The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-02-20

once, then burrOWed into the re-
ports which had come in that
morning. She didn't dare get be-
hind. Saturday the railroad would
be open; the dairy car put into
operation, and Petersen would
return from the south with the
last of the herds; great cattle cars
of herds to file into the waiting
barns. By Monday the ranch
would be running full blast
John looked in once and seeing
her working, went away without
speaking.
Again Constance bent her head
over figures. They were hearten-
ing. If the new herds produced
with a respective amount of milk
and cream, Ell Cabrillo would pull
through in time.
Figures. she thought, were de-
pendable. Figures and cows and
land 1t was the human element
you couldn't confine in columns
and if you did, it seemed
that they slipped into the debit
side.
Her work completed, Constance
lighted a cigaret and tipped back
in her chair. If only there were
some way to buy the ranch as she
had bought Pancho. She'd be
willing, eager to give the Ca
brillos their share of the income
=. :. providing she could run thu
Llace without interference from
them.
If there were only =. some
way.
There wasn't. She was handi-
capped. But Michael Mahoney
had fought through with more
handicaps than she had.
Through for the day. Con-
chita?"
John stood at the door. Con-
stance looked at him in wonder.
He was in riding breeches and
boots; a dull blue polo shirt in
tensified the blue of his eyes.
Through until the evening re-
ports" she answered. 81 let them
60 last night and that isn't wise"
Then :. then you'll 60 riding
with me? I'd like to see the
ranch"
I've Wronged You
uER first thought was one of
L i relief. They could talk while
they were riding. She could tell
John what she'd been wanting to
tell him. Her next thought was
one of CONSERVATION. John was
riding again.
He had come in, was standing
before her desk looking down at
her with an expression totally
foreign to him, hesitant, appeal
ing.
Defeated and sympathetic, she
nodded. She wouldn't be able to
talk freely this trip. John who
had loved horses and who hadn't
been near one since he'd put the
death dealing shot into the favor
tie which had killed his father,
was about to break his vow ;.
for her
an change"
She swung her feet to the floor
and hurried to her room, trying
to close her mind to the memory
of that tragic day; the horse
writhing in pain: Mr.. Rask-
thorne's brow wet as he tried to
keep his agony from his son; and
John, anguish etched on his face,
drawing a revolver to put an end
to the suffering of one and to
wait with the other until death
carried him into peace.
Constance tossed her first
choice of a sweater aside. She
had worn a pink hunting coat
that day. She'd wear white now.
There must be nothing to strike
the flint of memory.
Constance Joined John in the
yard and found Pancho and an
other horse saddled.
Let's 60 to the top and work
back" she said as she swung into
the saddle. Come onl" She rode
off, and in a moment heard Johns
horse behind her.
She looked back Even Pedro
could ride no better. She flushed
with pride. as she had flushed so
long ago when she, comparative
nonentity. had waited between
chukkers for the ten goal man
to ride up and smile for her alone.
Resolutely she skirted the spots
made dear to her by Pedro. When
they came out on summit, il
was far from the boulder peak.
But e. Cabrillo lay below them,
its inland valleys one mosaic pat
tern of beauty. And when they
turned, the western slope Was
rich with beauty.
"Chita." John pulled in close
to her. I've wronged you. |
didn't believe a person could love
land enough to long 10 possess il
as you long to possess FL Ca
brillo. I'm beginning to under
stand"
Constance smile ed az him
Look, John, see the half-moon
il makes. jutting out to sea. No
tice the coves: and now look al
the highway, like a bandeau on
the hair of a beauteouy blonde
. John. can you imagine that
cut up: pink stucco and log-and-
stone monstrosities every half
mile7"
John stared down az the scene
In the stiffness faint sounds
reached them. the plaintive low
ing of cattle. the bark Of dog.
the sound Of a motor.
He reached for Constancs's
hand. Well keep il in one piece.
Chita." he promised
His horse SHE'D as a silver-gTay
squirrel scurried before Il. seek
ing the shelter OF stub pine, and
John rose with the horse.
wheeled and came back smiling
"Oh. its good 30 be n . saddle
-r-.~ nd rsso..f4 TIA ~