The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-05-01
BY Peggy O'More

| to win, but he'd win honestly. And
there, the acacias had burst into
bloom while she was in town. Or
had she been too preoccupied that
morning to notice?
She left the car standing in the
driveway and ran to the nearest
tree to stand for a moment under
the shower of bloom and look up
through the brown limbs to the
mass Of gold. She spied a mass of
freesias and plucked them with
the greedy hand of city child.
Hers! And snowdrops, white bells
with tiny flecks of green.
'This place has to be mine" she
whispered.
But what had Allen said?
again, l say, you're asking for it. "
She hadn't liked his tone. He
had used that tone twice before,
and both times she had regretted
her decision. But both times every
thing had turned out all right.
She liked Pierre better for be-
ing honest with her. He could have
promised to perform a miracle
with the farm and she would have
believed him. knowing so little
about frog farming.
The next three weeks were Pc
RODS of chaos, interspersed with
periods of sheer joy. Only the alb
sence of word from the family
dinmed the brightness of it.
Pierre and Abe. clad in overalls,
excavated pools and lined them
with cement. 1t seemed to Toni
there was always truck at the
door, with driver awaiting pay
ment. Payment for lumber for the
sheds, for the shelters, for the new
bunk-house the two men were
erecting.
And there were men under her
feet, men putting in telephone
wires and electric light wires.
The first three days there were
women of all kinds and descrip-
tons calling at her door in answer
to the advertisement and, with
their appearance, Allen Barteu
was bound to "just drop in"
None of these prospective
houSekeepers suited Toni. Some
whined, some chartered incessant-
ly. some spoke Of the world going
to the dogs.
And then came Dotty. Toni
loved her on sight. She was white
haired. fat and full of chuckles.
Too Ambitious
II DON'T need this job" she con-
L fessed to Toni. Its an alter
native. This, or living with my
daughter. Gladys Elsie thinks
everyone past fifty should wear
bonnets that tie under their chins,
and sing psalms while they're
washing dishes. | sing hi-dee-ho
and get through quicker"
Toni was delighted. Here was a
kindred soul revolving from a
daughters domination as she had
revolted against Great haunt Han
nah's. She forgot the questions
she had put to the other applicants
qualifications, salary and refer
ences.
when can you start?" she
asked.
Right now" answered the wo-
man promptly. Il can send for my
bags"
well drive over after Them"
Toni promised. by the way, it
might be advisable to ask your
name"
"Dotty," chuckled the new
housekeeper. Dorothy Dougher-
ty is too much for any mans
tongue"
Toni nodded. "Just one more
question. Do you know Allen Bar
tell?"
Know him!" cried Mrs. Dough-
erty. II raised him from a pup.
Why, what's the matter?"
| Toni sat down and sighed deep
| ly. Il might have known there was
a catch in it. So he sent you here"
ALLEN sent me here?" echoed
Mrs. Dougherty. "Are you crazy, or
am I? He caused me to lose my last
position. He's Gladys ElSie's attor-
ney, which would be enough, only
he doesn't like me. You see, my
dear, ! was a trained nurse. The
stork arrived before the doctor,
and I had the pleasure of spanking
the breath Of life into Allen Bar
tell. Il was such a pleasure / kept
on spanking him whenever ! had
the opportunity.
mot that / mean to say anything
against the boy. But he has two
qualities don't like. He's too am
bilious, and he's spoiled. That
charm Of his. He has it trained so
he can turn it off and on like an
electric lamp. Young girls other
over him, and old girls-well, this
town is full of wealthy old women
and ninety percent Of them change
their wills every other day just to
have Allen smile at them. BAIL"
Toni stood up and walked rest
lessly back and forth. About the
ambition?" she prompted.
Ambition" echoed Mrs. Dough-
erty, We'll. Of course every young
man has that. Aliens seems to run
TO land. He'd sooner have a slice of
land than fat fee. Probably be-
cause he was reared in hotel. He
has a prune ranch in Sonoma
County. walnut grove at Alamo,
a summer camp on the Eel River,
all given him as fees. Old Timothy
say. he was your uncle. wasn't
her"
i Toni swallowed and nodded.
"Great-uncle."
Il But Mrs. Dougherty would say
no more about Timothy and Allen
Barteh tive talked too much al
ready" she protested. q suppose
I've talked myself out Of the job.
Oh, we'll" she chuckled, maybe