The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-06-09
Chapter Six
Stay Out Of My ParIor!

Chapter Six
Stay Out OF My ParlOr!
Il THINK it's a mistake to let the
4 Macks live in the house at all,
Thorn told Jocelyn and Bob. "The
caretaker's lodge is empty and il
has 1--WE rooms; comfortably fur
nished and pleasant enough. Sure.
~ much better than a Texas farm
house. Besides, it's on the edge OF
the estate, well away from the
house, and we wouldn't have to
look at them"
r Bob swung his flannel clad legs
over the arm of a great Morris
chair and tugged thoughtfully al
his mop OF taffy-colored hair. mo,
he drawled. wont do, dear
brother Of mine. You might be able
20 push the two women and the
child into the background, but
you'll never manage old Talbot
Mack or his granisonl"
Jocelyn stood up, her frothy
black net dinner dress swirling
about her feet, and touched the
smooth curls framing the clear,
creamy skin of her face.
Il think Bob is right" she
averred. Il saw enough of young
Talbot to realize he has will of his
own. Wen be lucky if they stay in
the left wing and don't usurp the
house, the swimming pool, and the
riding stablesl At least I'll be get
ting out of this when ] marry
Godfrey next fall"
THAT over-stuffed hero" Bob
snorted.
Don't be vulgar, Bob" Jocelyn
said. "Geoff is kind and thoughtful
@And dullI" he finished, looking
over at the ancient .grandfather's
clock reposing in a special niche
between the book-lined walls.
We'll, it's seven o'clock. Let's cal"
Thorndyke offered Jocelyn his
arm and conducted her with dig
nifty into the enormous oak-pan-
eled dining room.
The Mack family, according to
age. had stiffly and elf-conscious-
ly arranged themselves on one side
OF the long candie-lit table. Nearest
the head sat old Talbot Mack,
gaunt and shabby in his rusty best
suit; then Della, his daughter,
gathered into home-sewn folds of
baby-pink rayon which matched
her cheeks; then young Talbot,
scrubbed and boldly defiant, wear
ing q clean white shirt and overall
pants; then Gretchen, flushed and
miserable in her best silk dress;
and the child Betsy. who gazed
upon the china and crystal with
awed eyes.
Hello, everybody" Bob greet
ed heartily. Il hope you're as hum
CRY as am! Say. just how are
things down in Texas, anyhow"
Bob had more than half expected
old Mack to answer, but he APP
peared tired and more interested
IN food than talk, so it was young
Talbot who replied:
Rotten. Oh. the big oil fellows
are doing all right, but the cotton
farmers are in the same situation
there as in Louisiana or Georgia.
We had to sell our cattle in order
10 keep eating. He shrugged.
mice country out here.sI guess the
climate isn't much different than
southern Texas. Maybe a little
hotter"
THE sea breeze tempers the heat
here" Bob said. 'I'll show you
around tomorrow"
"Aren't you forgetting your ten
mis- finals at the club tomorrow"
Jocelyn reminded. "Mr. Mack must
realize how important that is. Do
you play tennis, Mr.. Mack?"
mo, ] don't. I'm a farmer"
Humphreys began serving bouil-
Ion in thin china cups and CONVEX
sstion Jagged. Old Mack picked up
his cup by both delicate handles,
shifted, blew gustily, then drank
down the contents. Tally. using his
bouillon spoon, flushed a little;
h however, Bob, restraining a
chuckle, picked up his own cup
and followed Cramps suit.
AN Understanding
old Mack's sleepy eyes, resting
" on her, dimmed with a far
away gaze. did your grandma sit
here ia this room every night to
eat7"
Bob nodded. Every night. She
always sat in that chair at the end
Of the table. Toward the last we
had TO carry her down. Lord, she
was magnificent"
Old Mack beamed. yep, she
would be. She allus had plenty o.
gumptionl"
Jocelyn permitted herself a
small sigh as Humphreys removed
the soup cups and brought on the
main course. The girl--what was
her name ~ Gretchen? ~ looked
much better tonight. She had
brushed her black hair into a
smooth roll on her neck and left
OF rouge entirely. Jocelyn thought,
with the proper clothes and Golf
fure she wouldn't be bad at all"
However, the fat uncorseted
mother was hopeless.
Gretchen said now, abashed and
hesitant, as If overwhelmed by all
this display Of luxury: Tally
didn't want to come to California
at all but we hadn't a place else to
20. What / mean is-we don't ex-
pect charity-to eat with you folks.
1mean IL you've got an extra stove
you don't use =. ] can cook for
Us and we won't be botherin' you
folks -" She tried to 60 on but