The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-02-06
MEMORY OF THE moon
bx Jeanne Bowman
Y Jeanne Bowman

| money away to satisfy the WnNm
of even the woman I love.
"He believes in you. He feels
you can make a success of, the
ranch if you will take the advice
of experienced people" oU "r
"But John" Constance's eyes
were bright with tears of Joy.
don't you see, dear, that is what
| am planning to do. ! know my
limitations. but I think I'm smart
enough to hire men who have
none"
John nodded at her soberly.
"And you will help me with
the bank?" she asked eagerly.
"No. Give me a month and I'll
make this a personal loan"
Instance jumped up and
stared at him. doubt in her eyes.
"Pd rather not have personal
loans John, why are you do
ing that?"
Raskthorne was beside her.
because l love you, Conchita.
And because I'm beginning to un-
derStand you and admire you
even more than 1 did before.
But mostly because I know ]
have a rival and I'm going to fight
for You. against him, in my own
way"
"a "a rival?" faltesed Con-
stance. -jv-I.
eel Cabrillo. You've made the
ranch an entity, given it body
and soul. ~, f... s..
"To me it's as though it were
another man, profligate rascal,
romantic. inconsistent. a veritable
Don Juan.
81 can't win you until you've
found it out for what it is; until
you've seen for yourself that it
has a treacherous heart"
Constance listened. half fright
ened because his words were
translated in her heart. John was
not speaking of FL Cabrillo
rancho. he was speaking of Ped
70. describing him: Pedro the in
consistent, romantic Don Juan.
Girl In Love-
VOU'RE like a young girl in
L love for the first time" John
went on, "no one cam tell you
you're wasting your love, you're
going to have to learn that your
self"
"But john" she smiled up at
him, wondering if he knew why
her cheeks were suddenly flushed.
wondering if she could hear the
thick beat of her heart. Sup
pose, while I was wasting my
love. l O.. I married the rascal:
lost the investment"
THAT is where the Joker comes
in" John answered smoothly. 81
don't intend running any risks.
I'm going to protect you from
yourself.
Here is my proposition"
They sat down and Constance
remembered another conference.
Here again she was facing a
shrewd man. only this mans eyes
were suddenly iced with a hard.
silver sheen.
Upon receipt of the loan. you
will agree. in writing, that. If you
have not shown a small margin Of
profit the last year. you will re-
turn here to place the property
in my hands for sale, your legal
consent included.
"And you will agree to marry
no man. other than John Rask-
thorne. until the fifty thousand
has been repaid with interest.
Marriage to any other will give
me the right to call in the loan
without notice"
Constance thought for mo-
ment, then thrust out her hands,
eyes starry
That's easy" she assured him.
1t was. She had no intention of
marrying any man but John. And,
if she failed with the ranch. as
she had no intention of failing.
there was no one whom she could
trust to handle it to a better adj
vantage than Raskthorne.
John gripped her hand. then
bent down for quick kiss. "Now
we're going home TO break the
news to the family"
"Oh." moaned Constance. OF
course they had 10 be faced. only
John. YOU don't have TO shoul-
der that" she protested.
I'm Just getting into practice"
he told her grimly, Il sent word
for them to be ready for us at FIVE
o'clock"
Constance found nothing heart
ening in the first swirl Of the sea-
sons snow which met them at the
door Of the building. All Of the
hu0yancv she had felt IN winning
John over to her support. fed; all
Of her indignation at the family's
extravaganza. melted
She allowed John to hold her
arm tightly. even leaned on him
a little as they made their way to
the cab he had called.
Lamson's face was dour when
he opened the door 10 them. Mrs.
Cabrillo would see them in the
petite salon.
Constance swallowed with diff
Guilty Her mother was an uncon-
scious psychologist. No one could
be altogether ruthless IN that
Dresden china room: no one cruel
20 the little golden-haired sheD-
herdeSs who awaited them
| Constance felt as an alien might
feel stepping into a strange land
Mrs CabriIlo. in eEg-saell satin
negligee foaming with lace, sat
in deep chair Of coral pink.
aanked on one side By Donna. on
the other by Don.
They presented a picture COM
plete. and she was an observer
standing outside their Eildsd
frame. She felt i. keenly. bat II
aroused m artarouisra. only q