The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-02-13
Chapter %
Letters From Ial1n


2edro was the quiet executive.
laid colored chart of Ell Ca
hllo before them, showing open
Ylds; degree of slope, drainage,
nd sections liable to be affected
~ highwater. He had a gang
plow ready for delivery and
crews appointed. Soy bean, man
6gel and alfalfa seed stored against
\ advance In prices.
"If you'll authorize the pillow
purchase and let me hire another,
] can have the winter ploughing
finished before the rains, then we
can give the land another turn
over before seeding and spring
rains"
Constance remembered Peder-
sen saying the land must be
worked deep this first season. She
looked out of the window to the
east. Difficult to think of il being
winter, but the peak upon which
she and Pedro had stopped that
memorable day was covered with
snow.
Gentlemen" she said, as they
were leaving for a ride to the pro-
posed barn site, II don't see how
! can fail with you around me,
each doing your part"
"And you riding herd on us to
see we do" leased Peter Taylor,
senior.
Constance, who had slipped out
to give Pancho an apple, earlier,
found her favorite hard to con-
troll. He wanted to run. She gave
him rein, knowing Pedro was not
far behind, and when Pancho was
satisfied, Pedro rode up.
do you mind my saying you
look particularly stunning in that
outfit, Miss Cabrillo?" asked Pc
dro.
Constance felt the swift flash of
color in her cheeks. Resolutely
she looked at him. Thank you.
A Christmas gift from John Rask-
thorne."
"Raskthorne?" Pedro's voice
rasped on the name. "Oh, yes,
Juliano showed me his picture
one time. Polo game, you stand
Ing with him while someon e
handed him trophy"
Constance nodded. THAT was
taken long time ago. He hasn't
ridden since his fathers death.
He was thrown, hunting. His
mother died from shock"
Pedro stared ahead a moment.
"Then it's this John who handles
your estate in the east?"
Eyes, he he's been a very
fine friend to the family since his
fathers death and before. too,
OF course"
They rode on in silence, Con-
stance noting the silver sheen of
winter grass and the sharp white
line above the peaks like reflec-
ton on the sky.
4May / ask II he approved of
YOUR decision to take over the
ranch?"
Constance looked up. relieved.
Eyes. oh. yes, he did he does.
He's very interested. You see, he
agrees with me that we Cabrillos
must have some kind Of an in
come or we'll. as my brother
would say, Shoot the works in
The clop-clop Of horses boots
measured time. then Pedro rode
close, lifted Constance's left hand
and stripped of the gauntlet. mo
ring. Michael?"
mo ring, Pedro"
"And you're not wearing one
on a chain. sonieplace?"
Only a heart on a chain, Pc
dro. The one you gave me. !
mean the locket. of course"
Wordless Melody
DEDRO'S laugh rang out, free
and happy. AT that, you have
my heart dangling. Michael" he
lowered his voice as the others
rode UP, do you know how many
seconds there are in three years?
Three million. sixteen thousand,
eight hundred, That many
heartbeats. Michael, and mine
beats double when I'm with you,
think OF the wear and tear"
Then | must stay away from
you. Pedro" she retorted. and
welcomed the other men so gaily
that they turned to look at her
again and again.
II was Pedro, however, who
stayed away from Constance,
though not willingly. The plough.
ing under way. he drove his ia
Their south to sell the cattle. and
then he was off with Petersen TO
buy the dairy herds.
He dropped from her mind 10
heart 10 remain there like
wofdless melody and left her
thoughts free to write John: long
letters fun of the details of prog
ress on the ranch.
~--one cow palace is completed.
John, and such palace. as clean
and white as modern mansion:
air conditioned: private compari-
ments for each Of the bovine
blue@eioods. There's even a nurs-
cry and, maternity ward of the
ehemists laboratory. A. t
Pete Taylor, a nice old gruFu-
bier says we should have dotted
swiss curtains with baby blue
tie-hackS. but Petersen told him
cows dotted on dotted swiss and
We might find our milk troughs
flowing with polka dotted milk.
so We refrained."
Judge Franek had convinced
John Raskthorne that Il would be
better 10 bargain railroad right.
of-way than sell IL. and one day
Constance wrote.
They're here, the tractors. One
with its crew arrived here today
10 start from the ranch and Law