The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-07-19

~ Am Watcneu Nell as ne retled
- the shoe-lace.s that Lordy had
playfully undone. Neil was furi-
Gus, and Ham did not blame him.
he had noticed Neil keeping close
70 Eve, and he was aware, as Neil
was, that she had slipped away
while they pursued the dog. He
glanced at Gina for understanding.
and she shrugged lightly. Her at
tention was given for the moment
g the lawyer and Jim Droissard.
Ham felt that she was being pur-
posely aloof.
Neil Strengthened, his face still
red. But he did not, to Hams sur
prise, follow Eve. Instead, he
Sfalked over to the bookcase and
took down the old book that de-
scribed the house. Lordy curled
Up near his masters feet his
liquid brown eyes asking If he
had made mistake. Hams fin-
gers absently tweaked the stiff
ears.
You were all right, fella," he
said softly. "At least ! think so.
Anyway-your guess is as good as
nine"
Later, Ham managed to draw
Gina away from the lawyer and
his companion. Julie and Mrs.
Marbury were gossiping with evil
dent relish In one corner, and 1t
was obvious that Mrs. Jackson
was the person under discussion.
jules unconscious mimicry OF the
caretaker's actions did not leave
any doubt about that.
But Gina, once she was enticed
as far as the circular hallway
even with Lordy,s tail wagging
gaily in anticipation Of a run-was
not too friendly. sl4
What in the world do you
want7" she demanded. you've
been wigwagging at me for the
last ten minutes. Mr.. Howe thinks
you're Just plain crazy" IS
why don't you come for a walk
with Lordy and me?" Ham in.
quired. ITS a lovely night and,
he a d d ed viciously, ssRodmar
seems TO be interested in Eve"
Il don't care about Brett--an6
! don't care about you," Gina sale
decisively. Go and take your dog
for a walk. Wen be here when
you get back"
But Ham, stalking out the front
door. did not know how inaccu.
rate that forecast was. He only
knew that the place where his
heart was supposed to be was ar
aching void and that no amount
Of reasoning would ever convince
him that there was anyone fol
him but Gina.
Lordy Scents Trouble
LOW long he had stayed away
A Il Ham did not know. He avoid.
ed the coast line, sure that Eve
and Brett would have selected one
Of the sand dunes for their talk
Lordy had pranced along with
joyous banks as he followed Ham
over TO the other side of the
island. Here the trees had not
been cut, but they were not
grouped so thickly and the sandy
beach gave way, at times, to a
rocker shore. This was the ocean
Ia earnest. The waves rose high
and slapped against the island
with a menacing sound that Ham
found strangely soothing
Il wish | could bs like that" he
thought. seating himself on a
smooth rock that commanded a
view Of the sandy waste. "If l
were strong and determined
enough. probably Gina would lis
ten TO me"
Ham SHE'D a stone at the water.
and the splash it made gave hin,
FEELING of confidence. The fact
that the stone he threw had made
an impression on the ocean gavr
him some satisfaction as he rpsf
and whistled for Lordy to return
But in spite Of his forced con
idence, Ham did not turn back tc
ward the house Immediately. H
skirted the shore, moroSely cor
WINGED that even il he did not IA
70 show up within anehour no on
would miss him. Nor did he hurr,
Just before he rounded tn
point. Ham was tempted to 81
down again. There was a nice fls
rock. and perhaps Gina would
worry If he did not return witiiif
the hour. He was only DETECTED
by the inner conviction that Gins
would not even notice the length
Of time he had been away-and
BY Lordy's low growl, as If he had
seen an enemy. Because he was
lonely, Ham began to talk to the
dog:
Come now, Lordyl Things
aren't as bad as that. What did
you do? Scare rabbit? Well, you
mustn't chase him. He can't help
being timid, any more than ! can.
II could just speak up once, per-
haps Gina would forget how /
look. But / just growl in my
throat as you do, and she ignores
meas ! do you"
But as they rounded the point,
Lordy refused to be soothed by
Hams voice. His growl, instead of
becoming lower, grew in intensity
until Ham reached forward and
placed a restraining hand on his
collar. Even so. Lordy continued
10 growl in his throat.
Presently, in the dim light, Ham
could make out the movement
that was causing Lordy's attack
OF nerves. But before he could re-
assure the dog that this was only
q shadow from the tree, he heard
--or thought he heard--a whisper
that was enough to silence his own
breafhing, even while he held
Lordy Mac close to stifie his
barks.
How long he remained there,
the quivering form OF the dog