The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-06-14
Chapter 19
"Digniied Baby"

"Dignified Baby"
BRENDA was weak with relief
~ and with laughter. What q
grand joke This was on the ON
niseient Macl
did you know your half sis
teri" she asked.
Never heard Of her until q
year before my father died.
His conscience bothered him,
expect. And anyway, he wanted
her to have some money without
making it public in a will" He
shrugged his shoulders, appar-
emily confident that he had said
the last word on the subject. And
indeed Brenda's quick wits filled
In the gaps without difficulty.
"She made bad marriage, lost
her money, and applied to you for
more. She named her baby after
YOU"
mo. For Dad"
You're still supporting her,
Ned?"
He flushed resentfully.
ITS my money, isn't it? I've got
q right to spend it as I like?"
"You have indeed" She patted
his arm Good for you, Ned.
Heavens, didn't realize how much
I'd worried about that story"
"Um. But how is all this going
TO help me with Alaine? You say
she doesn't know about Cynthia.
Then what"
Let me think. Everyone has a
dominant trait-a dominant weak
ness. said the young student of
psychology. what would you say
Abs is?"
Zone and the same: his nutti-
ness over his farm"
She looked a little bafied. THAT
doesn't seem to get us anywhere,
does If? Unless Does he have
everything for it that he wants.
Ned"
How the dickens do ] know?
He never asks me out there. But
wait! Alaine did say that they're
both simply frantic to have little
greenhouse so they can keep on
with their experiments all the
year around. What about it?"
Since she did not answer he
swept her quick glance: saw the
dimples in full play. saw stars
lighting her eyes.
We'll, out with It'll" he COM
manded grufiy.
She shook her head.
Il want you TO be able to say
IL was your idea. Ned! Think
think haFdP'
you mean / could build 'em
greenhouSe-or a flock of green
houses? But Alb Abernathy would
have my hearts blood before he'd
give his consent"
"Ab. yes: but the farms only
half his. isn't it?"
His tired young face frightened.
Il get you"
II hope you do, for it's the last
word I'm going to say on the sub
1ect. ]" said Miss Burnham virtu-
ously. believe in tending strictly
to my own affairs. Not for the
world would ! counsel you to an
action which might be construed
by the fnicky as rank bribery"
He wrinkled his forehead in
Thought.
That's all very well as far as
II goes: but it takes time to build
greenhouse. even more time for
it to exert a beneficent influence
on the amateur botanist's heart.
And | want to marry Alaine right
nowi Next week."
''It's not tn be considered. You
mustn't think of rushing matters
like that. Concentrate on imagin-
ing how many times you and she
can drive out to see the green
house going up-"onsult over the
plants TO 90 in ii.
sand If Alb raises the devil?"
"Show him the blueprints. Get
Alaine to give you a list of cacti-
all botanists seem to go mad over
cscti. I can't imagine whv-and
fash IL before his eyes. That'll
fix him." she predicted conf
IDENTIFY.
Blank And Defeated
THEY drove for an hour longer.
perfecting their plans. He
helped her out at her own door
just as Macs shabby car drew
up.
%Pll wait until he warns me
against Don Juan Barrow, and
then I'll give him The surprise of
his life" Brenda assured herself,
with relish.
But Mae did no warning. He
merely greeted them both pleas
antly and held the door open for
her to precede him into the house.
She felt oddly blank and some
how defeated.
Adelaide came out into the hall
10 greet them.
There's a man been telephon-
ing you. Brenda" she said. "a
friend OF yours from New York.
He wants you TO call him at The
Shelton. Graham's his name"
Phil Graham?" There was
genuine pleasure in her voice.
"Oh. ! hope it's Phil May I ask
him out 10 dinner, Adelaide?"
But when she got him at the big
hotel where he was staying, II
seemed he had plans Of his own
for the evening.
Were dining and dancing here