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


81 was afraid so," he sighed.
my dear girl. I wish you'd be-
lieve that really want to be a
friend Of yours-not an enemy.
And as a friend I tell you that
mixing up with Barrow and
Alaine viii bring down a lot of
trouble on your head. ! know. I've
lived here several years and
understand the situation as you
can't hope to do-not for months,
anyway. Barrow, heaven be
praised, has gone to California for
two weeks. VIII you give me your
word to do nothing about him and
Alaine - most especially about
Alaine-until he comes back?"
MY dear Mac" she began
affably, your solicitude is most
gratifying most gratifying in
deed. But somehow / can't see
how my helping pair of lovesick
youngsters out of a coil of trouble
they've wound themselves up into
is going to harm me in the least.
LikewiSe"-She cooked a hooking
eye in his "hattered as
l am at your effort to look after
me. I'm at a loss to understand
why"
Eyes, you said that before. ]
wonder about it myself-some-
times. Let's put it that I hate to
see either fools or angels rushing
in where they shouldn't tread"
81 being-?"
''Take your choice" he said, and
Strolled away. my last word is:
you'll regret it deeply if you don't
keep out of that meSs!" =
Very Unjust ,
BRENDA had progressed from
- the first square to the second
in her book. She vas supremely
dissatisfied with the result but,
as she reminded herself almost
tearfully, she couldn't stay OF one
chapter forever.
Viciously she had scratched out
the word sparkling" from the
cardboard plan. It was as much as
she could do to get Margareth and
Brian to open their mouths to
each other, much less engage in
sparkling dialogue. Their stiff,
formal sentences disguised the
young author beyond measure,
but try as she would, nothing bet
ter came.
"And this makes three days to
one chapter at that" she thought.
"At this rate I'll be forever writ
ing the Internal book"
She worked doggedly all morn
ing and until nearly four in the
afternoon when she decided that
a brisk walk would clear her
mind. It was a heavenly day with
blue haze on the hills beyond the
town.
81 wish l had a car" she thought
wistfully. I'D like to drive out
there and see the river. Obi" She
bumped into a young man who
came dashing up the steps just as
she went down.
81 beg your pardon!" His tone
was distinctly Sulky. 81 hope ]
haven't hurt-Oh, it's you. Miss
Burnham!"
Brenda" she corrected with a
smile. Call me Brenda. Abb"
'You recognize me then?"
"Of counsel You and Alaine
make a rather impressive pair,
you know. Did you want to see
Adelaide? I'm afraid she's out just
now"
He glowered at her. Its you
want to Seel"
'I?" She glanced again at his
wrathful young face and took a
sudden decision. That's your car
at the curb. isn't it? Well, then
suppose you take me for a little
drive while we talk. I was Just
wishing I could get out to those
hills"
He hesitated. Plainly the idea
of driving about girl with whom
he had come to quarrel was a
trifle diSconcerting to him.
you might as WELL" she as
Sured him.
"All right" He closed the door
upon her. careful even in his an
noyance to see that her skirts
were protected. and went around
to his own seat. Look here, Miss
Burnham, l."
Brenda"
well. Brenda. then. But don't
think that intend being friends
with you, because / DON'T know
what you've been up to with
Alaine. l know you're encouraging
her to marry Ned Barrow and ]
want to tell you"
Encourage her? My dear boy,
wasn't she packing to elope with
him when arrived on the scene?
Didn't talk her into poStponing
it, merely to give her time to
make up her quarrel with you? ]
think" Brenda concluded plain
lively, you're very unjuSti"
"a lot / care what you think"
he told her with boyish rudeness.
IF that was all that happened, it
would be o. K. But it wasn't all.
You sent Barrow off to California
and got Alaine all stirred up over
his going. I tell you, she never
took him seriously before, no mat
ter how often she threatened to
marry him. But now-nowl You
knew the one and identical thing
to keep her thoughts on him,
make. her wonder why he hasn't
called or written"
'You understand a lot for a
child of your age" she said colby.
"Child! I'm nearly twenty-onei
And il doesn't take either age or
wisdom to see through this little
maneuver of yours" =
Continued tomorrow
H. %oII,,,:s ;.