The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-05-07


sheets of foam-tipped water that
the long V-shaped Prov threw up.
The sun came out and the last
shred of fog fed through the
Golden Gate. Sea-gulls, startled
from lazy floating, arose to screech
their protest.
The boat shot under the bridge,
past AlcatraZ, headed towards the
blue bulk of Mount Tamalpais,
then swerved up the straits. It
roared past tankers, swis ed
around waddling ferry boats and
clipped close to ocean-bound
freighters.
Toni felt that all of life had
been caught up in this mad burst
of speed, that she and Allen and
the boat were one.
How d'you like it," yelled Al
len above the thrum of the engine.
Il could go on like this forever"
Toni shouted back.
Instantly there was a change IN
the engines hum. It sputtered.
Allen leaned forward to pull at
the various gadgets on the instru-
ment board. It picked up an even
hum and he headed it straight for
the north shore. It sputtered again,
and then it stopped abruptly.
Allen poled it in on the beach,
rolled up his trousers and stepped
over to hold his arms out to Toni.
Toni stood up and look ed
around. They had come ashore on
a tiny isolated island, bare of ev-
erything but coarse salt grass and
sand. Small blue bayous dissected
all of the nearby land. Ducks with
white Threats and red bills, ducks
with threats of blue and green and
foolish white bands on their heads,
padded around, undisturbed by
the visitors. Far to the south, the
west and the north, mountains
arose in an endless chain of pur-
pie.
You certainly chose a spot
from which l couldn't walk home"
laughed Toni.
Kidnapped! .
FOOD girl" commented Bar
" tell, and Toni didn't know
whether it was because she had al
lowed him to lift her and carry
her to the beach, or because she
had accepted the mishap with a
laugh.
She settled on the beach and
watched him return to the boat.
What was he doing? He had
opened the little doors which led
into the cavern under the hood.
Out of it he was bringing blankets,
canned goods, dishes, magazines,
cigarettes, firewood =. and little
pup tent
"Allen Bartell," she cried, jump
ing up. You planned this!"
A thousand foolish fears reared
ugly heads to confront her. She
was kidnapped. He could keep her
here, or some place near here, for
weeks and she could do nothing
about it. Dotty was in league with
him. Perhaps Old Abe, and Pierre?
She sighed with relief. Not Pierrei
But would Pierre find her before
the farm had gone to wrack and
ruin?
Bartell jumped out, waded up to
where he could remove his sup
plies, then with the chain of the
boat in mis- hands he came closer.
PLANNED thiS?" he echoed.
You wanted to keep me away
from the farm"
Hold it," he warned, and closed
his eyes. Remember your prom
ise. Remember it, Toni, because
if | forget mine, I'm liable to add
murder to the long list of mis-
deeds"
Toni remembered. But she
hadn't counted on this. However,
she had promised. She'd live up
to IT.
well don't dawdle around" she
scolded. I'm hungry and I want
a swim before lunch"
'Hurrah!" Bartell tossed blan-
kets into the air. Seriously, Toni,
| hadn't planned to land here. ]
told Dotty | was kidnapping you
/ for the day because she and Abe
had said you must have a good
rest and wouldn't take il. I'd
planned on a spot, up beyond Mar
tinez. / think l can reach a duck
club when the tide goes down. I'll
telephone in for a boat then. Mean
while"
Meanwhile, he erected the pup
| tent and Toni. stripped Of her
outer clothes. returned 10 find
Allen also in his swim suit. The
water was cold and invigorating.
They swan about for nearly an
hour. then returned to hunt for
kindling driftwood. start a fire
with the compressed logs he'd
brought. and brew coffee. broil
bacon. toast buns
Allen found some tall sticks and
made the tent into an umbrella
and laZily they lounged. talking.
Never a word was said Of the frog
farm or the viii.
Allen. the man. was a delightful
person to know. Toni felt trans
ported to another world. an en-
chanting world.
I'D rather be a farmer than
anything else" he confessed TO
Toni. "or an orehardist. I wish
you could see my prune trees in
bloom, acres of them on the river
bottom They fill the valley with
a lake Of foam. Wen 90 up when
they're ready to pick That's a
sight too"
It developed they would also 20
to his Eel River lodge in the au-
/ Arrrrr 81 IL. a - a.. -