The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-05-06
Chaptr 10
. Customers

CCRAPS of paper Uttered the
- counterpart. Scrawled on them
were titles. "Toland Frog Farm" "
'.STomi's. Frog Farm" Alameda
Frog Farm" And then, finally, her
old nickname was thrown into the
gap and the copy drawn up.
"Frenchi's Frog Farm" Beneath it
was the Alameda telephone num-
Der, with a gesture of defiance at
one Allen Bartell, and the address.
"Tll write to every cafe within
three hundred miles," she told Dot
ty, as she showed her the list
copied from the directory. Then
I'll follow up with personal calls"
Tomi's short illness had brought
floral offerings from Allen, his
crowd, and her own little family.
Pierre, who had remained below
stairs, sent violets and pansies
gathered from the garden. Abe had
found early California peoples out
near the airport. Allen sent long
box of rosebuds, deep, rich GRIM
son tipped with a bold orange-ar-
resting arrogant flowers.
Tomi's glance rested often on the
various gifts. PanSies and Violets
were easier to live with, she
thought. They didn't demand your
admiratiopusttempt TO pale every
thing else into insignifcance,
Pierre's eyes were the color of
the blue panSieS, dark blue with
almost purple depths. He would
be gentle, kindly, a perfect hus-
band.
He wasn't an altogether perfect
employee. Toni, who had half
dreaded her first encounter with
him, following his admission of
love for her, found her fears had
been unfounded. Pierre was brisk
and busineSslike. She need not
make the sales calls on the cafes.
He would do it. After all, a woman
should be protected, not forced to
face the cold facet of the CONNER
cial world.
Toni listened. Pierre was ready
TO assume command of the farm.
But il was her farm. She appreci-
ated his motives. They were COM
plimentary.
And then-She would have been
surprised to see how much she re-
gembled Great-aunt Hannah To-
1and-she stood up. "I'll see you
this evening. l believe you're
building the shelters, are you
not?"
Toni made sale at her firstcall.
She trilled it over the telephone
to Abe. Eyes, the hotel on the lake.
Isn't it wonderful? Call the inter
city express and ship them imme-
diately." ;t"n'.
That first sale had to carry her
spirit through the rest of the day
Some buyers refused to see her,
some refused to talk with her when
she reached their quarters. and
others listened without seeming to
hear.
ave no time to talk about frogs
legs" snapped one of the buyers.
Two waiting statesmen. followed
Toni out. She wondered if they
could see that even her hat was
dropping with defeat
miss Toland." She turned at the
sound of her name.
They'd read about her, it seemed
They wanted to give her boost.
Let me put in a word for you,
offered the younger man, eagerly
when these fellows know what a
game battle you're fighting, they'll
buy from you"
mol" said Toni, decisively. ''If
my legs =. | mean, if the quality
Of my goods doesn't sell them
then l don't want the accounts"
Good girl" commended the ell
der. You're in the business to stay
I'd like to help you in another way
Let me see your list of prospects
and I'll give you the buyers names
the days and hours they're willing
to talk to statesmen, and few
pointers on their Municipalities.
Toni was glad to receive this
help. She found the salesman
scratching off a few names. INC
credit, he explained. They'll take
everything you have and let you
wait for payment. You're fightinE
time. so yensCan'h afford that"
always That Man
IT WISH there was one of you il
i every city," confessed Toni. :.
know the Chicago markets, bu
that doesn't help me here"
"You don't need help" the mar
assured her. "You have what i
takes" 'rs.
Heartened by this friendly meet
ing, Toni drove home. 1t WASH
going to be easy to establish mar
kets within a given time. AS ABB
had said, the regular buyers werI
under contract to markets which
had produced regularly.
She was woefully tired whel
she reached the farm. Abe inSistet
she come out to look at the polly
wogS" The nursery" pools wer
black with minute, wrigglinI
forms. Toni felt relieved that the,
would live on their own bodies un
til, with a final gulp of their tails
they became tiny frogs.
Pierre waited until Mrs Dough
erty, dinner over apd, the houS
spotless from veranda to Kitchen
had departed for Alameda, the
he joined Toni and dropped hi
role OF emploYeess7i3 aas.s
The woman IN Toni appreciate,
his kindness, his tenderness, hi
thoughtfulness. A cushion in tn
right place behind her achin
back, another beneath her slip
pers, a fire, exactly the right siZ
for this slightly chill evening; a
Of these were arranged for he
comfort.
Pierre sat at her feet and locke