The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-11-04
Chapter rs
Bruce Confesses

1T WAS the night OF tile hospi-
a tal benefit. The Blue Goose
Arena was crowded with ssecta-
tors. In ringside seat, beside
Leo Shore, sat Pam, lovely IS a
nower N her gay summer print.
Tie main bout WA due. The
referee scrambled out Of the ring.
An announcement was made:
Our imminent townsman, Ern-
est Hemingway, win referee the
next bout" Everybody sat up
and took notice. II min way
climbed into the ring. Little Joe
Mills and his opponent started
Jabbing each other, with Heming-
way dancing after them. Joe Mills,
Mills, who worked for the Key
Vest Electric Company, was too
fast for his opponent that night.
Mills, Leo explained to Pam,
had done some pretty time
lighting at one time
And then it happened. A young
man in the white uniform Of an
orderly stoo d for an instant
searching the arena until his eyes
picked out Doctor Shore. He hIr-
RED toward Shore. Leo saw him
and was on his feet in the aisle.
you're needed, Doctor Shore,
the young man said IN clipped
tones That seaman brought in
this afternoon has taken a turn
Tor the worse
Shore turned 10 Pam, but be-
tore he could speak young man
just back Of them bent over and
said:
Doctor Shore, let me take care
OF Miss Quellerton. I'll see her
home. May ], PAM"
Pam looked into the face of Al
gar Bruce. She wasn't especially
anxious to stay. Fights didn't
interest her at all She had
gone only because II was a benefit
which practically al Of the town
supported and because Leo had
asked her. She was about to say
she would 60 home alone when
Agar broke in urgently:
Please, Doctor Shore? And viii
you, Miss Quellerton2"
Leo looked doubtfully from Pam
70 Agar, and then Pam, sensing
something anxious about Bruce.
said:
AN right, and thanks. Hurry
along, Leo. III see you some
other time"
I'm sorry, Pam" Leo said.
You're sure you don't mind3"
Sure" she smiled.
When she had finished her good
byes to Leo, Agar claimed her
attention.
Look. Pam ne said, sFIl wager
you're 10 more interested IN this
than Persian kitten would De
IN having the best seat al the
Metropolitan"
Pam grinned at him. you do
have q way of getting at the
truth, Algar."
Bruce managed to untangle his
car from the weller around the
arena and, with Pam beside him.
drove 10 her home. There, sitting
on the steps of the Qaellert0n
piazza Agar went directly 10 MS
subject
Pam, he said, there's some
thing I've got 10 straighten out. /
Numbered like an idiot IN telling
you Of that bet at Antoine's party.
I've got TO make that right.
Just a minute, Agar. Did
Jerry send you 70 me?" Pam asked
cody.
NO, Jerry has nothing to do
with this. Can't you give me cred
II for d ec ent impulse? I've
wanted to do It before. I know
how a girl would feel if she
thought a fellow was dating her
up Just on bet, and ! want TO
tell you the straight of that Jerry
didn't start that bet business.
I was one Of the boys IN the
group when il was done / came
up Just after you'd gone. 50 /
didn't recognize you. But Jerry
got himself trapped into it. No
fault of his own. The other fell
lows were the aggressors. don't
know whether I'm saying the
right things or not, but what I'm
trying 70 do Is make you see
Jerry wasn't actually a party 70
Il Ii was sort Of handed 10 him.
Good heavens. Pam. when bunch
Of fellows are at you, you couldn't
expect a man TO back down, could
you? Now could you?
Half Persuaded
ALGAR talked on and on Pam
"A answered IN monosyllables
that gave no hint Of her real feel
ing. But Pam was beginning 70
regard Jerry with a certain pride
since learning that ne had not told
all Of the circumstances that
might have put a better face on
the matter for him.
She knew, too, that part Of her
temper in her last quarrel with
Jerry had been reused by IGNORES
appearance, reminding her OF
Vim, his beautiful song and his
talent that Lenore was treating
50 shoddily.
I don't think you should hold
that against Jerry" Agar was
saying. He was just TT a ppe d,
hats all. Jerry's crazy about you
he vas then"
When no answer came from her.
be went on: And all Of the other
fellows felt the same way about
you No one could blame rs for
hat Pam"
IAN right" she said finally. I'll
ty not %"
II was the next day that Pam
called Jerry. She had alwa
been quick 70 make amends Il s'se
tsii she had besn IN the w~rsnE