The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-02-05

Maggie had taken it for granted
that she was to i've with the young
Trentons. Sue, however, had been
unwilling for Allen to be left to
Patsy's bad management, the mer-
cies of an unframed servant. It
had required much coaxing to in
duce the old woman to stay on in
the apartment; and every so often
on her day off she came to see her
beloved Miss Sue, grumbling and
complaining with the privilege OF
one who considered herself part
of the family.
'Pretty goings on these days."
she announced darkly on one OF
these visits. II bet Mr.. Allen don't
know about the drinkin' an smok-
in that we have most every after
noon. l been waitin' for the first
time Mrs. Allen asks me to fix up
them little drinks she calls cock
tails. I'd right quick tell her / amt
nobody's bartender! But if she
don't do 'em herself, the men do.
All she asks of me is to put the
glasses on a tray and set out the
ice-cubes."
"Never mind, Mag dear" Sue
said coaXingly. Lots of people
serve cocktails now instead Of
tea. Mrs. Allen is just keeping up
with the rest"
Maggie looked over the rims Of
her spectacles.
"Whyn't she ever have any
ladies in to help drink 'em, then?
Hts men-two or three men every
afternoon she's home. Your father
would turn in his grave if he knew
it."
Better three men than one, Mag
dear. Safety in numbers, you
know"
But these talks invariably left
Sue with a sense of unease about
her brother. He was working too
hard, she knew. making more
money for Pats to spend on foolish
clothes, and the occasional elabo-
rate dinner party she gave; and
now on liquor, it seemed-unleSs
her guests furnished their own
drinks.
Spoiled To Death
\ LIEN was nobody's fool. He
"A must know almost to the last
detail what was going on. Sue
knew his long patience; knew too
that when it was finally exhausted
Allen would be through. He never
threatened nor made a scene; but
when the moment came that he
could stand no more, it would be
physically impossible for him to
continue in the role of indulgent
husband.
Toward spring, Sue determined
to try stern remonStrance with
her sister -in-law. If the privileges
of the Trenton hospitality were
withdrawn from the luxury-lov-
ing Pats, she might reform for
selfish reasons when an appeal to
her duty toward her husband left
her cold.
"Come out and spend the day
with me, Patsy" she telephoned
one morning. 'That is, unless
you're all dated up. l though. last
night / might have a cold coming
on. think I've headed it off, but
Bob wanted me to stay in all day."
81 had halfway engagement"
Pats hesitated. But I'll break it,
of course. Glad to do anything l
can for you, Sue. know it must
be deadly dull so far out from
town."
Sue smiled but let the challenge
pass unnoticed. 'Pll send the car
in for you then, and telephone Bob
to bring Allen out to dinner"
Lets go up into my own sitting
room" she proposed, after she had
greeted her caller. She knew Pats
would like that. 1t was not every
one who was allowed in what Sue
called her private retreat. 1t was
a sunny room adjoining her bed
room, filled with Towering plants
and Just now especially inviting
with a small fire of applewood
swapping on the old brass andironS.
Bob was forever discovering some
attractive addition to its furnish
ings Today Sue had new Dres-
den group to show. the arch ex-
preston of the small lady ricu-
lousy evident on the tiny face.
isn't she darling? And don't
you love the mans air of conceited
protectiveness? AS if without him
she couldn't exist a single hour?
Bob'S agent in New York got it
at an auction. 1t came yesterday,
packed as carefully as if it were
blown eggshells."
"How much longer is the honey
moon going to last?" Pats inquired
dlSagreeably. bob Trenton spoils
you to death, Sue. Wait till the kids
begin to come, and he'll change all
that"
81 wish they would comet" Sue
sighed little. "Twenty-siX next
time, and my bad little boys and
girls obstinately refuse to send out
announcement cards"
"An very well for you, my dear!
You won't have to get up nights
with them. or fix their bottles,
and change their horrid little
clothes. You'll have a smart Eng
llSh nurse, and the babies will be
brought down to show callers, and
that's all motherhood will mean
to you'll"
The bitterness in her tone caused
Sue to glance at her quickly.
"YeS, it's true! / thought Allen
would have told you by now When
you telephoned this morning
thought you wanted to lecture me
about taking better care of myself.
Heaven knows that's the burden
OF Aliens song these daysl"
why, Patsy! Why, my blessed
childl ! hadn't an idea. I'm so gladl
A baby of your own. When, Pats,
| when?"
Continued tomorrow