The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-04-23

l
and bacon.
Reckon you're Tommy" OBJ
served a voice from the door.
Toni wheeled. An old man with
a walrus mustache stood there.
and why do you reckon Pm
Tommy" she snapped.
Timothy said as how you and
the devil was on speakin' terms"
Uncle Timothy" retorted Toni,
acidly, seemed to know a lot
about me-"
Sure did," affirmed the old
man, and eased into the kitchen.
''He said as how you'd be wearin'
pants. Said you'd come along out
here because you were too cussed
not to. Allie n - he said you
wouldn't. Reckon he's right disap-
pointed"
Toni stiffened. So Bartell had
been sure of winning the place.
The old man rescued the Smok-
ing pan from the stove. Bacon"
he remarked laconically, takes a
cold skillet" He provided the cold
skillet and stripped it with the
bacon Toni had cut.
Toni swallowed her indigna-
ton. This was unquestionably Old
Abe. He was in dire need of repair
from teeth to trousers. Then Toni
saw the troubled looked in his pale
blue eyes.
Reckon to keep me on?" he
queried, wistfully.
Toni thought quickly. To whom
would he be loyal-to Bartell or
to her?
What are your qualifications"
she asked.
Quail" he began, then nod
ded. "Oh, them-well, the frogs
like me- Frogs is awful fussy."
Toni stified her amusement. 'Tt
wouldn't do to disappoint the
frogs" she observed. "But how
about yourself? Do you like it
here?"
No Place To Co
4 GNARLED hand engulfed the
IA Walrus mustache. We'll, now,
fact is, amt got no place else to
60 l got to thinkin' maybe you
didn't know nothin' about ranacul-
ture and you wouldn't mind givin'
me bed and board for teachin'
you"
The hard little lump, which had
crystallized in Tomi's heart the
previous night wnen Bartell left,
suddenly melted. No place else to
go. The phrase touched her SYM
pathy.
Bed, board and wages" vowed
Toni, and turned to the old man.
ABE, I'm depending upon you. I
couldn't get along without you.
You will stay, won't your"
Abe's Adam's-apple worked con-
vulsively. He blinked several times
and turned to the stove. Reckon
that there bacon needs turnin', I'M
less you like it burnt"
Breakfast prepared, Abe took
MS cup and plate and started for
the door.
Il like company at the table"
Toni remarked 10 the retreating
back.
Abe turned, q vast cavern APP
pearing beneath the mustache.
We'll, now" he Topped into a
chair-"reckon me and you will
make go of this farm, pardner."
Toni flushed with pleasure.
Pdrdner' She had an ally. From
now on it was Toni and Old Abe
against Bartell and Uncle limo
thy's ghost. And that reminded her
she must check to see if Bartell
had deliberately tried to discour-
age her the previous night.
"Bartell said he wired you that
| was arriving last night" she OBJ
served did he?"
Abe fumbled in a pocket and
brought out crumpled telegram.
He sure did, but | couldn't make
head or tail of it took it over to
Alameda to see if anybody else
could, and like to lost myself for
good in the fog He says here: Ar
rive Thursday night stop Stock
groceries stop build fires didn't
know what to do 'ceptin' nothin'."
Toni choked on her coffee. Bar
tells effort to simplify the tele-
gram for Abe had had a contrary
effect. re
They started on a tour of the
farm Toni trotting in Abe'S sham
/ bling wake, feeling a new Joy of
life running through her veins to
stimulate the beat of her heart.
She liked this place.
"Abe." she ventured, what is
ranaculture?"
ooh, rana'S the same as frogs
surname, only, like the Chinese, it
comes first. You got rama -SylUaticd
back East where the fool frogs live
in trees; and rdnd-deSopuS down
in Florida. and rama = aurora
around here"
He pointed to some wooden
sheds and pronounced them the
hatcheries. Then. as they ap-
preached the first pens, he-turned
to her with startled seriousness.
when is your birthday" he de-
manded.
"A-April," stammered Toni.
But why?"
Abe heaved sigh of relief.
Frogs don't take to folks who get
themselves born in fall and win
ter"
Toni swallowed laugh and
managed. How can they tell?"
Don't know" admitted Abe.
But they sure can. Take Lily
| Leelee she's calm herself these
days-She was born in September
and she can't come near here with
out every frog on the place hittin'
for the bottom"
"And is Lily around here
much?" queried Toni.
| Abe spat at an unoffending field
daisy which had braved the wealth.
nr asC,,rn L. IInsr.A A.A.l n.-I-nh