The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-02-26
Chapter 80
fnspectiOn


Il your sister?" Peter Taylor de.
manded.
"You bet it u.s." Don said hotly
"Connie thinks she's the whole
show. She doesn't care about any
one but herself; you ought to know
that. Look at her, just a gold dig
ger, using her looks. She gets
money to run this place out of John
by promising to marry him, and
then she vamps you, Pedro, sc
you'll help her succeed with the
place. Get next to yourself; don't
let her make a damn fool out OF
you like she has out OF John"
Constance heard a thud. Pedro
had shot across the room with a
single stride, and with the impact
of his fist on Don's chin, Don went
down.
Peter Taylor Strengthened and
nodded. fright" he agreed.
mo man." stated Pedro grimly,
stalks to any woman like that in
this house"
Don was getting up from the
floor, holding his jaw. I'll get you
for this, Taylor. And you lay off
Donna; we wouldn't have a
damned cow-hand IN our family
for love or money"
Pedro smiled az Don. "You
needn't worry" he said. 81
wouldn't be in family like yours
for love or money"
Constance stood, stricken numb
with shock. She only half saw
Peter Taylor drag himself UP from
his chair, limp to mis- son and strike
him full across the mouth. ~
Pedro, offering no defense,
looked at his father, then bowed
slightly to Constance. II beg your
pardon" he said stiffiy. II wasn't
thinking of you when I spoke"
And the area about his mouth
1ivid. he left the room.
Don started out, came back to
stand before Constance, then with
a muffied word of fury left. Peter
Taylor sat down heavily. and still
Constance stood, silent.
She wanted to tell Peter Taylor
that her brother hadn't told the
truth. She wanted to tell them she
hadn't "vamped" Pedro and
played upon his own kindness for
help. She wanted to tell him that
her loan from John Raskthorne
was a business loan upon which
she was paying full interest.
She couldn't. The source of rea-
soning was paralyzed. She couldn't
form words and phrases. Slowly
she started out of the room. "For-
give me for the trouble I've
brought you," she murmured.
Heat came in on the north coast
that day. Constance. wandering
aimlessly, wanting only to be
away from people, stopped near
the site of the fire. The alfalfa, too
green to burn, had been scorched.
The soy bean vines stood wilted.
And Pedro left FL Cabrillo that
day.
Meg brought the news to Con-
stance, who had asked that her
meals be served in her Office. She
didn't want to sit with her family.
John would join her at breakfast,
and they would have an occa-
sional luncheon together.
"Don't be anti-social." John had
pleaded with her. And he had
said, Il d. TT blame Don for his
feeling towards young Taylor. II
you don't do something, for the
sake of the rest of the family and
my investment, I'm going to see
that he leaves the place."
"You won't have TO-" Meg had
snapped from the doorway. "He's
too foine to be stayin' aroun' the
likes of the folks here, Michael
excepted. He's gone Packed his
bags and gone, and ould Peters
heart is like to break wide open."
John favored the Irishwoman
with q blank stare and left the
room.
"And will you tell me what's
happened?" demanded Meg.
Constance laughed, a short,
harsh laugh. "Too much. Meg. For
one thing, picked up a live wire
and ! can't let 60, even though 1t
kills me-"
eff YOU can't talk TO me, put that
tray o. trash aside and come UP to
the house. I'll feed YOU victuals to
warm your cheeks, and mayhaps
you can get ould Peter to eat"
'0ne Question
DETER TAYLOR wouldn't eat
Il alone. Constance didn't know
what Meg said to entice him in
10 eat with her, but she did and
urged her on. "We can't get Meg
down on u.s." he warned. Some
day we might come in hungry, and
she'd be that mad tina: she wouldn't
feed u.s."
They sat In the patio later,
watching twilight bring relief to
FL Cabrillo: the soft film of fog,
tinted with sunset. steal in over
the sea.
"I'll ask you one question only"
Taylor said. did you promise to
marry this Raskthorne man If he
lent you the money you needed?"
Constance smiled wanly. mo,
Peter Taylor. / didn't. I'll show
you my contract. did borrow on
his belief in me, but | gave him Sc
curity in the written promise 10
let him sell Ell Cahrllo IL | failed
I am raging interest on The money
! borrowed. And"
s'Thats enough, warned Taylor
heartily and added. THE young
jackaSs !"
The davS Frravv Ian COR and hnttNr