The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-10-23

it's the last day Of September anc
you're still here? If Miss Carol
honored your - er-reservations
to speak, why not miner"
"Mr. Corliss had motor acct.
dent" Buff interviewed little
Stiffly. "AlSo / have no intention
of keeping the house open during
October. I'm sorry" she said again
"but I'm afraid you'll have to make
other arrangements. It's not worth
your while to unpack."
II beg to differ with you. AS a
matter of fact, we are unpacked.
shall telephone my lawyer in Den
yer to look into this matter. have
my receipt"-he touched his coat
pocket-"and I think you'll find il
will be difficult TOTO evict me-"
He was so pleased with the word
he repeated it. ITO evict me, Miss
Carroll. No, I feel quite sure I'm
legally secure in my position"
Buff" said Tim, "may I handle
this for you? I'll do little tele-
phoning myself-to a lawyer
know in Boulder. think We'll get
pretty rapid results"
MAY ask your own position
here, young man? You came as a
tenant-a stranger to Miss Carroll,
or so l understand. You were
slightly injured, and you remained
IN spite of the-or so you'd have
me believe!-illegal proceedings
carried on by Atkins. You now adj
dress your landlady by her first
name. May I ask il the household
has consisted during this time of
you two young people-alone?"
Alimentary Achievements
TIM kept his temper with an eff
L fort. 'By no means! Aside from
Atkins, Miss Carroll has been
chaperoned by Mrs. Webb, the
housekeeper. Not that I feel any
explanation is owing you; simply
to keep the record clear. advise
you to pack, Mr.. Hunt. Buff, I'll
telephone now and get this matter
Strengthened out" He swung his
crutches toward the living room
where the telephone was.
Mrs. Webb appeared almost at
once to announce dinner and Buff
hoSpitable heart prompted her to
invite her obnoxious tenants to
stay even though her anger still
simmered at Hunts implications.
Her wrath was not lessened by the
significant glance he gave the fat
cook. Wearing her apron, her
broad red face damp from her ex-
ertions, she looked exactly what
she was: a servant; by no means a
chaperon in the conventional sense
of the word.
Mrs. Hunt and her daughter de-
Scended at once. "Maudie May"
said her father, with a proud wave
of his hand toward the fat girl.
Buff with difficulty concealed her
JOY. "Maudie May Hunt till she is
tired - she won't find a resting
place on this ranch!" she muir
INJURED to Tim as she followed her
guests to the shaded dining room.
I'm afraid she will overnight"
at least" he replied modify. 81
can't get hold of the fellow / want
just now-nor anybody else for
while. Big case in court and all
the legal lights are tied up. I'll
call again later on but this is just
the silly sort of thing that takes
time to settle.
II should think all you'd have to
do would be to call the sheriff."
she told him.
He shook his head. There was no
time for further talk between
them. Mrs. Webb had done her best
or her worst-for the new ar
rivals. -Platters of fried chicken,
mounds of fluffy mashed potatoes
mixed with cream, a great bowl
of crisp salad, homemade jam and
pickles, a green apple pie which
melted in the mouth-from begin
ming to end it was a triumph of
culinary art. Mr.. Hunt and his wife
ate with openly expressed ap-
prevail. Maudie May settled herself
earnestly to the task of consuming
as much food as was possible with
out actually bursting, Buff
thought. Her fascinated gaze lin
gered on the fat girl. Tim also
could not tear his eyes away from
the absorbing spectacle.
There was no hurry, no temper
amental skipping from this dish
or that, Maudie May was out to
make a workmanlike job of dinner
by no stretch or the lmagmatlon
could it be called luncheon-and
make it she did. She neglected
Crisp stalks of celery were
given the same consideration as
the savory chicken. Biscuits APP
parently constituted sort Of filler
to occupy whatever crevices there
might be in the meal. Her Jaws
moved rhythmieally, tirelessly,
stopping only when Maudie May
drank from the tall glass of iced
tea beside her plate, glass which
was several times refilled.
Buff began to feel choked with
food, though she herself ate very
little. Tim too trifled with his
meal. Occasionally the proud IA
Their of this remarkable diner
swept a glance about the table as
though to call attention to his
daughters alimentary a C hieve-
ments. There was no need. Neither
Buff nor Tim could have looked
away if the house had caught afire.
Even Mrs. Webb passed from
delight in this appreciation of her
efforts to definite uneasiness. When
Maudie May asked for and re-
ceived second piece Of pie,
drenched it literally with thick