The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-02-27
Chapter "a
Confidential Conversation

thCAG last lll5Llty kI1OW. 1IdTFlSOIl,
my very own man, watches this
one" ... ...r ....
DR.. Wing shook his head. "You
know the law" he said,
Constance sank down on the
edge of a trough. She knew.
Slaughter IF all diseased cattle.
Loss of me herd. A check on the
outflow of milk from Ell Cabrillo
Diaries until a test had been run
on the entire place and even
then the stigma.
Doctor Wing, there's a good
chance they didn't contract it in
this very short time, isn't there?"
Michael Mahoney had never bar
gained more eagerly. Give them
a chance. Let me have the whole
herd driven to- the inner valley.
We can isolate them for the pc
Rod of quarantine. It isn't Just
the money and the reputation OF
the ranch, it's" She looked al
the nearest cow regarding her
with patient eyes. ooh, / like the
fool things" she explained. II just
can't have them slaughtered for
nothing"
Doctor Wing thought for a few
moments. you've been having
a lot OF subversive activity late-
ly, haven't you, Miss Cabrillo? ]
came here on tip telephoned the
office. I'd like to find out who's
doing this. Call your man and
we'll see about it."
Lamson came forward. "See
anything usual about that
herd?" Doctor Wing asked him.
Lamson looked them over,
then turned to Constance. chi
say" he burst out, cow did she
get in 'ere?" And he cut the
stranger from the herd.
Wing was satisfied. Remember,
Miss Cabrillo, this quarantine
means dry cows. Is it going to be
worth the feed?"
"Yes!"
"All right, I'll stay with the
drive. But first let me telephone
for some men. They might as we'll
do the disinfecting you'll need at
the old cattle barns"
Petersen took Wing to the
telephone, then came back to
Constance. II won't be able to
learn anything from anyone" he
said with the slow anger of his
race. There's something queer
about this place. It seems to close
in against strangers. To keep on,
means eternal vigilance, and
Constance knew what he meant.
Petersen was beginning to won
der ii ii was worth ii. So was
she, with the best-producing herd
on the place in quarantine.
Slowly she went back to the
ranch house, stepped into the
patio and stopped short. Juliano
was dressing cash on Don's
cheek. Nadine was crying softly
and Donna was historical, "That
damned horse Of yours" shouted
Don.
Constance wheeled and ran TO
the stable. A high, shrill whinny
greeted her. And then the stable
boy ducked out of the stall, tears
streaming down his face.
Hes bad hurt" he sohbed,
"your brother was mad at him
=. see this leg here"
Constance saw the leg and
other marks--"Get Doctor Wing,
he'll be at Barn Three. Tell him
to hurry"
She soothed the horse, ran a
eareSslng hand down his neck
and along the tanks where mus
Giles twitched, and when he
qnieted she eaned her head
against him. Don had tried to
break Pancho. He had broken
her. When her enemies struck at
her through defenseless animals,
she was whipped.
The Key Turns
NASTY cash on his leg here,
Y and some other nasty things. y
Doctor Wing pronounced after
his examination. Whoever did
this ought to be horse whipped :"
Constance nc ed. But who
would do the whipping? Neither
Don nor Donna had ever been
corrected for any wrong they had
done.
Doctor Wing looked at her
uuizzically. cleared his throat and
grumbled, you won't be much
help here now. I need men, SO
put Pancho in a trailer and take
him 10 my place. Tell the wife to
give him that box stall on the
acre lot. He needs the quiet he'll
have there. Stay with him until
he feeds"
Constance sent the boy for her
car keys while she blanketed
Pancho, led him TO the trailer,
and tackled on the canvas cover.
Only his amber eyes were visible.
They looked at her trustingly.
She drove out OF Ell Canine
Real slowly. She didn't want 10
see the family until she could
control her anger. Then they
would talk She would bargain
with them. Howl What had she
left TO offerg
Marriage to John Rasktherne II
he would agree they all 90 east.
She could leave the ranch with
Petersen.
There was one other solution.
She could admit defeat ard
turn the place over TO John 10 sell,
The Taylors would buy in. Pedro
would come home TO Peter.
She had little money left over,
she could offer IL 20 the family |!
they would leave. Shed find
work some place; some place
where she could board Pancho
nearby.
Pedro had said Michael Ma
honey wouldn't give up until he'd
been thrown in the BaStlle and