The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-07-03
1A
Council OF War
"HELLot" Brett called. SIS an
I I thing the matter?"

Council OF War
"HELLom Brett called. is any,
thing the matter?"
"Droissard here mas had an ac-
cident" said the lawyer, "He hurt
his arm. I'm afraid it may be bro
ken"
NO." said Jim, mot broke--but
1t hurts like" he choked back a
word hastily. Like blazes," he
finished.
but how did it happen?" Eve
asked.
"Jim stepped on broken board
in the back poreh-he came in
that way" the lawyer explained.
Them caretakers did it," Jim
put in. Il looked at that step--it
had been sawed clear through"
q 1T doesn't seem reasonable to
think that the Jacksons did it,a
said Brett Rodman thoughtfully.
In a spot like that, they might
have got hurt themselves"
"They wouldn't if they knew
just where to STEP" Droissard
contradicted quickly. THAT isn't
the door the JackSons use most of
the time" he added. "They go out
through the side door. came that
way only because +! was on the
other size of the island"
Il do hope your arm isn't bro
KEN" Eve said, sounding more
distressed than jim.
It'll Eandage it, the lawyer
said, urging his employee up the
stairs. Jim Droissard turned to 90,
but his resentful humble was
clear to them in the hall below.
Anyway, / tell you it wasn't an
accident. 1t was fix"
Almost A Quarrel
THERE was council of war the
4 next morning. As they gath
cred in the dining room and made
pretense of eating, they eyed
one another with some disfaVor,
with the exception of Brett Rod
man, who did not look at anyone
at ALL
Even Gina's attempts to sound
him out on the fact that the plane
might yet made when the
Jacksons had left the room
brought nothing but non-commit-
tai answers. Yet when Mr.. Howe
suggested that they all walk out
TO the beach, where there might
be a small amount of privacy,
prntf anrA11 90 s1xy -, rtRrxl,
He was beside Eve as the party
walked down to the shore. She
did not know whether he had cho-
sen this place by accident or de-
sign, and his lack of apparent
interest in her, or in any of the
company, gave no clue. Instead,
he seemed to be studying the
house, turning from time to time
to glance back at where its gabled
charm belied the anxiety they all
felt.
The storm had cleared during
Lhe night, but there was still a
wind that ruffled the surface of
the water, and slapped the wet
branches of the rnododendrons
against their faces. But even when
Brett turning unexpectedly,
found the wet leaves impossible
to duck, he put them aside ap-
parently without rancor. His
frown was directed, it seemed to
Eve, more at the struggling COM
pany ahead of them, than at the
tangled shrubbery through which
they walked, Finally she could
no longer stand IL,
sDo you hate us so naucn2' she
demanded "Are we spelling sale
for you-just because there are sc
many of us to be frightened?
suppose if only Mrs. Marbury and
her niece were here, you could
easily have explained away these
odd happenings.
He looked at her and, for the
first time, Eve saw him off guard
He did not look formidable oil
even sulky, at the moment. In
stead, his expression was as
youthfully beWildered as her own
might have been.
There was something else, too
in his face-a sudden aWareneSS
that she was trying to hurt hin
that made her almost sorry she
had spoken. But the next minute
his face settled into its accus.
toned stern lines, ard he spoke
as usual, without looking direcd,
at her.
ut would be easier to make :
sale-as you so charmingly put I
If there were fewer PEG p y
about. However, ] would like Z
remind YOU that I am not con
cerned with the sale My only m
terest is in restoring the place a:
It should be. But Of course yot
are not interested In this. III
stopped abruptly.
esBut of course ! am, Eye con
traiicted sweetly. I'm still wait.
ing for an answer, remember
You said you were not interested
In the sale per Sc, but you can
do the restoration without MAKING
the sale, can you2
"Why not2
His words were like the flick O
= whip and Eve, who had beer
momentarily ashamed OF hersel
for badgering the man, reverted
suddenly to her Usual resentmen
Of his manner. She started to ex
plain, belatedly, but his voice GU
across her words.
az can do the decorating ever
Il the King OF Siam buys tn