The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-01-28

appreciate that. It gave me a
taste of what my Cabrillo fore
fathers had. But those costumes
had been well aired, not scent
I of mothballs fingered in them, nor
/ in the draperies or bedding in my
Iroom.
| "You have been c,cverly eva
sive. You are a shrewd man, Pc
ter Taylor"
| Taylor's head went back and
laugh rang out. you're pretty
shrewd yourself, child"
"You admit the ranch could be
put on a good paying basis" she
went on. How much would it
take?"
"Have you some money to in
vest?" Taylor asked, lightly.
'The Charge it Cabrillos, with
money!" echoed Constance. mo,
but I might raise some"
Taylor stood up, and now there
was vague pity in his eyes. 1T
would take too much, Michael"
he said, using the name so easily
he wasn't aware of it; using it
so easily she was Stung to a be-
lief that he called her that secret
ly, as she called him Pedro.
look at the time" he said
abruptly, Meg will be in our
hair. We dine at midday on the
ranch and you're dining with us.
"As for raising money my
father couldn't do it without own
ing the land. You can't without
the right to use the land as Sc
curity. And so, that is that"
"T h t." corrected Constance,
laughing up at him, "is what you
think"
She went into her room for
comb and powder before accom-
panying him, and the adoring Do
lores followed her. ~
Constance touched the chrysan.
themuns in their pottery bowls
and smiled across their bronze
heads to the maid. "It was lovely.
of you to give me this nice well
come. How did you arrange every
thing so quickly?"
EJECT was not queeck, sefiorita.
Two nights ago the Senior Pedro,
he come to us and say every
theeng must be thus and so, the
Sehorita Conchita Cabrillo flies
west to visit. Give to her the well
come you would give Cabrillo.'"
Constance patted Dolores and
went out to join Taylor who was
puzzled at her sudden listlessness.
Two nights ago, Constance was
thinking. She had barely known
herself that she was flying west.
Telegram
MEG was waiting for them.
1fI Again Constance tucked her
arm into the curve of the older
woman's and delighted her with
a running fire of talk about the
morning ride, until they reached
Meg's room where Constance
would change back to her street
clothes.
She turned then. "Meg," she be-
gan earnestly, 'Im going to put
my cards on the table. l need to
know something and no one will
help me. think you will, but first
want you to swear you will
never tell anyone, especially the
Taylors, one word of what I am
going to say. Swear"
Solemnly Meg Donahue crossed
herself and raised her hand. "Out
with it. pet" she urged. softly.
ut was in your eyes as you came
up the hill, and heavy cross for
one so young"
Swiftly Constance told of her
queer love for Ell Cabrillo, her in
ability to visit the rancho because
she hadn't the money; the desire
of her family to sell and her sud-
den decision to fly out and see il
she could part with it.
"And I'll be honest with you,
Meg" she assured her, 81 wanted
to learn why the Taylors wanted
to buy; why they were Offering
that certain amount and to see il
they were being honest with us.
Now Meg. there were only two
people who knew ! was coming,
my employer and his secre-"
Heaven preserve us" broke in
Meg, land me thinkin' a foine
lady you were. with niver a
thought for the toll of money and
its worth. Well. well, a workin'
girl you are. Now what Is 1t you
want to know, pet?"
Meg, / have to know who let
the Taylors know ] was coming,
so I'll know who is trying to dou-
ble-croSs me at home"
We'll now pet, you can't learn.
1t come in one of those there ami
mositous kilograms. I'll get il, but
mind you, niver word of my
showing your"
Sole mnly Constance went
through the ritual of secrecy. then
Rugged Meg's arm, unaware she
was cementing stout friendship
for years to come.
Meg sailed out and back with
comical air of nonchalance, then
drew telegram out from under
her apron and stood back while
Constance read it,
The wire. Constance thought,
was all that Meg had called it in
her coined word-animositous. II
was not only anonymous. but
written in animoSity. Her face
paled and the blue of her eyes
turned dark as she read.
CONcHITA ABRILLO EN-
ROUTE TO RANCHO INCOG-
NITO LOOK OUT FOR HER
SHE'S AS SHREWD AS OLD
MICKEY MAHONEY FREEZE
HER OUT AND WE'LL SWING
THE DEAL FOR YOU WHILE
SHE'S ON THE REBOUND