The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-05-17
Chapter % =
Dinner For Two

IGju lUIOuBU orange SIOVcSs
and Toni decided to sleep. When
she awakened they were moving
slowly along the edge of a noun
tain which seemed to have slipped
from its bearings and was held
back from the tracks by barriers.
Directly ahead the last rays of
the sun were gliding the dome of
a massive building. the Los An
geles City Hall.
Toni was piqued that Bartell
only saluted before they left the
train.
she followed her luggage to
the street and called a cab, was
driven 10 the hotel Dotty had sug-
gested. Several other cabs had
drawn up before it. Toni paid no
attention.
She had signed the registration
card and was following a bellboy
towards the elevator when she
noticed familiar figure preced-
ing her. The elevator man closed
the doors.
Imagine seeing you here!" re-
marked Allen Partell from the
rear of the elevator.
Toni didn't wait to remove her
hat. She sat down at the desk in
her room and wrote a telegram.
1t was brief and final. It was adj
dressed TO Mrs. Dorothy Dough-
erty and consisted of four words:
You're fred. Get outl
Toni wanted major markets
only. They were the only ones
that paid when the cost of ship
ping must be considered. She
spent the next day calling or buy
ers Of these markets only to learn
that Los Angeles was well
equipped with frog farms and
that frogs with a southern ac-
cent" supplied the main hotels.
Dreary and defeated she re-
turned to her hotel. Five minutes
after she arrived. flowers were
brought 10 her room.
Toni read the note which ac-
cOmpanied them and had to
laugh.
If inUite you to haze din
neT NTH ne, ;CilL you promise
yon lyOn't haze me quGran-
tined?
Allen.
She sat before the window for
long time before answering.
Dusk lay over the city. purple
skies and yellow lighted windows.
gay lights promising glamour.
and across the street at the Bit
more bevy of gay young things
IN summer frocks and young men
in cool flannels embarked.
Il wonder what is IT like to be
young and gay and not have to
worry about frogs and farms and
TOlandS she unused.
She had been young and gay
and free OF worry that day Al
lens boat had broken down
Bat remember the aftermath"
the Toland within her warned
Toni remembered.
A second cargo of flowers. more
beautiful than the ones before.
arrived. The note said:
Toni. can't t1e pretend just
for one evening? ri take you
ont TO see the stars. cellulOid.
I'll .eDen feed you frog legs. Just
this once. Toni?
Why not? 1t would be better
than sitting in hotel room; bet
ter than going down to a cafe 10
order food she didn't want and to
return TO brood over her woes.
Allen had asked that she pretend
She would forget who be was.
and what he represented.
My Night
CHE called the boy who had
- brought containers for the
flowers. Wait" she said. and
wrote hurriedly:
If you ,oiIl promise the cab
tcOn't break dotDn and ledUe me
lrith flock of ducks and her
Ons. III meet you in the lobby
IN half an hour.
She flew around her suite. then
drew cool scented water for her
bath. She'd wondered why she
had brought the dainty yellow
frock with its smart bolero. the
long goSSamer cape. the slim vel
low slippers; wondered why she
had sent them to the valet that
morning to be freshened.
Standing before the full-length
mirror. she surveyed her refec-
tion with satisfaction. She must
wear this color more often.
At the last moment she tucked
a spray of cape jasmine above
each ear and held the smooth
black waves of hair back 10 their
fragrant petals
This is my night" she prom
ised herself, going down in the
elevator. He had his day. III
make him sorry he ever heard OF
Grand-uncle Timothy zsss
She feit she could. The glance:
Of men stepping into the elevator
assared her of her beauty The
sight of everyone in the bbby
pauSing TO turn and look anc
whisper was like a potent draugh'
OF power.
Toni" protested Allen breath
lessly. I'm not going to take you
70 Hollywood looking like this
Someone will offer you con
tract. and then what of the pool
little frogs?"
Pierre win look after ths
frogs" said Toni serenely. ooh
what lovely car. Allen"
POWDER ExpLoDES