The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-02-14

MenL NtLH JOHN size TeQttZeS
phat q spot she Is in.
Chapter %
TRY To Understand
EVEN the fire, which had died
~ to Goals, blazed to new life
with Pedro's return. Flam s
leaped with the draught from the
door, to throw bronze lights on
The dark face. to reflect flames in
The dark eyes.
Constance ran an inouiring fin-
ger along the plane of his cheek
and wondered If all things unat-
tainable became increasingly pre-
cious.
"You can't borrow without Sc
curity, Pedro" she ehided.
Michael, hasn't anyone ever
4 - lou that you can't bargain
bve? Child, there's no Sc
In it, nothing but loneliness
you're away; loneliness and
land (. Michael, how could
4 steer beef when / was
Ing of you? was afraid I'd
sell some tough hombre on
with Irish eyes and skin that
fninety-nine percent cream"
released her to build up the
The logs caught, blaZed, filled
room with golden light, as
BIS presence there seemed to
with life and vitality. y
that have you been doing
4e I've been away" he de-
AIDED. J2t 2ifjl
Constance remembered. Think
Pedro.'' ac xeH !.
Zoo much of anything IS
sgerous," he chided. and leaned
ward to study her - whats
;bng?"
Eonstance sat thinking. sat
Aching Pedro. She was distrust-
H. John Raskthorne as she had
fkeviously distruste d Pedro.
fhy? Was she so tickle. so vacil-
Ating, she swung to the man in
khose presence she was?
1.-TWO months ago she had
thought, cit is Petersen, and /
against the Taylors and the Ca
brillos, with John to back me-"
Now she thought, "It is Petersen,
Peter Senior and |, against John
and the Cabrillos, with Pedro to
back me-"
Until she was sure she was not
alone in this fight for Ell Cabrillo;
until she knew, without question,
who would back her to win, she
couldn't speak; she couldn't risk
disloyalty.
II can't tell anyone, Pedro" she
answered slowly.
That's all right, providing 1t
doesn't burden you too much;
why not tell me Alphabetically"
Constance wondered If she
could break down the essentials
and put them into a few words.
"Pedro," she asked, what Is
victory? Attainment Of a thing, a
person, a condition, or what?"
"To me, the victory lies in the
battle. No one can defeat you II
YOU come out Of the battle know
ing you've given your best. You
can lose every earthly possession,
every earthly love. but as long Is
you know you have played the
game 10 the best OF your ability.
you're not defeated"
In the deep sigh which came
from Constance, came also her
doubts and fears. "Thank you,
Pedro" She stretched her hand to
him. That's what ! needed to
know"
SAnd I think" added Pedro,
holding her hand tightly, that
Michael Mahoney wouldn't count
a battle lost until he had been
Slammed into the bRstile and the
KEY was turned on him. Even then
his luck might turn at the zero
hour"
"Now let's talk business" ,sug-
gested Constance. "T'll have Juli-
ano serve dinner in here; provid-
ed he'll allow us to remain alone
without Q duenna. Poor Juliano.
every time he sees me in slhcks,
he heads for the chapel 10 say'ra
dozen prayers for my SOUL
Redro was home. and all was
right with the world. ri
eauickened Pace ,Ayag
ALL was right with .ohn Rask-
n thorne. Constance wondered
how she could have thought John,
her friend. faithful ever-patient
John. would have taken advan-
tage of their agreement. II was
ludicruus. They'd find q way 10
keep the ranch In the hands OF
the Cabrillos. Now all effort must
be concentrated on making ii a
success.
Pedro was home. He arrived
just In time TO save Constance
from something. she was never
sure lust what II was. The last
roundup threatened 10 be q flu
nereal affair. Little brown men
rode sadly out OF III Cahrillo,
herding the last beef cattle 10
AN&AAGks AC4k9 EOdG WiktA IlEANs
They all returned together, In
high spirits,
Dolores. watching. shook her
head. Pedro" she sighed, sfronl
bis hand he can make them eat,
Life on El Cahrillo uuickened
It's paee. False spring came and
The fields were planted. The
Dutch Belted herd moved into the
first quarters. ready. and immeCii.
Ately started giving the ranch its
FIRST feeling OF a dairy.
Truckloads OF lowing. protest.
ing cows came in from the south
20 stumble down the runways,
look about with resigned eyes.
then shifting food amble over TO
feed bins and accept Fl Cahrillo
as home
Even thu Cahrilia mar gro1.,