Twice he had invited her to
drive with him but as he had also
included either Adelaide or Iso-
bel Burke in his invitation. she
had had no talk with him alone
Tonight. however. Isobel had a
broadcast on: Adelaide we n t
across the street to pay a little
call on Miss Ormond.
Mac said nothing OF taking out