The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-12-01
Chapter 80
Summer In Town

IT HAD been a horrid early
l spring, and May made up for it
for all she was worth. June too.
The leaves on the trees standing
off the dust, and hanging on to
their first baby freshness as long
as possible.
Nina, who had thought of the
Park in past years, more as place
TO walk off hips and hangovers,
than anything else, began to love
it and use it, like hundreds Of
other New Workers, chained to the
city during the summer months.
Cordelia went on a cruise to
Norway and Sweden. Horseface
went to Bar Harbor. Tony Leeds,
70 the south Of France. Every
body, that is, Nina's friends, fed
the town. But still the wonderful
finding Of that new quiet happi-
ness that new peace, gave Nina
all the vacation she needed.
July came on with a threat of
the first real heat, but she didn't
mind. The movies (if the money in
the previous days dear little COM
partment had not been used up)
were gilt heavens of GOODNESS; the
dirty roofs across the court kept
out the suns hot rays; and her hus-
band was an angel
Nina, sweet" said David,
you're looking marvellous -" as
indeed she was.
Iced tea. Gin rickeys. Salmon in
aspic +. Beer. -.
q like New York, in the sum-
mer, darling. :"
II like -. you.
David was a lover who never
grew weary of loving.
If they got along too, too beauti-
fu,'y on their SIS a day-and yes
terday's compartment usually did
have something left over in it, for
today's amusements-David laid it
all to Nina's superlative manage
ment.
Nina never realized Just how
she had got started using small
amounts from her own allowance,
when he had told her not to, but
they were so small and made
such difference it seemed the
height of foolishneSs not to con-
tinue.
Ten dollars or so a week /.
what was that? Nothing. Nothing
-. and everything.
The Carstairs Sale
DAVID was that rare creature: a
II man who does not come home
from work every evening, chock-
full of business.
Cars that he didn't sell, he didn't
talk about cars that he did,
well, that was different. But he
made it interesting, amusing. He
was not anything boring, like an
automobile salesman with a vision:
he was Just an ambitious young
man, with sense Of humor.
He knew motors, and he liked
them, and he had just enough of
smattering OF psychology to help
IN putting over a sale: but Nina
suspected-and rightly-that his
engaging personality was his best
asset.
Jack Knight wasn't anywhere
near as good. nice though he was.
and David said he could take an
engine apart, and put il together
again, blindfolded.
II Jack had the car, and his pros
pect had the inclination and the
money. Jack could draw up the
necessary papers; but it was David
who worked the miracles in the
salesroom. He was known as 9
young fellow with a future"
There was the time. for example
did tell her about this
when q Long Island. branch of
their agency sent q Mr.. Carstairs
in to David. Over the telephone.
the Long Island salesman ex-
planned that Carstairs's automo-
bile. one of their most expensive
cars. was in their service station
for a big repair Job. Carstairs
wanted to rent O machine while his
own was being painted and over.
hauled, but they had been unable
10 satisfy him. Would David see
what be could do for the man?
David would and he saw 70
CarstairS so well that he sold him
q brand new car, instead of rent
ing him a secondhand one, A neat
piece OF work. David admitted,
wifh no trace az modesty; and al
though there was some doubt as
20 whether he-or the Long Island
WleSman-would get the commits
eion. II was putting the thing over
enat pleased him.
The head Of the agency had sent
ssr David. and congratulated him.
nd that was something.
Jack knight told Nina that her
husband was considered quite the