The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-01-31


the male of the species"
The woman laughed. THAT my
dear, was self protection. Tins
Min has complex over that car.
It's the only thing that runs that.
she hasn't been able to drive"
(Which reminds me-" offered
Pedro. Minis brother is in town
and he'll take the car home and
save you the trouble of leaving
from Fuller's Junction"
Il suppose" returned Constance
sweetly. "it will be easier to
keep track of me if have no car
at my disposal"
Judge" Taylor addressed him.
self to the old man, did you ever
before hear a woman admit she
needed watching?"
In the end, Constance agreed
to be driven home. She had
dreaded the ordeal. and when
they picked up Dolores that wo-
mans face was ludicrous with it's
expression of relief.
A tWo-hour drive in clear
weather was a three-hour drive
in the heavy fog; three hours, cut
off from the rest of the world by
o milk white curtain; three hours
Of enchantment.
Dolores, warmed by visiting
wine and a blanket, curled up in
the back seat and slept soundly.
Constance, warmed as much by
the forethought as by the great
polo coat of Meg's, sat watching
Pedro's hands on the wheel. his
Indian profile with lines Of
strength, or was it cruelty. from
nostril to the outer corner of his
lip.
She had a moment of SNUG
satisfaction in finding that his
profile didn't give the impression
of startling perfection that his
full face gave, and then. dis
turbed. she found in its rude fear
lessness something more devas-
tating to her morale.
warm enough?" Without
looking at her he reached over
to tuck her hands under the rug
and give them a scolding pat. and
Constance wondered if it were
possible for a human heart to
jump to ones throat and lodge
there.
Don't Fight
. EBELLIOUSLY Constance
IN withdrew her hands and laid
them, small and white. on top of
the scarlet rug.
He looked at her then. Don't
fight, Conchita."
Don't fight?" Hot anger
splashed her cheeks. How did he
know? The conceit of him: the
insufferable egotism of him. She'd
make a catechism of all that Sam
and Min had said. She'd say it
over hour by hour. particularly
Minis parting words: "prettier
girls than YOU"
%. next time" she noticed he
was swinging the car back to the
center of the road. sharply, "Pll
have Dolores sit up here with me.
She doesn't take my mind off the
road"
There was balm in that, a small
measure of triumph. Constance
tucked her hands under the robe.
Perhaps she was different from
these goods, these "prettier girls"
Perhaps Pedro hated this some
thing between them as much as
she
And she thought. with some
thing akin to horror: IF I felt
this way about John, / wouldn't
care about the family; | wouldn't
care about being solvent and
meeting him on his own
ground"
Miles later she wondered why
John, who was everything fine
and true and honorable. gave her
onlv Il feeling of comfort and Sc
curity and dependability. But
those were the qualities one
needed in marriage. They were
enduring.
Pedro" she reasoned. "is like
too many cocktails and there's
always morning after"
Padro held her hand as he
helped her from the car at the
ranch rouse. IF you don't want
me 10 drive YOU around. YOU can
ark Jullano for a boy" he adj
visfi
Constance locked away quickly.
wondering II her eyes had told
him she did want him to drive
her, always but she would be
cternally blessed if she'd have
him,
Ellen MacKelvey's place" he
continued: is out of Fuller's
Junction"
How did YOU know" she
flashed
Il have WAYS" he retorted.
laughing And now that YOU
know our plans for the ranch.
what are you going 10 do9"
Call on your trays for that
answer. she laughed. What
were YOU really doing in Beach
port"
Tomorrow youn know" he
promised.
Dolores greeted her the moment
she stirred. and Constance. aware
of a golden day. Sensed. rather
than heard 4 stir about the
rancho.
To-day" advised Dolores. CON-
ING to the hcd with a tray. I'VE
have Fiesta DEL zorro. Already your
guests begin 10 arrive. You should
now hurry, senoriia, TO greet
them
"Ot Yesterday" she poured an
amber stream Of coffee into tur-
0uoiSe cup. Senior Pedro have in
vlted them And he have brought
vou hv MeE'S measurements. the
clothes that YOU shall wear"
The trav liggled as Constance