The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-08-16
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RANGES Hanna

/ with Neptune and opened. Tor the
| first time in many months. the
chest which held her cherished
marines. She scrutinized them
one by one and decided they
weren't too bad 10 hang around
in her bedroom. She'd been home
two weeks now and it was high
t.I1I:c she took an interest in some
thing.
In a small partition to one side
she found her binoculars. She
touched them fondly. sadly,
thinking OF the day so long ago
they had found Derek for her.
And before him, Neptune To find
bit of salvage in those days had
been such splendid adventure.
Still holding them in her right
hand she advanced TO the parapet
and gazed out a: the water. Even
with her naked eye she could
| perceive the trim. sea-going lines
of yacht far out.
Startled by tire sound of the trap
door being pushed up, she turned
| to see Franks cropped brown
head protruding above the OPEN
ing.
Hey, JAM" he called, take a
look out to sea with your glasses.
Something OFT there that might
interest you"
Come on up" she invited and
lifted her binoculars. Sure
enough. something fioated on the
water about two or three miles
offshore. A second later she per-
ceived it mist be a person, for
whoever it was waved its arms in
wild wigwags. =
why don't you make a res
cue?" she demanded of Frank in
establishment. "It'S a person sig
mailing for help"
Not my kind of help" Frank
! grinned, filling his pipe compla-
Gently. 1T happens to be a man
and he made me promise not to
rescue him. guess he's sort Of
counting on you.s
Jan clutched his arm, her eyes
wild, her face unbelieving.
'Derek! Oh, Frank, it's DerekI
He has come back to Sea Tioel"
He nodded. "Derek it is"
Il won't 60" she said. "Why,
this is the most ridiculous stunt /
ever heard of. Who does he think
he is, floating about in oceans like
IA whale. He can just swim in
when he gets good and tired of
salt water!"
sGne Less Nuisance
VET her hands shook when she
L lifted up the glasses again. He
had stopped waving now and
seemed to be drifting further out.
He must be crazy! There was no
doubt about it. n
Frank said with casual indif-
ference, you're perfectly right,
Jan. Anybody can see the man is
fool. Let him drown. who cares?
Just one less nuisance in the
world"
We'll, won't co." she said, 30
consequently she put down the
glasses and leaped for the ladder
and tore out of the house and
down the pier as fast as her legs
would travel.
She rolled up the cuffs Of her
blue jeans, showed the sleeves of
her sweatshirt above her elbows
and stepped into the boat. After
two or three experimental putt
puts, the motor turned over
much more smoothly than her
heart and she cast off.
In truth, she thought, trem-
bling, she was one person privi-
legged to see history repeat ITSELF
For once more black eyes looked
at her from the water and a red.
wet head came close to her grasp
ing fingers. 1t was uncanny.
"Derek Knowles, you get into
this boat" she ordered. You're
craZy!" '='-'
He hooked his elbows over the
side of the boat, tipping it into
jeopardy. and declared: "Of
course I'm mad, PuSs. refuse to
get into your boat until you
swear you love me and promise
to marry mel And also promise
never to run away from me
again!"
I won't cry, she thought, and
Immediately the tears tumbled
down her cheeks. II promise you
you idiot" she choked out.
GaSping, grinning, dripping
water. he climbed into. the boat
and caught her in his arms. you
wouldn't claim me-" he said, $50
I'm claiming you. There ought to
be some law about salvage claim
ing its finder"
What about Lenore?" she de-
manded.
ooh, so that's it." he nodded
wisely. 81 was right. You are a
jealous mink. Seriously, honey,
when l met her again at the
beach here / knew ! didn't want
her any more than I wanted the
Brooklyn Bridge and honey. that
tea party stunt was a WOW! I'll
dry UP and crumble into martyrs
dust if l can't have you around
to make me laugh. Think you
can stand me the rest of your
life?"
+ In the middle of a very salty
kiss she struggled to say, Il love
you-you're all wet, you'll catch
pneumonia Oh, Dereki"
When, after the world stopped
spinning and the boat stopped
rocking. he let her go, he said
contentedly, "See that yacht out
there? It's yours. The Captain is
waiting TO marry us and we're
going to the end of the world and
back again and then we'll buy a
piano and build a house around
il and"
Find a suitable bride for Nep-
tune, she finished.
The End.