The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-04-24
Chapter Is
MargO's Competition

W called back.
Mango nodded. But she did not
move. She continued to sit cross
legged beside the pool. She gazed
down into its depths, watching
the little cotton puff clouds that
were in the sky duplicate them
selves in the clear water. She was
suddenly depressed for some rea-
son or other. Just why, she could
not say.
But David's devotion to his
small cousin disturbed her. Prob
ably he would expecl the girl he
married to share that devotion,
and she wondered if she were
capable of doing such a thing.
She was sorry for the boy, sorry
for anybody or anything that was
crippled or disabled in any way.
But her feeling was rather i'm
personal. 1t didn't 60 down very
deep-was just surface emo
ton.
And if she married a man like
David, she would want all his at
tention-or at least the greater
part of it. Having him give too
much attention to child would
annoy her.
She was still thinking along
this disturbing vein when Polly
Joined her.
"Why not come out tomorrow
for a swim?" Polly asked. I'm
coming out"
Perhaps l SHALL" said Mango.
She noted the simplicity of the
old rose linen frock Polly was
wearing and the simple way she
did her hair, combing it straight
back from her forehead. and tying
over it bright band, ma. Il love
swimming.
Polly stood looking over the
grounds.
"Have you seen the flower
beds?" she said. peter and l
have been digging them out from
under weeds and wild vines.
Come on, I'll show them to you"
Mango got up. She let Polly
show her about, listened while
she explained about this plant
they had uncovered, and that one;
but her mind wasn't on what was
being said. She kept stealing
glances at Polly, reluctantly adj
hitting to herself that the girl
had something.
1t wasn't glamour - it wasn't
great beauty-nothing like that
at all. And yet there was some
thing about Polly that interested
her. She began to understand
how a man could learn to love
her, even a man like David.
Whatever it was, it bothered
Mango. Heretofore she hadn't
thought of Polly as a real rival.
but had thought of her as just a
rather undeveloped smalltown
girl who couldn't possibly COM
pete with a girl who had been
everywhere and seen everything.
But she didn't feel that way about
Polly any more.
well. here we arel" David
called from the Inn porch. He
came down the steps toward
them. Peter at his side. "All set
10 get back TO town."
81 am" said Polly. "Aunt
Susan will be having fits if she
doesn't get her supper. She
usually has il all cooked for me,
but she's feeling sort of poorly
today. l told her to rest. and I'd
play chef"
"One of you can ride with me
in my car" said Mango. mo need
crowding in yours, David"
Thanks" David said. "I'll tell
you. you two girls ride in yours,
Mango. You ought to be getting
acquainted"
Margo looked at Polly. Polly
looked at Mango.
They both thought, "How little
n man understands us" But
neither spoke her thoughts.
Suits me-" said Mango. Come
on. Polly"
David said: Don't let riding
in that buggy spoil you for rid
ing in minel"
Il won't" said Polly. II love
that funny little boat of yours"
David and Peter got into
David'S car. They followed MargC
out of the grounds, and into the
highway.
"She's a locker. all right" Peter
remarked
Yep. she is said David
Meaning Mango, of course?"
Sure. ! don't nave to tell you
Polly'S a locker"
Nope, son, you don't"
About David
THE two cars sped on towart
Ardendale. Just before they
turned into Main Street MargC
spoke Of David.
Il suppose you know" she said
shat David Wiley is an extra.
ordinarily good looking youni
man"
4 do said Polly. $50 fal
there's nothing wrong with NJ
vision I've known il for a long
long time. l even thought he wa
good looking back in publ
school days, when YOU. probably
like a lot OF others. thought hin
toe thin and rather Gull"
ITO tell you the tvutn." Sat