The Key West citizen., 1940-04-26
Chapter 10
Embarrassing Situation

(4&1RIC@ Az
Embarrassing Situation
TONI caught up with the car
! in front of the house. Allen
had offered to call for her. She
had snapped at him when she re-
fused. She must drive this gaso-
line ark into town. She could
imagine Allen standing in front
Of the bank watching her bounce
into view.
She'd call for cab, only there
was no telephone. Well, she had
asked for it. as he'd said. Shed
have to carry through.
At one o'clock she slid under
the wheel, comforted by the men,
ory Of her mirrored reflection.
She did look nice. Nice and buSi-
nesslike.
The car started with an eager
lurch and the little black hat
moved forward over one eye.
Toni pushed it back too far.
At one-five. the car toed into a
field and startled a flock of sea-
gulls which were following a man
with a plough. At one-ten, an old
board under one wheel to give
traction, Toni was back in the
car, streaks of red clay on her
white blouse.
At one-fifteen the car entered
the highway and gave a kittenish
leap, then purFed along past the
golf course. The bridge leading 10
Alameda lay just ahead, a rather
long bridge, white against the
blue of the bay. @ t.
Toni negotiated the approach
and was admiring a flock of
yachts which settled on the in
land bay as the -gulls had set
tied into the ploughed ground,
when she was aware of lack of
coordination in the cars interior.
At one-eighteen, in the middle
OF the draw. the car stopped. At
one-tWenty-tiVe. aroused by the
honking of many cars, the bridge
tender came from his Office.
Lady, you can't stop there" he
told Toni.
"Oh, can't II" flared Toni.
You'll have to get your car off
the bridge" he insisted.
What do you expect me to do,
run ahead and offer it bird-seed?"
Toni snapped, aware of the
laughter behind her, before her,
all around her.
A sleek. maroon colored car
purred up from the opposite side
and came to stop. Having a lit
tie trouble?" inquired the driver.
Toni looked into gray eyes;
gray eyes dancing with golden
lights.
"a little trouble?" she asked,
sweetly. mo, this octogenarian
you referred to as an automobile
chose this spot in which to die.
I'm leaving it here and going on. F"
Bartell was out of his car and
had Tomi's arm in a tight grasp.
Get into my car, drive across
and pick me up on the way back.
Do you want to wreck your bank
account paying a government
fine?"
Toni accepted the interior of
his car, only because it was a
haven from the boots of the irate
motorists. She saw Allen speak to
the driver behind the ark. She
supposed he'd have it pushed
down the incline. or into the bay,
she didn't care which; she never
wanted to see it again.
Aliens car was gentle and
tractable. It was too bad its own
er wasn't. He'd probably been
en- route to the farm to pick her
up, having allowed her time to
look at the ark.
Why must he always find her
in some embarrassing situation?
New Car
QARTELL was waiting at the
~ Alameda approach. He made
no offer to drive, but sat beside
her, and motioned her along the
seawa1l.
WED better see about getting
you another car" he said. well
visit the mart as soon as we're
through at the bank"
TomiS resentment melted in
the warmth Of his friendly con-
cern. Maybe she could learn to
like him. She liked this town. The
cottages she had seen from her
window proved comfortably
sized Spanish homes. their gar
dens running down to the very
lip Of the high-tide line.
II had the old car towed back
to the farm. Abe can handle it.
Abe, Of course, can get along with
anything, or" he added with a
wicked smile, anybody"
$50 that's how you two remain
friends" flashed Toni an d
stepped on the accelerator.
you turn here unless you're
driving an amphibian," offered
Bartell dryly, and Toni wrenched
at the wheel to keep from bound
ing into the bay which had ap-
peared suddenly ahead.
At least the bank official was
pleasant. Bartell left them alone,
and Toni asked questions she
wouldn't deign to ask her great
uncie's attorney.
"Ycu'll make a success of the
farm" he assured her. 1.-The pre-
viouS owner was an excellent
ranaculturiSt but he knew moth
ing of business procedure, and
less Of marketing. You develop
your markets. let Abe develop the
frogs, and the farm will remain
in your hands" li ~
Tomi's smile was radiant. She
had found another ally. She was
even pleasant to Allen when he
appeared ready to take her auto
mobile shopping.
There they Quarreled again,
There was only one car Toni