The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-02-03

fight.
Mahoney, in skirts. All right,
she'd bargain. She'd barga ain
Ell Cabrillo, security, everything
she'd thought vital for a gypsy
life with this man. ~ -@
Michael" he began again.
The moment passed and, even
the atmosphere Oh ang led. The
clouds deepened to dull. brown
ish black and the wind grew in
fury.
Pedro looked at the sky. WED
better get out of here if we don't
want to be caught in a Storm" he
said. wait {. . not like that :.
Michael, you don't understand"
For Constance had slid down
the rock, mounted and was riding
away.
As she rode her anger mounted.
What did he think he was doing,
playing a Don Juan game? Let
him try that on his red-headed
ranch girls who had time for silly
fiirtations, not on a business girl
like herself.
And then her anger turned in
ward, anger at herself for lower
ing her guard, for being so sus-
ceptible . for . oh, she might
as well be honest with herself :. =.
for wanting to bargain her future
away; to exchange Ell Cabrillo-for
the transient JOY of a moment.
Fool" she stormed, and leaned
forward to pat Pancho who'd
quirked a backward ear at the
word. Il didn't mean you, Pancho
:. and I'm going to miss you, but
I'm coming back. I'm coming
back if l have to- rob a bank sin
gle-handed!p
Pedro's horse was pounding
close behind her, 1t was all right,
she was on guard now. She was
Mich ael M honey's offspring.
She'd laugh at him. She'd never
let him know.
'GOOdby, Little Michael
THE rain started, fell in sheets,
L and when they refined in be-
fore the ranch house, Juliano and
boy ran for the horses and Meg
and Dolores came out with every
kind of coat and umbrella.
Constance faced Pedro under
the dripping willows. "Goodby,"
she said, extending her hand.
"and thank you so much for your
kindness these few days. won't
forget"
Pedro looked at Dolores and
Meg and gave up. defeated, he
even turned brick red as Meg be-
gan: "For the sake of me ears.
Petey-boy, go call that blond fluff.
livery tin minute she's ringin' with
lis Mr.. Taylor goin' to the dance
tonight?' Faith, told her. Mister
Taylor's in bed with a mendin'
leg and how will he dance on
that"
Meg followed Constance in and
talked while she packed. She sent
Dolores for hot tea and toast, and
at last, when the ranch car was
ready, took her in strong arms.
1--WE a feelin' in me bones that
you're comm back" she said.
big Pete feels the same. He says
no Michael Mahoney could resist
it. Chucklin' the old divil is at
watchin' you get in above your
ears. Says he's always wanted to
watch a Mahoney whipped. But l
says to him, | says, look out for
yourself. Peter. or this young
Michael will be bestin' you"
Meg" cried Constance, you
you believe in me. You're
part of the Taylor household. and
yet you're betting on me?"
Meg laughed until she shook.
GO on with you, it's blind We
are in both ears. I'm bettin' on We
both. Now, God speed you and
keep we out of them airships."
The skies of FL Cabrillo wept
when Constance left. She sat be-
side the ranch boy who was driv-
ing. conscious of Juliano in his
Sunday best. behind. and refused
to look back. To look back would
mean to see the managers house.
She looked instead at the turbu-
lent ocean, at smashing waves
rolling violpuSly in,
Beachport was dreary, the de-
pot chill and ugly. and even
Juliano's ceremonious attention,
seeing she was comfortably seat
ed in the train; that the conduc-
tor. brakesman and porter appre-
ciated her importance, couldn't
lift the despair settling over her.
God go with YOU" Juliano
said in Spanish as the conductor
warned him they were pulling
out, and he placed an envelope in
her hands.
She thought nothing Of il then,
but sat watching the landscape
blur past the rain streaked win
dows. Wondering If she had been
a fool to return 10 Ell Cabrillo.
She had loved it as a dream, now
she loved it as a reality. And what
right had she TO refuse 10 sell il
il meant FL Cabrillo would so ito
seed" as the Cabrillos had "gone
to seed?"
And il she didn't agree 10 SELL
ing. how and where would she
raise the money to revive il?
Money! She wondered il il had
been a bill Juliano had handed
her. The envelope had the ranch
name stamped on the corner.
Anxiously she ripped it open.
The signature seemed 10 leap
from the page-Pedro. And then
she read the message - "Goodby.
little Michael, The things men
would say with their hearss are
better left unsaid by their lips
Constance looked out Of the
window, Funny, she thought the
sun had come out; but no. twilight
was settling and il was darker