The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-05-13

Toni smiled, warmly. He was
certainly taking the quarantine
with good grace. The smile faded
abruptly. OF course he was. He
probably thought it had destroyed
her chance Of winning the farm.
Somehow Toni had more con-
f1dence in Doctor Tillman than
she had in Bartell. He had seemed
TO know he could have a mora
torium called on the viii for the
duration Of the quarantine.
By evening Toni decided the
only ones who were not taking
the quarantine like gentlemen
were Pierre and Old Abe. Pierre,
reached by long distance tele-
phone. had nearly burned the
wires with his maledictions.
"Bartell's behind this" he told
Toni You'll find out that doc
tor is friend of his"
81 suppose you think Allen gave
the measles to Harold" flashed
Toni.
81 don't know that the boy has
measles. Neither do you And If
he has, why couldn't Tillman
have these people moved to an
isolation camp and have the house
fumigated? Now answer that"
81 certainly will" Toni famed.
THE Tolands are my family-my
very own blood. and any time I
run them of into an isolation
camp. after they've Jared for me
for years"
"Oh, cherie, cherie." implored
Pierre, don't you understand that
l am only trying to protect you?
Only trying TO show you that Ou
are not dealing with people who
have your interest at heart?
Think Of the will contest Think
of the way that Toland family
spoke of you on the stand and in
their dispositions. And Bartell-
hasn't he tried to thwart you at
every turn"
"Oh. / know Pierre" Toni
sighed. "but-well it's happened.
Now come on home and look after
the frogs. Thank goodness Mon
day is light day. but there are
a dozen orders due out on the
Tuesday morning trains"
Abe had listened to the news
in blank silence. When Toni told
him she would arrange sleeping
quarters in the house. so Pierre
could use the bunk-house. he had
objected.
I'm not sleepin' inside that
,hCuse" he had stated fatty. I'm
hearin' enough outside. III make
me up q bed in my car"
Radiant Faces
TONI had sold the ark to Abe
for a dollar. and still believed
she had cheated the old man.
The family departed for the
barbecue long before Toni was
ready. Then. assured that Harold
was resting. the affable nurse
well-fed and content. she walked
across the yard to Aliens.
What a day this had been. What
did it portend? And what in the
name of goodness was going on at
Aliens? Toni started to run. A
long line of red heads were bob
bling up and down. And that noise
it couldn't be singing?
She neared and slowed. The To-
lands. each with his head tied in
a red kerchief. were doing some
thing like chain-step. Now they
had broken from each other and
were doing an Indian war dance.
Toni slowed. Such serious
facesl Even Allen and Great-aunt
Hannah were singing and going
| through the ceremony as though
their lives depended upon it.
The first verse had been: ''This
is the way TO the barbecue pit"
The second was: This is the way
we build our fires" Now they
were going into: ''This is the way
we turn the spit" And each verse
was accompanied with gestures.
The song stopped abruptly at a
motion from Allen. Now the fam
lily ran for the long table under
the trees and began pounding on
the boards with knives. singing:
This is the way we down the
grub"
Toni stood writing in anger.
It was all right for Allen BartelI
to humiliate her. She could fend
for herself. but to make collec-
ton of fools of. the Tolands. :.
She caught a glimLse of their
faces. Why. they were radiant.
She'd never seen them look as
free, as gay. as altogether uncon-
/ Scious of themselves.
Allen and Great-aunt Hannah
were quarreling over a rack of
sDare-ribS. Aunt Hannah's hand
slipped and barbecue sauce
SDiaSned over Alters face and
shirt front. Aunt Hannah's voice
lifted in hearty laugh. Her ker-
chief came off so she could wipe
his face. Then he insisted she
must wear his.
Unnoticed. Toni slipped in be-
tween the peacefully quiet Jane
and the happy. rumbling Major.
This place is nuts" the BEAM
ing Austin told her across the ia
bic. Slang from the erudite Aus
tin?
Dinner was soon over and still
Toni found herself ignored
Great-aunt Hannah was focusing
her attention on Allen. and re-
lieved of her commanding glance
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