The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-06-20
s(9I IRE
By Jean Randall

one word that would encourage
her to write letter like thatl'
mo, of course you didn't en-
courage her." he answered her.
Back up, Brenda, and I'll prove
that you didn't Remember the
evening after you'd talked to
Maud? When you and / took a
drive together and rowed little
more fercely than usual? I've no
doubt the fight put all previous
conversation out of your mind, but
it happens that | remember it
clearly. / asked you If Maud had
told you about the Judge, and you
said she had, and you called her a
poor foolish woman; and said
you were a swell sport to let her
rave about her delusions to you
or words to that effect. Remem-
ber?"
ooh, Mac, I'm beginning to-
You said you did think might
be writer because ! was inter-
ested in people"
''And then you had to spoil it
all by declaring you were going
to further the match between
Alaine and Ned Barrow. and we
sort Of"
She was sufficiently cheered to
give her own endearing chuckle.
1--WE did. indeed! | believe we
drove in icy silence for something
like six miles afterward But
Mac, you'll admit | was right
about Ned? They're having a SIM
ply heavenly time out at the farm
with that greenhouse. Ned calls
for them every morning and they
take lunch and stay all day. You
will admit you were wrong?"
He took his pipe from his mouth
and grinned.
Poor little Brenda! You've got
an awful shock coming"
~" She spread one small hand
above her heart. What is it?"
''Ned's so absorbed in cacti and
whatnot that he's lost all interest
in Alaine; at least in marrying
her, | mean. He's bought about a
million books on grating and pol
lenization and Lord knows what
else, and when he isn't reading
'em, he's out to the farm expert
menting. Sometimes he gets up in
the middle of the night and drives
out just to be sure the tempera-
ture Is right
Not Really In Love
"HOW-how do you knoW?"
IL "Ab was telling me yester-
day Abs tickled pink, of course.
He keeps his twin and he gains a
greenhouse beSideS-to say MOTH
ing of those hairy. spiky things
he and Ned go into raptures
about.
"You see, my dear, Ned wasn't
really in love with Alaine. I said
so all along. He was lonely, and
he had this genuine interest in
botany without knowing it. and
he wanted like everything to in
sert himself IN the twins part
nership. Now he has. and he's
happy. Sos Alb"
"B-but Alaine?" she stammered,
the full import of her wrecked
plans dawning upon her. Had she
moved heaven and earth to bring
Alaine and Ned together. merely
to break poor Alaine's heart in the
end?
"Alaine's happy, too" he COM
forted her. 'The twins, what with
no one else living with them and
practically no separate interests,
were getting on each others
nerves. Now they have Ned to
whet their irritation on. Ned to
support = financially and other
wise-their widest floral ambi-
tions. All, consequently. is well"
She glanced at him with new
respect
But how-how did you know
that Ned wasn't really in love
with Alaine?"
He kept his eyes on his pipe
which he was refilling. tamping
the tobacco down with alternate
forefngers.
Tive been in love myself" ne
informed her briefly. Il know the
symptoms. Ned didn't have 'emi"
"Oh!" she said in a small voice
Silence fell on the room: a 81
lence presently broken by the
sound of rain on the paneS.
ANY windows up?" he in
ouired. I'D better go see AND
I'll not be down. Brenda. I've got
lot of work to do before | go to
bed"
But, Macl You haven't told
me what to do about that letter!
About the Judge? About-aboui
Maud"
He stood in the doorway, frown.
ing with concentration.
do nothing" ne said finally.
Especially about Maud. I'll drop
a hint to the Judge. Movie
put up hand TO stop her protest
IFS not a betrayal of Maud's
confidence to you Gosh. girl. dc
you think you're the only con-
temporary Maud has confided inf
She's told me that yarn about the
Judge having adored her since her
childhood more times than | car
count. You leave the whole thing
to me-" he treasured her.
Mac, / am grateful ! wish |
knew how Toto return tbs
favori"
He said surprisingly: 'Trot out
those dimples for a minute, TO
cheer me through my lonely