The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-07-01
Chapter II
Shots Out OF Nowhere
pRETT RODMAN, suddenly Sc.
II riol1s. said quickly.

pRETT RoDMAN, suddenly Sc
- rious. said quickly:
IF there is any danger, no one
should 60 wandering around
alone. / still can't believe that any
of this is deliberate except
that we would have a house
party" he added ironically. But
intentional or not, no one should
take a chance on wandering away.
If Ham wants to walk about, I'll
go with him."
Eve was Tritated as she usual
ly was, at one of Brett's pro-
nouncements. He seemed so SNUG
and coeksure. She didn't suspect
that he had anything to do with
their predicament--it would be
such silly way to sell a housed
Nevertheless, Brett Rodman S
calm assumption that they were
a lot Of helpless Sheep and were
making THE worst of bad situa-
ton, annoyed Eve more and more.
OF course, she admitted to her
self, Brett had no way Of know
ing that she was not one of this
gilded company which took safety
and ease for granted.
She had wondered lately what
he would say if she should sud
denly admit the truth. Would he
admit, then, that he was bewild-
cred as they were? Or would he
still feel that they were making
a great to-do over nothing? She
saw a chance to get even and said
swiftly:
Il think you're making too
much Of this temporary embar-
rassment. Mr.. Rodman. Anyway.
if Ham wants te walk his dog,
there is nothing on earth to pre-
vent it, is there? Lordy Mac has
his rights"
'Hear-hear" said Neil Bow
ron Approximately
But Brett looked at her SO dis
approvingly that Eve was a little
afraid she had gone too far. How
ever, he said only:
Miss Prentice is reading some
thing into my statement that was
not there. OF course | don't be-
lieve there's anything to get ex-
cited about. Anyone who stays
near the house shoult. be safe
enough" he added patronizingly.
"But | thought Mr.. Willard @in-
tended looking around the island.
And I don't believe he should go
alone, in that case. We should all
stick together"
Eve felt as if she had been
reprimanded like a child, and she
thought that perhaps the others
agreed, AT any rate, Mr.. Howe
and Julie and even Gina agreed
with Brett Rodman.
Eve looked at her plate discon-
solate'y and felt sorry for herself
Gina was making such a play for
Rodman that even Ham had felt
slightly uncomfortable. But that
that iceberg-Eve thought fierce
~, wanted only to get them away
He was willing even to humiliate
her and Ham to gain his point.
Later, when Ham was standing
in the hall putting on Lordy Macs
harness, Eve slipped up to him
and whispered:
Listen that Rodman doesn't
know it all. If you want to do a
little exploring. I'm with YOU"
Right" Ham whispered back.
"But go into the living room and
say you're sleepy, or something.
Then, instead of going upstairs,
slip out through the doorway into
the lower. hall and meet.me at the
side of the house. Then we'll go
down 10 the beach together"
soy Love In Doubt
IT WAS fun to wink at aim and
4 agree, but Later, slipping out
through, the door from the hall
that led into the transverse hall
way, Eve felt anything but adj
venturous. The night had a damp
chill That was definitely unfavor-
able to adventure.
But she resolutely threw coat
over her shoulders and went on
to the side door. She started when
Ham spoke to her, almost at her
elbow.
Say - this is pretty swell of
you, but I'm feeling that wasn't
so smart / don't mind getting
mixed up in anything myself, but
/ don't want you.
tNonsensel" said Eve, with a
ight-heartedness she did not feel.
"Rodnan is just being too eau
tious. After this is over, wen
laugh at our filters"
well !. maybe" Ham agreed
cautiously.
He led the way down to the
beach. keeping Lordy Mac care
fully on his leash. That gentle
man, finding that he was expected
to be quiet, carefully restrained
himself, and even refused to do
more than growl in his throat as
the white cat darted around the
house.
Once on the beach, however,
Ham slipped he leash and Lordy
Mac ran wildly up and down, pre-
tending that the water was at
tacking him and then pursuing it
as the waves retreated. Ham and
Eve stood there laughing at him,
Eve at ease for the first time in
many days. Then suddenly Ham
destroyed the peace of the misty
night.
"Say, Eve" he began without
preamble. 8dQ You think Gina will
ever marry me?''
Why, Hami" Eve was almost at
a loss for words. "Whywhy do