The Key West citizen., 1940-04-24


She looked up to see the house
before her; old, ugly, but sturdily
built, its Shabbiness half hidden
by acacia trees, yelloW-green with
a promise of bloom, Behind were
the silver-gray leaves Of eucalyp-
tus trees, windbreak of sheer
beauty. rE EIyi aH
why" she thought in surprise,
"this is nly home. ! can have ii
painted. I can have it rebuilt. ]
can do any blessed thing l want
to do with it"
She wanted to gather it into
her arms, to protect it against this
interloper who limped at her side,
and into whose possession il
would go if she failed to make
good.
81 can't fall" she thought. 81
must save this from him. He
couldn't love it as I'm going to-"
It was the highly competent
Miss Toland, late secretary to
A. j. Morris, general sales man.
ager of Mid-WeStern Fruits, who
faced Allen Bartell across the
desk of the late Timothy Toland.
Bartell had never met this per-
son. This wasn't the half-cowed
child who had defied the Tolands
through fear. This wasn't the girl
iSh shopper reveling in her unex-
pected good fortune. Nor was this
the blue-lipped passenger of the
airliner whoe FEds staunchly re-
fused to give in to her illness.
This young woman had busi-
ness ability. She listened to him
read each detailed proviso of the
will. When he had finished she
fired a barrage of questions at
him. well-pointed questions. She
made notes of his answers.
You Asked For It
NOV she sat studying her notes.
' Suddenly she directed her at
tention at him. According to this,
Mr.. Bartell. must report to you
at the end of the season. After a
public accountant audits my
books, you recheck, and if l do
not show that am making head
way, you take over this business
as administrator"
"The clause" corrected Bartell,
reads: The estate reverts to Al
len Bartell.'"
Toni swallowed anger, fear.
and something akin to hatred.
When she spoke again. her voice
was still brisk and impersonal.
Several thousand dollars have
been set aside for the upkeep and
improvement of this property:
however. | am not free to expend
it without first receiving your Of
fetal permit. Is this true, Mr.. Bar
tell?"
at is"
"Mr. Bartell-" the business
girl had disappeared; a roguish
child with immense black eyes
and wind ruffled black hair
leaned across the table and smiled
at him-"I fear Great-uncle Tim
othy overlooked few important
details. There isn't word in here
authorizing you to tell me how
many breaths of air per cubic feet
I'm allowed to breathe"
Allen Bartell's face grew GRIM
son. Quickly he lifted his hand
kerchief to hide the muff1ed
sneeZe and, further infuriated by
the sparkling amusement in her
ewes. he retOrted:
''If | had complete jurisdiction
over you, Miss Tolan d, your
breathing would terminate per-
manently after one of your choice
remarks"
Are you trying to intimidate
me, Mr.. Bartell?"
Bartell arose, gathered his pa
pers together and started out of
the room. ''Intimidate you?" he
exploded. and limped away.
But, Mr.. Bartell, about the fl
nal transacti0n. You will meet me
at the Alameda Bank at two
o'clock?"
Il will call for you here at one
thirty" he corrected. his voice
arbitrary.
Toni, remembering a certain
item listed in the will, lifted her
| chin. THAT" she informed him
leftily, will not be necessary. l
understand that l have a car of
my own. / am quite capable of
driving it to Alameda. | will meet
you at the bank"
For the first time since they
had entered the house the golden
lights came into Bartell's eyes. He
even smiled his infectious smile.
FAll right" he agreed, "Just re-
member, you asked for it" And
he turned towards the kitchen
door.
Toni turned towards the door
at the opposite end of the hall,
puzzled over the change. Did Ala
media have some inane traffic laws
which would land her in the city
hastile?
She opened the front door, re-
membering she hadn't seen the
view from this exposure, It was
more than she had hoped to find.
this glorious old garden. It was
overgrown. a vast cavern of
shrubs and trees. Toni recog-
nized only the palms by name. A
tall hedge sheltered her from the
country road.
Then she went swiftly dewn
the steps to sit on the gravel path
and press her face into a mass of
purple yiolets.
At that moment, warm sun
beating down. the fragrance Of
violets intoxicating her senses.
she could have loved even Allen
Bartell. She turned her head ex-
peetantly as footsteps sounded.
They were not Aliens. A vision
was coming down the path; a girl
Golden hair fluffed about her
head. A peasant frock of yellow.