The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-10-28

thanks for her entertainment. 81
shall play waiting gamefor few
days-a week perhaps. After that.
the deluge!"
She let both George and Tim
severely alone for the next two
days. Indeed it was George who
telephoned to ask if she had for
gotten about them, lost Mrs.
Webb's valuable services, or had
fallen into the lake depicted in the
masterpiece over the mantel.
"Pve been busy" she said. ''But
you can both come out to dinner
tonight. if you like"
eff we like!"
George threw sufficient feeling
into the words to make other COM
ment unnecessary. But when he
told Tim of his plans he encoun-
tered an unexpected obstacle.
go if you wish-and since you
invited yourself" he said. But /
have oGher plans"
Questioned closely, he muttered
of work to be done at the labora-
tory, trying to catch up" George
argued and pleaded in vain. Final
ly he again had recourse to the
telephone.
Tim says he. can't come to-
night" he announced plaintively.
Cant or won't?" inquired Buff.
Says can't; means 'won't'!"
Leave him to mel"
So it was that when Tim
emerged from his tiny Office a lit
tie after six, he found Bluffs car
parked in front and Buff herself
slumped restfully in the seat. She
had the air of having been in that
position for hours.
"Hop in!" she babe him. "Non-
sense, of course you'll come. Well,
you can wash up in my bathroom
as well as in your own, can't you?
Your shirt IS reasonably clean,"
she added, inspecting It critically.
Anyway Webby's heart will be
broken if you aren't there to eat
her biscuits"
Very, Very Determined
LIE HESITATED, but the door
Ii she held open and the imperi-
Gus gesture of her small hand were
too much. He climbed in. Present
ly he said: Look here, Buff, it
seems we'll have to talk this over
after all. / hoped by this time you'd
have tired of your efforts to look
after me. hoped your father
would have sent for you. l hoped
-"
you hoped to get rid of me, in
facti" Her tone was cheerful and
she gave a little tilt to her perky
hat. She looked gaminish and very,
very determined. you're wasting
lot of my time, Tim, and not do
ing yourself any good either. But
I'm prepared to let you drift a
while. Tonight l want you to see
what I've done to the apartment"
She had done a great deal, he
discovered. The too-cheerful rug
had been replaced by restful tan
niSh square. Several comfortable
arnchairs stood about. An open
bookcase glowed with color from
rows of volumes. The painted mon
strosity above the mantel had dis
appeared and a panel of Lance's
cartoons, plainly framed, lent an
impish note to the room. Ash trays
stood conveniently about; the big
square pillows on the couch were
covered with whipcord.
"Retter?" she inquired.
Much better. And cost about a
thousand dollars. | suppose"
She produced a slip of paper
which she showed triumphantly in
his unwilling hand.
"Eighty-seven dollars and forty
five cents" she announced. "Of
course the cartoons and the books
aren't included. | brought them
from the ranch. But all the rest
paid spot cash for "
Imagination must be the strong
point in the Carroll family" he
said rudely. Il happen to have
priced a couch similar to this N.Y.
self. 1t was a hundred and forty
five dollars. AS for the rug"
George, Mortified, attempted to
interrupt but Buff interviewed
calmly.
Both are secondhand" she said.
"The couch was all right as to
springs but needed recovering.
That stuff looks expensive but it's
only glazed chintZ. The rug was
bargain because it had a burned
place in one corner. Webby and
put the biggest chair over that so
you can't see it. A carpenter made
and stained the bookshelves for
me. You'll find them on that list
$11,60. They're only pine though
they do look like walnut" she con-
cluded complacently.
"Golly, what wife you'll make
some mani" The words burst from
George involuntarily. 81 know I'm
getting bit thin on top, but then,
all the Weekes become bald pre-
maturely. Once you get that firmly
fixed in your mind. it doesn't seem
nearly so bad, Buff And ! know
Tm-er-not slender, but I'm sure
the right diet could correct all that
Do you think you might con3ider
me, darling?"
She shook her head.
Sorry, George. I thought you
knew Tim and are practically en-
gagged"
"We're notl" He glared at her.
TITS all right to have your joke,
Buff, but if you aren't careful peo-
pie will begin to talk. All college
towns are gossipy, didn't you know
that? How'd you like to have
everybody taking you seriously on
this Subject?"
at gives me an idea," she said.
Dinner, Webby? Come and eat,
Tim. You won't be half so cross
after you've been fed"
Continued Monday.