The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-06-09


complete with stove and utensils
at the back Of the house opposite
the servants quarters. It's Just of
the left rear stairway"
| Thorndyke cleared his throat
and spoke with patronizing ami.
ability. Since you are to live at
SeacliH Manor, suggest we come
to an understanding. Now, con.
corning property rights, we wish
to be fair; understand that. You
may have the use Of our swimming
pool, say-between eight and ten
in the morning? And the beach
oh, until noon every day except
Sunday-we must reserve it then
for our guests. OF course our cars
and horses are purely personal
property"
"Mr. Russell" Tally began, his
deep voice steady, II understand,
from reading copy Of your grand
mothers viii, and that this entire
estate, house and grounds and
chattels, are to be equally divided.
Am I correct?"
The other mans pale eyes wav-
cred. why -. why, yes"
Then" Tally went on, 81 de.
mand that it be done literally. We
will divide the house and grounds
and beach into two equal parts.
Since we are already occupying
the upper part Of the left half, ]
think it would be best If my family
take over the entire left half Of
the house and yours the right. That
will give us twelve rooms, one
driveway, half Of the private
beach, the orchards, the tennis
courts, and half of the stables. You
may take your choice of horses"
Jocelyn's fork dropped to the
floor. Her mouth quivered with
dismay and anger. Oh, why didn't
Thorn say somethingl Bob had
been right about this young Mack.
He might look like a farmer but
he could talk straight to the point.
Bob, choking with suppressed
glee, hid most of his face behind
his napkin. Thorndyke had never
so much resembled a fish. His eyes
were nearly popping from his
head.
Legal Rights
GRETCHEN had frozen with her
" fork halfway to her mouth;
Gramp grinned wickedly; but Mrs.
Mack, entirely at ease, chided
gently: 'NoW, Tally, what makes
you say such things? You know
we don't need twelve rooms"
Please, Mother, let me handle
this" he stopped her. "Mr. Russell,
/ have stated my intentions. What
is your answer"
Thorndyke blinked; startled. His
first instinct was to bluSter a pro-
test; yet young Talbot,s hard, uns
compromising eyes stilled him. He
gulped. I'll guess there isn't any
thing to answer. You have your
legal rights"
"And ! intend to exercise Them"
Tally asserted. snow, may we be
excused? You and ] will attend
to the details in the morning.
Jocelyn rose to her full fiyelfeet.
two and glared at Tally. II have
something to say to you rightnow.
Will you follow me, please?"
Certainly"
While the others watched in Sc
lence Jocelyn led Tally into the
great draWing-room which extend
ed across the entire front. of the
house. 1t was a beautiful room, its
early architecture preserved but
its furnishings mo dernized d. A
great stone fireplace. long enough
to take a small tree, took up the
space at one end; an immense
grand piano filed the other. The
polished floor was carpeted with
rich Oriental rugs; the draperieS
were OF expensive homespun; the
rich colorS of the deep cushioned
chairs and divans reflected the
glow Of slim modernistic lamps.
Grandma allowed me to select
the furnishings" Jocelyn told him
with quiet dignity. 81 love this
room; love it more perhaps than
any other room of the house out
side of my own. My friends come
here-oh. don't you understand
1t would ruin it to partition 1t Off
Thorn says you may do il legally,
but If you do this to me- I'LL never
forgive you'll"
Gould you resent and hate me
any more than you do now?" he
demanded.
II don't hate you, Talbot Mack.
/ can't help reSenting you; not a.
a person. but as someone with
whom I must share my Seacliffl I
don't feel enough emotion toward
you personally to hate you. ] am
completely indifferent to you and
your family as individuals. !"
do you know" he queried soft
ly, "you might be worth knowing
il you'd let yourself be human
being instead Of a doll stuffed with
high and mighty notions?"
I'm not interested in your opin-
IONS" She had to bite her teeth
down on the words which rushed
to her lips. Never. she supposed.
bitterly, would he understand her
fierce possessiveness Of Seaclih.
her unwillingness to share it with
anyone. She made herself say
evenly: "What about this room2
May I keep ii intact?"
He pretended to size up its pos
sibilities while covertly he watched
her face and correctly read the
distress beneath her cornposure.
Sure" he nodded. you're well
come to it. It's much too grand for
my tastes. We've got more than
enough rooms and wen stay out Of
your parlor. It's all yours"
He left her then.
Jocelyn faltered toward q chair.
her composure gone, and broke
into tears. So she was a stuffed
doll! She hated himi Well, he
would soon learn his place. She
would not 90 near him; she would