The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-04-25
Chapter Nine
The Blonde Cadhy

4Ol0IlO Od144CLS IldG ACR6 II Jill AAGA
Perhaps this was a neighbor COM
ing to welcome her. She arose
eagerly.
"Just what are you doing in
here?" demanded the vision.
Didn't you see the no trespassing
sign on the gate?"
Tomi's smile grew scintillating.
did you?" she asked.
"Why, l belong here" came the
indignant reply.
Tomi's smile grew sweeter. So
this was Lily, the girl who, accord
ing to Old Abe, hung around Allen.
AS far as Lily is concerned,
thought Toni, Allen has won this
property and she is married to him.
Suddenly Toni decided that Lily
was wrong. Allen wasn't going to
win the property and Lily wasn't
going to win Allen.
A. ]. Morris could have told Lily
Mankin that danger lay ahead
when Toni smiled that particular
ly scintillating smile. A. j.. how
ever. was in Chicago.
Besides, it was difficult for any
one to tell Lily anything she didn't
want to believe. This strikingly
pretty girl in Stacks and sweater
was not what she had expected in
Timothy Toland's heir. She was
not Lily's idea of business wo-
man. Business women were either
fat and pompous, or thin and acid
ulous. This girl was neither. She
must be Miss Toland's companion
or companion-maid.
The appearance of Old Abe Of
fered relief. from the irritating
smile. ABE" she ordered. kindly
tell Miss Toland that Miss Mankin
is looking for Mr.. Bartell."
Gravely Abe turned to Toni.
miss Toland. Lily's lookin' for
Allen again"
Kindly tell Miss Mankin that
Miss Toland wishes her luck" re-
turned Toni blithely, and skipped
up the steps and into the house.
Toni wasn't smiling when Abe
Joined her a few moments later.
She was walking up and down the
living room. saying, This is mine,
Tline-all of it"
She came to an abrupt stop be-
fore Timothy Toland'S portrait.
Just what did you have in your
mind when you drew up that
will?" she demanded. you've had
me brought out here six months
before | can claim the property.
You gave Allen ten thousand dol
lars before you died, he says, so l
could carry on the farm. If that's
the idea. why couldn't you have
given the ten thousand to me, so l
wouldn't have to dance to that le-
gal gigolo'S tuner"
Abe sauntered in, nibbling leaf.
'Reckon | can answer some of
them questions, he offered. Com
in frog time. Farm needs some
one to start the marketing. If you
don't get the big ones moved out,
there won't be no room for those
that are CROWN up.
Frogs is like pigs; they're pro-
life. They got the same kind of APP
petites too. They'd eat up your
profits if you didn't start movin'
'em to market"
Toni wheeled on Abe. $50 that's
it. I'm sent out here to put the
farm on its feet financially. start
with a handicap that could be
made up next year. But | have to
show profit at the end of this sea-
son, or lose the place. That's jus;
dandy; and with Bartell's fingers
cramped around the purse
strings, what chance have II"
Amin To Marry
a BE stroked his mustache. saw
IA now, pardner, / reckon we
can make a go of it, you and nae"
But why didn't he give the
money to me?" VI
Maybe he thought you'd spend
It for pretties." J.
'How well did you know Uncle
Timothy7" she demanded.
Abe pondered over this. "Don't
know as I can say. Knowed him
of and on for years. Then when
he bought this place he come af-
ter me and / lived with him here
for a few months. But can't say
really knowed him. You remem-
Der how he was, sayin' one thing
and meanin' another. Seemed to
me like he was laughing at every
thing and everybody. but mostly
at himself"
Toni nodded. And this heritage
Of hers was the grand climax to
his career of practical joking.
Where does Lily fit into the
picture?" she asked thoughtfully.
"Did Uncle Timothy know herr"
Abe guffawed. "He sure did.
Said once he'd never before seen
a blonde gadfiy."
Tom frightened. ''Then why
does she think she has some claim
on the property"
"Lily's like that. She's amin to
marry Allen when he can get
around to it, and she figures any
thing he's got hand in is hers.
She and him got raised together;
lived next door to each other.
Guess he's had to put up with her
for so long it amt occurred to
him he don't have to-"
We'll, ! wasn't reared with
her." stated Toni. emphatically,
and don't have to put up with
her. The idea of her accusing me
or anyone else Of treSpaSSing."
Jaw now" soothed Abe, ''she
amt so bad if you don't take her
serious"
I'm not taking her any icdy,"
said Toni with such hnality that
sSSSSsSOsssssssssesssse
TO0oV'C HOrOcnOrc