The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-10-31
Chapter IA
A Fathers Advice

Chapter IA
A Fathers Advice
NEITHER woman was surprised
" to have Lance arrive early
with Tim, bewildered and a little
angry. IN tow.
Lance triumphantly exhibited
notebook crammed with sketches.
Got 'em hanging around Cor
liss's Office" he explained. Won
derful place. Corking types. FL
eanor, / think we'll stay on here
a week or so. Too bad Buff hasn't
room for us, but then the hotePs
comfortable enough. Corliss has
promised to show me some types
that win fit right into my plans
tor the new series"
Buff was demure and quiet all
through the meal. Lance's exuber-
ance made any other attitude i'm
possible, and il pleased her to see
d Tim thawing out minute by min
ute, under the genuine interest the
older man displayed in his work.
Confronted by Bluffs father, and
feeling an apology due for his long
stay at the ranch, Tim had tried to
put into words something of what
had happened to him.
He was halfway through his
second stumbling sentence when
the cartoonist gripped him excited
~ by the arm.
Look at that fellow outsidel
Tim. my boy, go out and engage
him in conversation for five min
utes, will you? Five will do though
If you could make it ten =. get q
move oni"
Toward the end Of the afternoon,
when Lance firmly annexed him
for dinner, Tim made second and
more determined effort.
"Mr Carroll, about Buff. | think
you ought to know"
Il know Buff. and that's all that's
necessary" Lance chuckled. III
she's picked you as her partner foI
the march up church aisle, my
boy, you might as well give up first
as last. What that daughter of mine
wants she gets-regardleSS. It:
simpler to yield than to fight, I've
found"
Tins jaw set stubbornly. "You
must do as you think best, oil
course, sir, but remember I'm moi
her father; I'm not related to hel
in any way. want to make it clear
70 you that Buff is staying ir
Boulder because she chooses to
not because of any persuasion or
my part"
Lance nodded, turned his head
20 view with admiration a griZzled
man who might be either WPA
worker, or a miner, Tim thought
with grim amusement.
The CAROLS spent ten days ir
Boulder. Lance was here, there anc
everywhere in his usual friendly
way.
The Denver and Boulder paper:
were highly excited by his pres
ence and he was generous with in
terviews. Buff did not know
whether Il was by chance or By
intention that each newspaper
story contained some mention o.
Timothy Corliss, friend and recen
guest of the famous artist. What
ever the motive. the effect wa
beneficial.
George caught Buff alone anc
told her. smiling radiantly, tina
Tim was now the towns white
headed boy. his recent escapadt
with Iris DeMuth apparently for
gotten by popular consent.
The evening before her parent!
left, they had a serious talk with
their only child. Queerly enough
II was Lance who began it.
Buff, that young man of your:
Is all right" he announced.
She said wryly, 'Tf he only were
my young mani But he behaves
as though had a peculiarly loath.
some form of leprosy. or some
thing"
Burned Child
CARROLL shook his head in.
~ diligently.
Defense mechanism. He's a lo'
more attracted to you than he
knows himself, or would admit il
he did know. He's a burned chile
just now and doesn't realize thai
when winter sets in a fire is goine
70 AFFORD a grateful warmth if usec
in moderation. Stick around, Buff
Cold weather comes early uE
here" F
That's honestly your advice
Lancer"
Father and daughter exchanged
q long look: a look which made
Eleanor feel momentarily isolated
She reminded herself that Buff
had always been more Lance:
child than hers; touched with hi:
genius, endowed with his ability
to get his own way, gifted with his
happy-go-lucky charm.
my advice-honestly. At leas'
for a few months. Between us
Weekes and have hauled him out
Of his shell-for the time being al
least"