The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-09-23
Chapter "a
Tight Moment

Chapter "a
Tight Moment
go that's it." muttered Larry
y inside the hut. I'VE just took
ii for granted the fellow would
be q native from Chuka but
Sherwood has his nerve" No one
else spoke. Anne found she could
better control her trembling
knees If she sat down.
Sherwood handed Oliver two
bright red papers. Letters of in
PRODUCTION in case you require
them he said dryly. "And this"
opening a pretentious parchment,
els an Official proclamation to
the effect that / am of a rank
equivalent to a-sMandarin Of the
Second Button and must be re-
ceived and treated as SUCH" he
finished with a slightly deprecat-
ing smile.
Browning, Philip took the docu=
rnent and went over it slowly. i
bet he can't read one word in
ten.D muttered Larry.
"Shut up" Kissed his wife.
They'll be hearing you.
Mackey was staring inqiiisitive-
ly towards the mess hut tIndoubt-
eddy wondering why the others
did not appear. but Sherwood
kept his eyes glued on Philip
Oliver and his face as expression
less as a Chinese diplomats.
J At length Philip handed back
the document. Il suppose there's
nothing ] can do about it," he
said coldly, 'but you must know
you're not welcome here"
I've come only to observe
not to interfere Sherwood's
voice held a note of placation.
Oliver shrugged skeptically and
then stiffened. eHow about
Amer"
Sherwood's face froze-a all but
the eyes. What do you mean?"
Inside the hut Beth caught her
breath with a surprised gulp. The
others were so quiet that they
could hear the tinkle of the cot
toriwood leaves slapping each
other in the faint breeze, Mackey
squared off as if expecting to
have to break up a fight.
Oliver was brave enough. He
saw Sherwood's eyes but still he
answered: II mean that wedding
ceremony in Arishar does not
give you the right to be called
her husband"
II don't know as he's asked for
the right" Diana Uttered inside
the hut.
1T happens to keep you from
having the right" Blaze an
SWered dangerously.
'.Them's fightin' words" quoted
Larry delightedly.
$50 that's your gam e, /"
sneered Philip. "Well, we've dis
covered" he glanced towards
the hut and changed his mind.
Anne felt sure he was thinking
of the birth charts.
Il won't knock you down as
you deserve, Z said Blaze through
clenched teeth, because / under
stand your provocation, but I'm
here to stay and | suggest that
we try to get along together. I've
brought a cook and equipment.
I'd like you to assign us a place
to pitch our tents
Every one relaxed. The light
ming had spent itself in thunder.
Oliver spoke civilly. Il suggest
you come greet my colleagues
now. | believe you've met them
and their wives
II have" said Sherwood falling
into step with him and motioning
Mackey to follow. Il just learned
In Hami that the Martaines and
Huffs arsWith you
Fright
INSIDE the hut Anne glanced
4 longingly towards the kitchen
door. She didn't know whether
she could face fhis ordeal or not
until she saw Diana watching her
sharply. Beth came over and took
Anne's hand and squeezed it ex-
citedly.
Gosh, you're looking swell"
she whispered, and scrutinized
Anne critically. 7 never noticed
before what gorgeous eyes you
have. Maybe Blaze isn't as bad
q scoundrel as Philip thinks"
"And maybe he's worse" an
swered Anne, coldly drawing her
hand away. For a moment every
thing appeared blur to her. She
heard footsteps, saw undiferen-
tiated figures float into the room.
Diana rushed forward. Blaze
was shaking her hands and reach
ing for the physician to draw him
into the greeting. The kitchen
door was too much for Anne. She
slipped out and stood staring
blindly at the cook whose cheeks
were pulled out like bladders. He
had just filled up with water
China-cook fashion-to sprinkle
down the earthen floor. In his
surprise at the way she stared,
he swallowed the fluid instead.
But you'll have TO speak to
him sometime" she said out loud.
sYes, missile, gulped the cook.
"You can't 60 around like a
tragedy queen
mo, MiSsie."
She did not hear him. In a mo-
ment she had herself in hand
again and stepped back into the
big room. The other greetings
had been completed. Blaze was
gazing down at Beth. He lifted
his head and looked across at
Anne. his face expressionless. as