The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-05-15

BROOKS, Sne spoke 10 the driver,
"take me back to Alameda, where
I'm allowed to have mind of my
own"
Brooks, the Alameda taxi and
Miss Hannah Toland, late of Chi
cago, left Toni Toland standing
on the roadside in a cloud of their
dust.
"You look exactly like a hen
who's Matched a duck" remarked
Dorothy Dougherty. coming down
the road from the mail-box. who
was your visiting dowager?"
'The duck" said Toni thought
fully. "And / do feel just like q
hen standing on the shore watch
ing my newly Matched founding
take off into deep waters"
And the worst of it was, she
thought, as she went again to her
Office. she had exposed Aunt Han
nah to Allen. She should have
made Bartell stay on his property
and the Tolands on theirs.
Toni went into a huddle with
her accounts. If she sold as many
frogs in the last half of the season
as she sold in the first, she would
fall short of her quota three thou
sand dollars.
why didn't / wait until winter
to expand?" she cried. irritably.
"Of course next season I'd reap
the benefits, but it looks as though
might not be here next season."
At least she could have let such
things as draperies for the living
room. paper, paint and rugs wait
Each item had seemed so incense
quential. Combined with ether
inconsequential items. the result
was staggering.
And the TolandS' visit. One hum
dred dollars for the nurse. Surely
Darlington would pay that and
the doctors fee. whatever it was.
But the groceries. Toni gasped as
she saw the bill. No wonder
Great-aunt Hannah had fed tripe
to her multitude. TRIBE and pota-
toes and bread and mutton were
cheap, compared with the food
she, Toni. had purchased.
Only One Answer
THE family had cost her seven
L hundred and twenty frogs.
Resolutely Toni reached for the
telephone and called the Alameda
Hotel.
Aunt Hannah" she began,
when the connection was made,
Ordinarily l would have been
happy to have had the Tolands as
my guests. but under the present
circumstances. having to watch
my expenses as l do. I'm going to
have to ask you to assume the cost
of the Tolands' board"
H mm." buzzed Great-aunt
Hannah. If you will remember. I
was ready to assume the expense
the very hour l learned of the
quarantine However. you had the
temerity to countermand my gro
Gerry order, to inform NE you were
running that house and intended
to run If as you wanted it run.
Under those circumstances. I can't
see that any of us are indebted to
you in any way"
Aunt Hannah" But Aunt Han
nah had replaced her receiver
with emphasis.
Toni jiggled the hook and the
operator came on TO say, icily,
Your party has hung up"
Ring them again" cried Toni.
The connection completed. Toni
said quickly. But / didn't order
the measles, the nurse or the doc
tor"
You may send that bill to my
attorney" conceded Hannah To-
land.
4 will and how" promised
Toni. to nothing but a singing
wire.
She sat back and wondered Just
why her family should assume
such an attitude. They all felt bet
ter for their change Of diet.
They'd learned to enjoy life while
living on her farm. Then t1hy?
There was only one answer. Al
len Bartell.
Toni walked out into the gar
den. Sunset lay heavy on the
world. The green cavern of shrub
berry was shot with gold. Beyond
| the garden the bay was a sheet of
crinkled gold. Even the old house
was mellowed. its peeling gray
surface tinted to amber.
i love you" Toni cried pas
sionately. Il can't lose you. Moth
ing ever could take your place"
She must find a way to save it.
That night she called a confer
ence.
/ Frankly. she told Pierre. Old
Abe and Dotty the financial status
Of the farm.
Our sales have to double the
last half of the season if we are TO
offset the cost. spent so much the
| first half. the second half has to
meet the expenditures of the first
half and show profit"
Miss Toland-" Pierre was
speaking like the perfect en-
ployee = may I speak to you
alone?"
Toni signaled Abe and Dotty
to leave them alone.
Pierre came close to her. why
don't you let me assume the re-
sponsibility. You've proven you
can't handle the business end of
this. That is only natural. Girls
are not mentally equipped for
business. You've worn your poor
little self to a shadow. trying to
face an impossible situation. I'll
relieve you, dear. Now you turn
your books over to me-"
Pierre -" Tomi's voice was
thin - don't you understand?
Great-uncle Timothy was banking