The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-06-04
Chapter 10
A Bargain

Ned.
what went wrong?" was Bren-
da's sympathetic inquiry.
cab. He's jealous-jealous as
the devil. As long as / was just a
gawky kid that couldn't handle
himself on skates, it was all right
with Alb. But when grew up
when my father died and left me
all this money-when ! began to
try in good earnest to get Alaine
to marry me he'll started to
pop so far as Alb was concerned"
he told her simply. eve had
fight when we were seventeen
and nineteen respectively be-
ing the nineteen and | licked
the tar out of Alb. That washed
me up with Alaine for months.
thought I'd lost her for good and
all Then she and Alb mixed il,
and she sent for me; and it's sort
OF been going on like this ever
since"
Brenda's interest in this unique
romance was acute. She won
dered If after all Ned Barrow
might not be the right husband
for Alaine. He impressed her most
favorably. He was simple and
frank, apparently regarding his
fortune as a responsibility rather
than as an advantage. She re-
solved to see what she could do
to help him where Alaine was
concerned.
She told him so, explaining
frankly that she had done her
best this afternoon to stop the
marriage.
But do think that if / can
persuade Alb his sister will be do
ing well for herself, she may mar
~ you without-without an Abb
ernathy row as prelude. I'd like
to talk to Alb and find out if he
has any objection to you other
than your Ticking the tar out of
him several years ago."
ooh, he doesn't hold that
against me! Abs square. It's my
money" he went on unhappily.
THAT and his being so jealous of
Alaine. He thinks if she marries
me we'll always be off on trips,
and she'll have no time to help
him at the farm. As a matter Of
fact" he went on wistfully. "Pd
like darn well to help on the
farm myself! It's as much as my
LIES worth to poke at rosebush
in my garden. / think it would be
swell fun to dig around and plant
things. If Alb would ever let me
tell him"
"Pl tell him." Brenda prom
ised. And then because this nice
young man still. seemed in the
depths of depression. and she felt
her new responsibilities as a resi-
dent of The Street. she added: 81
believe Alaine cares more for you
than she knows herselfl If you'll
let me give you a piece of advice,
Mr. Barrow"
"Oh. for Pete's sake, call me
Nedi" he said explosively.
"Al right then, Nedl If you'll
let me advise you, this is what
you must do; go away from here
now without leaving any message
for Alaine. Don't call her tomor-
row. Be out if she calls you. Keep
her in hot water for a couple of
weeks" said Brenda coldblooded-
ly. Fand let her realize how she'd
miss you if you really went out
OF her life. In the meantime III
work on Alb" She held out her
hand. rs it bargain?"
"A Good Boy
LIE REPLIED doubtfully: 81
II suppose you know bestl Any
one with dimples like yours must
have had-er-experience. ! mean
well, you do know don't mean
to be offensive. don't you? I just
mean you aren't like Miss Or
mond, or the Ponsonbys, or Judge
Harper whose wife died so long
ago he's forgotten people can be
IN love. mean you can prob
ably get Alaine's point of view
better than anyone she's known
yet; and if you think I'd better
clear out" - he swallowed - 81
could go to Los Angeles tomor-
row, if you thought best. As a
matter of fact, there's some bust
ness l ought to see to there. ! :.
| kind OF expected to take Alaine
with me"
Fighting like a wildcat part of
the way, and perhaps coming
home before you got there?"
Eyes" he assented unhappily.
I've thought of that, too. And
don't believe could stay in the
same town with her and not call
her up; so perhaps"
Much better to 60 to Califor-
MIA. I'll act as your agent while
you're gone. | promise TO do my
best for you" she heard herself
saying with some establishment
"And you'll have to admit what
ever | do viii be as much as
you've done for yourSelfl"
He took the little hand in both
his own.
You're a peach" he told her
gratefully. Il leave Alaine in your
care with all the trust in life. !"
Halfway to the door he turned
back. IF you'll believe it l don't
know your nameI Isn't that a
heck of note?"
She told him and he nodded
with satisfaction.
"A Burnham of The Shortest
Street, / certainly ought TO be
able to trust your
She waited until be had driven
off in his car before taking her
own departure, She deemed Il the
part of wisdom to go without see
ing Alaine again and she was
confirmed in her decision by the
silence which reigned above II
might be sulky silence, or mere