The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-06-17
Chapter 80
Martin Takes A lob

HELLO, Lewis-come to sup
II per?" Martin said. There's
a swell wild-duck casserole. We
left quite a lot" Mary retreated
and closed the kitchen door.
You damn young fool" Lewis
said. Taking advantage of this
romantic child's mistaken cham
pionship to get her into this sort
of messl Eileen, / have a car
outside; We can get train down.
Hurry"
Martins old casual manner
dropped over him like cloak.
Don't be so dramatic about
messes and all that. Legally, I be-
lieve we're still married in New
York State, owing to the idiocy of
all divorce laws, as I've often
heard you say. And none of the
people up here have heard a
thing
$50 that's your cad's camel"
mo. no." Martin said gently. ''I
was just handing you out sop to
the conventions. You must have
flown, didn't you? Pleasant trip?"
Eileen sat very still. She hadn't
enough money of her own for car
fare. Returning with Lewis, who
obviously still regarded her as
his future wife, was the last thing
she wanted. But it looked as if it
was there to do.
Martin did not seem to think
so. He said placidly, 'sEileen's not
going back with you, fella."
Lewis went on shouting. "You
can't do this sort of thing in
civilized country! I'll break you!
The board"
Martin said. ct wouldn't mat
ter if you had then all out in the
taxi. I've been looking into the
terms of my grandfather's will,
when it comes to breaking. MY
mother and can each withdraw
a third of the Willesdon's income,
and we're thinking of doing it if
you stay in control. This isn't the
first report of the sort I've had,
Lewis. 1t merely happens to be
the first completely watertight
one. Using your power to play
dirty personal politics with any
thing as powerful for good or evil
as the Willesdon Institute annoys
the Dane family"
Exit Lewis
LIE quietly pushed the shouting,
H struggling Lewis to the door.
He said, gently, Nov take that
taxi back to the station. If you
make any more row, I'll have Ike
and Frank 60 down with you,
with orders to take you to the
police station for creating a dis
turbance. Grandfather wned
every utility and building in the
village, more or less. So do I.
Brutal playboy is unfair to or
ganized Delevans."
He had Lewis suddenly neatly
outside, with the door shut. Ell
leen heard Lewis final shout of
"Eileen!" A belated horror of the
situation, a terror of Martin, was
more than her distrust of Lewis.
She snatched up her coat and ran
to one of the windows, tugging
at the catch frantically.
Martin was there almost as
quickly. He gently, quite unex-
peetedly, turned her so that she
could see the rear windows.
Quiet, you idiot childp he
said. Listen, look out there.
That's Frank sitting in the sta
ton wagon waiting for you. Your
suitcase is in it. / brought it UP
from the apartment. it can go
back with you. Here's your hand
bag, with a hundred and fifty in
side"
"Let me go, then!"
Eileen, after driving you three
hundred miles to get clear field
away from Lewis, you can't ex-
pect me to send you off with him.
All / want is a chance to talk to
you for ten minutes. I have a
proposition to put up to you.
Word of honor, you shall go on
the later train if you like"
WORD of honorl Yoursw
6OSn, got ~ ~ cave man,
have /? Oh. well, all right"
He picked her up and carried
her across the room. set her on
the couch. He held her there by
that gentle immovable hand on
her shoulder. Keep quiet now.
] have quite a lot to say before
you take the train"
She went Imply still. He pulled