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

THROUGOUT the day George
Il contrasted Buff, her small en-
ergetic figure, her agile mind and
her self-reliance, with the help
less and appealing Iris.
'Fraid old Tins the kind that
likes to be leaned on" he unused.
Iris got his number the first time
she saw him. Gollyl When she
Lifted those long lashes and gave
him an I'm only a girl. please i.
come-to-my-rescue look, even I
started figuring what could do to
help her. Buff, on the other hand,
stands straight as a young aspen
and defies all the winds of heaven
to move her. ! wonder" He
found this line of meditation so
proftleks that he abandoned it, re-
alizing with a grin that he was de-
pending on Buff to work out her
own plan for Tins ultimate re-
covery.
Tim accepted the dinner invita-
ton without hesitation. Whether
his willingness came from Georges
inclusion, or whether belated
gratitude for Bluffs kindness die
tated it, his partner and friend
cared not a whit. The important
thing was to get Tim within the
sphere of Buff influence.
They found her installed in a
4ve-roomed apartment, the ornate
furnishings of which produced
solemn amusement in its new
tenant. She pointed out large oil
painting above the fireplace.
at was done by a local artist"
she explained. Before / retire it
70 Oblivion I'd like your separate
opinions upon its subject. At first
thought it was the explosion of
a featherbed on the shore of an
Italian lake. Then Mrs. " BIB said
that it looked to her like a cherry
orchard in full bloom in a desert
sort of place This morning the sun
slanted on it and I became con-
WINGED it was the surrealiSt's idea
of cottonfield. Now, with the fire.
light and lamps, I'm beginning to
waver. What do you and George
think, Tim?"
George made opera glasses of his
hands and retired to view the work
of art from different angles. Final
ly he announced that Buff was all
wrong in her guesses.
Its a couple of dozen white
pigeons trying to fly without using
their WINGS" he asserted. "Three
Of EN- are doing darned good job
OF il, too. One of ems two feet
above ground"
To the amazement of the others,
Tim joined in the nonsense.
- I'm surprised at you. both" he
said severely. Don't you know Art
when you see it? The painter has
clearly depicted a buShel of popped
corn being flung across the water.
4 suppose it's a summer resort of
some kind" he went on thought
fully. land the stuff was neither
buttered nor sailed. The purchaser
thus expressed his Indignation"
Were all agreed on its being a
water scene of some kind any
way" Buff said with relief. Nov
when get used TO one or two other
trifiing items in the place. l can
settle down. For instance, if you
want hot water in the bathtub you
turn the knob that's marked
waste And vice versa. And those
two chairs that I've Lut in the
corner and hedged off with table
are not to BE relied upon. Even the
original tenant-Pm letting,
rSe: know-forgot and tried to sit
on one. with alarming results. lie
weighs around two hundred. and ]
thought for while was going to
have to call Mrs. Webb to help me
get him TO his feet"
Tim ran his hand through his
hair, always sign of bewilder-
ment with him.
But why did you rent this
apartment" he asked. His eyes
went from the rug. against whose
crimson background green and
yellow flowers were flung, to the
array of hideous ornaments on the
mantelpiece. There are plenty of
nice places in Boulder What made
you choose thiS?"
Gay Evening
CHE shook her head but made no
- reply. Luckily Mrs. Webb came
in at that moment and announced
dinner.
George rolled expressive eyes as
he tasted his soup.
Il hope you're going to ask us
20 dine here frequently" he said.
when ] eat Mrs. Webb's cooking
realize I've practically starved
when away from her"
what" Buff demanded eau
tiously. do you feel would be fire
quently'?"
There are seven nights in each
and every week." George said. II
don't want to presume on good ma
ture, and it's true that If and when
you leave Boulder Tim and will
have TO subSist on what we receive
at our boarding house. ! think
every other evening would be
happy compromise, don't you?
That will give you time to miss US,
II you like our company; or to rest
up. if you don't. That strike you as
fair and square. Tim?"
'It does not" was the succinct
answer Buff, pay no attention to
him His lower nature gets the bet
ter Of him when he's hungry. After
dinner he'll be more reasonable"
II was a CAV evening Ruff WAS