The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-02-06
yesterday: Constance asks
John RaSkthorne to arrange q
loan of $4,000.
Chapter Is
Backed To Win

Il rough map of the ranch.
This section, would be of value
to a real estate investor; this a
total loss. And the man who saw
the place as a ranch wouldn't be
interested in cutting the extra
land into a vacation tract. The
natives have no use for summer
people"
Raskthorne stood up, walked to
the window, then back to his
desk and shook his head. Con
stance, no one would lend you
money to carry on such a venture,
with no security but your word.
You're not even full owner"
Constance gathered her purse
and gloves together. II know it
seems a wild scheme, John. but
believe in it. came to you first
because l thought you knew more
about the value of Ell Cabrillo
than another would. However, l
still have an ace up my sleeve.
so goodby, and thank you fo1
giving me so much time"
tChita" John stopped her be-
fore she reached the door. Listen,
dear. what makes you think you.
a twenty-four-year-old girl. can
run a dairy farm? I doubt if you
could tell a Brahmin from a Hol-
stein"
z Constance gave him gamin
grin. 'If a Brahmin can produce
as much milk as a Holstein. I'll
buy a herd of them"
"a Brahmin," pronounced John
eruditely, "is the camel of the
beef family; bison-headed steer
with a hump on his back"
Imagine you knowing that"
breathed Constance in mock awe.
and started again for the door.
"Chita," he was holding her by
the arms now. dear, give up the
ranch. Marry me, today. tomor-
row next week. I'll take care
of the family"
Constance jerked away, cheeks
scarlet. "The Charge-it CabrilloS."
she said bitterly. only then they
would be charging it to my hus-
band. No, Johnl And I won't
marry you or any other man until
we Cabrillos can stand on our
own"
$50 that's it,"
At the tender triumph in his
voice. Constance looked back.
Come back and sit down."
John seemed iubilant over some
thing. "Come on. here in this
chair. close to mine. Constance
I'm going to back you. | am
going to lend you the fifty thou
sand :. I'm going to bargain with
you. If you will give me your
word, and written promise to
one or two provisos. I'll back YOU
to win"
SO sudden was the change in
John Raskthorne's manner. that
Constance found herself seated
before she fully realized what had
occurred.
Still bitter over his light ac-
ceptance of her family as an obli-
cation attendant upon anyone
marrying her, and piqued at his
assumption that she would fail
with Ell Cabrillo because she was
a girl, and a young one, she
waited.
And as she waited her resent
ment faded. This John was new to
her. She'd never before seen him
against his business background.
For a moment she let fancy pic
tufe her as his wife. coming up.
perhaps to meet him for LUNCH
con; her pride in this man with
the silver band about his head
which matched his bushes S
tweeds of silver gray: almost. she
might say. matched his eyes of
grav with their silver toning.
Constance. tell me how YOU
arrived at the figure of fifty thou
sand?"
She was ready. She drew a
tvpewritten sheet from her bag.
The Tavlers planned to borrow
twenty thousand. They believed it
would take three years TO restock
the ranch and start il running at
a profit. | would have to hire an
expert dairyman. ] found. through
Mrs. MacKelvey. that there was
one available at four thousand q
year"
Your dairymen come high"
interposed RaSkthorne.
Personal Loan
4 ND now Constance could give
"A John a superior smile. do
you realize this man must know
not only how to buy dairy stock.
but how TO buy feed: which food
combination Is right for what
breed? And he must know how to
till and plant and harvest the
acres so that all the food need not
be purchased? And he must know
how to rebuild stables. install
machinery. handle men. control
the marketing. maintain &C
counts"
"Wait a minute" begged John
laughing az his defeat. -Four
thousand isn't too much for such
a supermsn. You are counting or
paving him yoat of the loan for
three years. that is twelve thou
sand dollars. Say II would take
twenty thousand 70 convert the
ranch into dairy farm. you still
have twelve thousand"
"Oh no. the family have beer
resolving nearly that much from
the ranch. and | must figure or
paying Peter TsyloTs salary Il he
decides TO stay on can. hrs
rim vou know"
Raskth9Tne nodded. "ConchiM
with your brains and my money
We can't lose. Now. I'll be franz
with ynia Aftnr I llstAre9 70 rns