The Key West citizen., 1940-04-16
LEAP BEFORE YOU LOOK
Rxy
CnapIer Une
Look Before You Leap

True, there was a storm out
side, but that was a mere gale
which howled in from Lake Mich
lgan 10 dash sleet against the
windows and pile snow on the
lodges.
Within the Offices of Mid West
ern Fruits. Incorporated, there
hovered a portentous calm. Radia-
tors sizzled contentedly; from the
outer office came the lethargic
rhythm of a dozen typeWriters,
and even Johnny, coming in from
the street with the Market Edi-
lion. failed to slam the door.
Toni glanced at the clock. The
hands hovered encouragingly near
the hour of five. She looked over
her shoulder. Her employer, A. j.
Morris, was comfortably slumped
behind his newspaper.
Now, if he'll just stay that
way" thought Toni. "Pll reach
home on time for change"
Stealthily she brought from her
desk a mirror 20 be braeed in the
typewriter carriage; a powder
puff to be rubbed over the smooth
planes of her cheeks. and lipstick
The lipstick was poised. ready to
add further defiance to a mutinous
mouth. when A. j. barked, 'Tomi!"
Toni jumped and the lipstick
missed its mark.
'Yes, A. j." she answered, re-
signedly. reaching for a paper
handkerchief and wondering lDhy
he always waited until five min
utes of FIVE to hold conference
with her.
TOM, ever hear of a fellow
named Timothy Toland?"
Tomi's mirror revealed startled
black eyes and distinctly Grim
son nose. "Yes." she admitted. Il
had a great-uncle by that name.
He died month ago."
Worth anything?" pursued
A. J.
Toni smiled. According to the
family, he wasn't worth powder to
blow him up. He was the black
ram of the Tolands. Aside from
your private secretary, Mr.. Nor
ris. he was the only member of
an old and honorable clan to
grow gray hairs on the pates of
his elders"
Must have been a nice fellow"
chuckled Morris did Won ever
meet hirn?"
Toni, her nose again becom-
ingly Sheathed in powder instead
OF lipStick. turned around. "Rath-
er," she confessed. "He spent
few weeks with us about a year
ago. We both ran true to form.
We fought from the moment we
met until we parted. It was lots
Of fun. But why this catechisn?"
Morris rustled the newspaper.
Little piece in here about him.
Seems his Wills about to be of
fered for probate. A fellow by the
name of Bartell, an attorney, is
here from California to settle the
estate. He's the administrator"
Toni read the article Morris
passed to herr 1t carried an Ala
media, California, dateline and
stated that Bartell was flying to
Chicago to confer with the heirs
THAT can't be my Uncle Tim.
othy." she disparaged. "The poor
old honey didn't have anything to
will anyone. Why, i" she
stopped short.
Morris grinned at her. Come
on, feSs up, how much did you
loan him?"
mot a cent" replied Toni firm |
ly. She hurried to her locker,
slim figure in parrot-green wool. |
black hair severely cut, straight |
black brows like menacing guards |
to alert black eyes.
She hadn't loaned Uncle Tim
othy anything. she defended. But |
he had looked so seedy and pale |
that last evening, she'd decided |
she didn't need a spring coat and |
had slipped fifty dollars. into his |
hand and made him promise he |
would take a berth instead of
chair car and eat nourishing /
meals.
Morris was watching for her
when she reappeared, a small |
green hat riding triumphantly on
the glossy black hair. a fur coat |
pulled high about determined