The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-05-20
Chapter 80
Success Or Failure2

hi garden administered peace
a to Tomi's unhappy heart.
Pierre was a thorn that STAYED
In the flesh of her spirit, and fes-
tered. Dotty was lonely ache.
for Dotty who had mothered her,
had proven she was first the
mother Of this Gladys. The To-
lands?
Toni had refused invitations to
their home until they had stopped
giving them. Great-aunt Hannah
still called regularly to see that
she wasn't III. Great-aunt Han
nah, however, spent her spare mo-
mentS with Allen Bartell and Lily
Mankin. The Blonde Lily was
more in evidence than ever.
But the Tolands made Toni
realize she was. after all, only
half Toland.
Old Abe had grown silent under
the rigid silence of Toni. Only
with Little Sweetheart was he at
ease.
But it was Allen Barteli who
sent Toni pacing the sands on
the cool autumn evenings. It was
the very sight of him which
turned her heart from its moor
ings with a sickening pain. And
1t was Allen who made the win
ming of the place more vital
Miss Toni" Abe pushed his
chair back from the kitchen table
this early autumn evening you
amt told me how we're gettin'
on, but I'm thinking this. Feed
comes high. We got bumper crop
of young-uns growing up. You're
feedin' all of them. You could save
yourself a mite of money if you
was to back-feed."
Toni lighted a cigarette, crossed
her knees and swung her booted
foot. "Back-feed," she echoed.
Sure, feed your little ones to
the big ones"
Toni pushed her black hair
back from tanned face. 81 see,
and then next year or rather,
two years from now-the market
stock would be depleted"
well" said Abe. significantly.
Toni gave a queer little laugh.
$50 you don't believe the market
stock two years, or even one year,
hence will mean anything to me-
Is that it?"
Abe tamped tobacco into the
ancient pipe which had reap
peared with the disappearance of
Dotty. How can / tell?" he re-
torted. I'VE amt been partners
lately"
Something in Toni was touched,
then she steeled herself against
It. Abe had known Allen Bartell
before he had known her. She
would trust no one but herself.
Order another shipment of sill
ver-tops," she said. recklesSly. IF
! lose, I'll lose in the right way.
! needn't have spent so much
money for non essentials. | did
/ don't intend to take it out of
the fellow who runs this farm
next year. whether it be myself
or Allen Bartell."
Toni had seen Allen several
times since their Los Angeles
meeting. Each time Great-aunt
Hannah had been present. and
each time Toni had been ''in CO.'S
tune"
The Tolands. after years of re-
preston. had rebounded to the
other extreme. They rioted in
color. Even Major John strobe the
streets of Alameda in waiSt-coatS
which blinded the eye.
Great-aunt Hannah, wise enough
70 place herself ir the hands of
someone equally wise. was vi
sion Of good taste.
Silver hair, silver-toned clothes.
with enough blue to bring out the
sky-like color of her eyes. and
enough pink to give her checks
the bloom OF a happy sunset.
The Inner Woman
ONE day when Toni had found
Oher monthly allowance. de.
pleted and. needing additional
funds for a large shipment. had
gone 10 Aliens office. Great-aunt
Hannah had demonstrated. &.
TO think a Toland would ever
look like you do" she cried.
Toni. who had jumped into heI
car. boots muddy. breeches and
shirt stained. short black hair
pushed back from a face tanned
deep brown by the sun. had
laughed
Il was reared TO believe it was
the inner woman who counted. y
she retorted. With a glance al
Bartell she added, "I've heard that
the female of the species wear
color only TO attract. I've no de-
sire 10 be attractive"
We'll. you've certainly attained
that desire" flashed Bartell.
Toni found tears pudding the
dust on her cheeks as she drove
home But she had the money.
That IS all that matters" she
insisted.
It was all that mattered. but
there wasn't enough.
The last day in October dawned
too brightly. Toni. standing at the
EeaSt window. had watched the
morning sun spring up over the
hills o Mission San Jose. It had
touched the last blooms of the
garden with a blood stain. It had
crimsoned the walls of the old
house.
Toni. who had slept with her
books on the nightstand beside
her. opened them again. She
couldn't make the black army
come down two PAGES towards
the battlefront; only two PAGES
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