The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-02-24
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IedLnereQ LlcklnS, anu sat, IdIluS
clasped about her knees, watching
the wavering silhouette of Euea-
lyptus leaves on the wall.
Carefully she went over the
principals in this drama of hers:
Pedro, John, the Cabrillos, Peter
and Petersen. Not one of, them
was, with her. Pedro wanted the
place, the easy way hersmind
insisted this was so, denying the
crying plea of her heart. John
wanted the place. he did not want
her to have it unless he was in
cluded. The Cabrillos would skim
the cream of her efforts and de-
part. leaving her nothing. Peter
expec to gain the place
through her failure. Petersen
didn't care who had it, as long as
he was left to solve the problem
of its efficiency.
And what did Ell Cabrillo want?
She thought of the ranch, its in
dolent acres spread over the coast.
What had John said of it.
months ago? Ga profiigate ras-
cal, romantic. inconsistent. veri-
table Don JUAN"
1t was!
And Pedro was its incarnation.
Everyone touched by the charm
of either the ranch or Pedro.
wanted possession.
No one could yet claim either
Pedro or the ranch. And, forget
ting Pedro. what chance had she
of winning the ranch?
Petersen wanted four men:
four men at fifty dollars month
and keep. Two hundred dollars
and a housing problem.
Young Michael Mahoney bar
gained with tradition. Four for
mer Ell Cabrillo riders must 20.
She needed their cottage. Taylor
had the authority to fire them. 1t
would serve as warning to the
others.
Angry Turmoil
CHE thought of other things, the
- young fields responding to
plough. seed, rain and sunshine in
wanton fashion.
Bumper CROP" Petersen had
said. Our feed bill will be cut in
half this winter"
Constance rode back to the
ranch the next morning to find it
in an angry turmoil over her dis
appearance. Pedro eyed her with
contempt. "One way to focus the
spotlight on yourself" he had
said.
John met her, face white, eyes
sheened with silver. II don't be-
lieve / deserve this, Constance"
Cant take it, eh?" asked Peter
Taylor. and laughed harshly.
"You Mould try to spoil our
fun" chorused Don and Donna.
Only Meg. following her into
the stable. took her in warm
arms. Never mind. pet" she
soothed. You'll be ridin' above
thin yet, the blind fools"
Constance didn't mind. She had
grown another layer of resistance
during that night. She faced the
people who condemned her. with
cool. impersonal eyes. And she
spent an hour in the cemetery.
seated at the foot of the defiant
shaft, strengthening her heart and
her resolutions.
A lull followed the fiesta. The
wer> carrie d to
Beachport in cars and station
and Constance enjoyed
her room and with the UNDER
standing it would never again be
used for guests without her con-
sent.
There was a scene when the pa
pers were brought to. the ranch
and Constance found herself and
Pancho occupying the front page
of all of them; a scene that nearly
defeated her.
She had left the dinner table
abruptly, pausing to say. II didn't
plan it. Anyone who knows any
thing about horses knows that.
However. Donna. you tried to
cheat me out of my place. and
always acts as a BOOM
erang."
Donna rode with Pedro. Con-
stance saw them at all hours. and
laughed whenever she saw them.
Donna had to maneuver to meet
Pedro, to arrange meetings, but
Constance understood. Pedro was
smart. He wasn't going to let
Donna know what he wanted, as
he'd let her know.
Her scene with John was the
most difficult because John was
kind and understanding. II was
almost impossible to be cruel to
kindness.
John came to her Office one
afternoon. face set.
Taylor refuses TO be bought
out in any way" he stated.
I'm not surprised" Constance
returned. and wished. for the
miliionth time. that she had said
nothing to Taylor that night.
Il suppose you're pleased" John
flashed.
~Yes and no." Constance an
swered. I'm glad because | know
what he wants and it's easier to
fight conditions you know. ! asked
you for the right to win this place
on my own ability. Had Taylor
sold out and you stepped in as
manager. I'd have had very little
TO say about the place"
"You believe I would fight you.
Conchitaf" he asked sadly.
mo John, you don't fight. You
take. You're like the Cabrillos;
you accept everything as your
just due. Only. unlike the Cabril-
los, you pay for it, You'd pay nv
part too. and I don't want that"
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