The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-04-29
Chapter IL
"A Man For YOus


head in a brigand's scarlet kerr
chief. Toni marveled at the ease
with which he had adapted him.
self to the group
"Miss Mankin tells me she was
rude to you the first time you met,
and now she wants to apologizeR
he said.
And again Toni must comply,
graciously. Il wasn't exac tly
friendly" she conceded.
Lily smiled and Toni discovered
a most provocative dimple. The
girl was pretty. She wanted to like
her.
Weren't we funny?" she asked,
laughing, and Toni suddenly saw
the ridiculous side of their meet
ing.
81 had you pictured as dried
up spinster," Lily explained, land
here you turned out to be young
and pretty. You were an awful
disappointment"
z Toni laughed with her: Tim
othy was my greGt-uncle, you
know"
And then the crowd descended
upon them.s ...,se Isl
"This will never do" cried
red head called Myrtle. you must
have smut on your face before you
are branded as one of the gang.
Come on and turn the pork chops"
Toni turned pork chops. eyes
red with smoke from the open fire.
place, hair tousled from the low
hanging cedar boughs. There was
smut on her face and grease stains
on her new frock. but she was
happy. She had never been as
happy.
The crowd liked her. She could
tell by the way they teased her,
scolded her, and ordered her
around. When they had settled
around the pit for lunch, they in
Guided her in their future plans.
we'll have to find a man for
you" decided Myrtle.
"She has one! Bartell spoke
with finality that caused Tomi'S
breath to catch. He was looking at
her as though he detested her.
Surely he. didn't think she knew
Prudhomme we'll enough to single
him out. I'D
Hes one fellow" Bartell went
on. who is going to handle her as
she needs TO be handled He'll
knock, that temper out of her if he
has to use. a Delaying pin. And
when he's through with his dis
cipliningl she'll sit up and beg.
Toni looked at Bartell and
hated him anew. There he sat, sun
shining down on him as though it
had been made for the sole pur-
pose of bringing out the highlights
in his hair. the bronze of his skin.
the fiendIsh glints in his eyes. and
to illuminate that slow, lazy smile.
Then she looked at Prudhomme
and was surprised at what she
saw There was nothing lmper-
sonal in that glance II was grave.
serious, considering.
The crowd waited Toni ele-
waited bun with pork chop pro-
truding at a rakish angle. IF this
fellow has a sister. see if she'll
take you IN hand" she suggested.
While the group hooted at Bar
tell, Tom enjoyed her sandwich,
sand, cinders and cedar needles
Nothing had ever tasted as deli
cious
my DEAR" Myrtle swooped
down on her. you're going dane
ing with US tonight You're too
good to lose, Imagine any girl
no d g her own with Allen!
Pierre, you can be my man for the
evening. and I'll lend Jack to
Toni"
Pierre sprang to his feet and
hurried to Toni. But if Miss To-
land will be so kind"
Toni flashed him a look of graft
tude and turned to Myrtle. That's
sweet of you. dear, but I'm so poor
at returning anything borrow"
And on this high note of laugh
ter Toni returned to the farm.
Stern Parent
A BE liked 1rudhomme. He was
"A as enthusiastic as his lack of
teeth would allow Il tell you,
Miss Toni. / wouldn't put it past
him to grow us five-legged frog"
"QuintS or nothing" agree d
Toni, and fled upstairs,
What should she wear? Toni
tried on each frock she had pur-
chased, while Abe waited at the
foot of the stairs to pass judgment.
She was wearing pink tulle over
American beauty taffeta when
Allen appeared.
''You look Like the pink stuff
they sell at the circus" he said.
Toni stiffened.
ooh, / didn't mean lemonade"
ne corrected. Il meant the stuff
that looks like spun sugar. And
If it will help you any, the girls
are wearing Semi-formalS tonight.
Myrtle said to tell you," he added
hastily.
ais that what inspired this
visit?" Toni inquired.
Allen waited until Old Abe,
sensing a storm brewing, shuffied
out of the house.
mo, it isn't. Who is this Prud-
homme persona
Tomi's cheeks were as pink as
her frock. "And may I ask if
you've suddenly assumed the role
Of the stern parent"
Bartell sank into a chair, his
long frame folding like a jack
knife. Som go ne should" he
grumbled. Personally, I don't be-
heve he's the old friend he says
he Is, or he'd call you Toni in
stead Of MeeS ToIdnd," he MINI
icked.
81 had an accent like that until
Great-aunt Hannah whipped it
out Of me with a maple switch"