The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-05-04
Chapter II
Happy Birthday

Chapter II
Happy Birthday
"(XIE TOLD Bartell, Abe and
w Dotty and I that it was but
fair you should hear everything.
But he-one cannot talk to him.
He knows everythingl"
Pierre" Tomi's voice was
husky-"what happened? Abou'
the will, I mean. Did they-that
is, did loSe?"
mo, no, you could not lose
against such stupidity. The jury
went out, but only to turn around
and come back in. And then, when
the plea was dismissed. the fore
man went to the big puff
"The MAORI" asked Toni.
eyes, and he said: The idea of
a man like you trying to cheat a
young girl out Of her heritage /"
Toni sat up. "What ever did the
Major answer"
Pierre gave one short laugh. 81
thought perhaps he would burst,
the way he swelled up, and then he
said, My dear sir, you do not un-
derstand. We Tolands are only at
tempting to save her heritage from
that young rapscallion who poses
as a lawyer. Watch my word. He'll
wrap her around his finger. cause
her to lose the farm, and then he
will come into its possession.
"Oh," whimpered Toni, and
didn't know whether the sharp
pang was for her regret that the
Major was lying, or because Bar
tell might have wrapped her
around his finger" had he half
tried.
"And. the foreman said" con-
tinued Pierre, "'That poor child,
she is between the devil and the
deep blue sea-
Pierre'S arms were around her
now, warm comforting arms.
THAT, cherie, gives me the heart
to say little of what I would say
to you after 1 have proven my
self"
Toni looked up, her eyes wide
with wonder.
'You need someone who has
your interests at heart to advise
you. Will you let me do that? To-
+ day / can say only ! love you. An
other day / will say more"
Toni didn't answer. She didn't
want to answer. She turned her
head towards his shoulder and
I rested there moment. Pierre was
( so comforting, so understanding.
! What more could life offer?
I She looked up as though to
question the gray clouds, and
there, on the bank above her, stood
Allen Bartell, face white and grim,
hands clenched at his sides.
'The Sheik in action" he spat,
and wheeled away.
, Toni jumped up. She stood, a
Slirn scarlet figure, against the gray
of the water, her dark head held
proudly.
! Allen was not in sight when they
reached the kitchen yard. Mrs.
Dougherty came running out of
N1lG "AfdL Oh .NOd 0OAAAS III
a sun-Suit with a storm blowing
in?" she demanded.
81 went to sleep in the sun. F"
Toni defended.
"But look at you; your robe is
wet and your sandals. Are you try
ing to catch pneumonia"
Toni started to answer and
sneezed instead.
There. what did I tell you?
Now get into a not tub while / fix
a hot toddy. Abel" the housekeep-
er's voice rang out angrily. ABE.
get into the house and draw tub
of hot water. No. you don't have to
battle again today. It's Toni. she
has cold. Listen to her"
And, obligingly. Toni sneezed
again.
She came in from her hot bath to
find her bed warmed, a brisk fire
going in the tiny bedroom crate. 3
hot drink on the night table
81 knew something like this
would happen if we left you
alone" scolded Dotty. thrusting
Tomi's arms into a warm bed
jacket. Pierre just told me you
knew about the contest. I told Al
len you'd find out. / don't know
what makes that boy so stupid
There are times" she continued
earnestly, "when / wish I'd left
him stuck in the rain-barrel, head
down as he was"
Cold Feet
TONI had to laugh a little. What
l. was he doing there?" she
asked.
Tnever learned whether he wa:
admiring his reflection or listening
TO his own voice, but / padded
the one end before / rescued the
other"
Toni snuggled down in the pill.
lows. She was warm. This lovely
room was still hers. 1t glowed with
soft lights; lamps like pastel flow.
ers; freight touching the frs
splash of raindrops on the window.
pane with amber.
"Allen insisted that if we loved
you, we'd 90 to court and say moth.
ing TO YOU" Dotty continued. &C
thought he was trying to protec
you from publicity and from see,
ing your fathers relatives make
Rocky Mountain canaries of them
selves"
Abe raped at the door and en-,
tered shyly. Happy birthday,
he offered tirnidly. SCOT you a little
present. The fat fellow, Major he!
called, let out it was your birth.
day"
He Laid . L...,,. 49, -. d.. id.