The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-02-07

she murmured, "but I've never
liked the ranch, and we were get
ting along so well. Besides" she
sighed, Don was so sure you'd
agree to the sale that we
well, we really went into debt
rather deeply"
Mother" Constance knelt be-
fore her. She wished she had been
bitter as Don and Donna had
been. 1t was easy to fight bitter
ness. It was difficult to be cruel to
this beautiful little woman who
seemed trying hard to see both
sides.
Mother, I'll take care of these
bills, whatever you've spent
counting on the sale. Only don't
you see, this is what | feared, that
you'd let the children talk you
into spending everything at once,
and with the ranch gone there'd
be nothing more coming in"
Nadie frightened when Con-
stance spoke of meeting the bills.
She even smiled when she con-
fessed, I'VE are a little extrava-
CANT, aren't we? Well, I'll try to
talk to Don and Donna and make
them see you are trying to help
us, only they're going to be
so disappointed. We'd made the
loveliest plans. Dickey Marable
has a beautiful home at Palm
Beach and we were going to take
it for the season
"John," she asked in sudden
alarm, you believe Constance is
right in this? l mean she won't
lose everything for us?"
I'm backing her to win," he
assured her, land you are pro-
tected. I'll guarantee your share of
the sale offer, if she fails"
"Then then good luck,
darling. And will you send Min
eta in, feel headache coming
on"
Not A CabrilIo'
CONSTANCE and John left the
~ room in silence. AS they
neared the library Constance
tugged at his sleeve. Come in a
moment. John, I'm sorry Don
spoke as he did"
John patted her hand. "He was
striking at you through me. un-
derstood. He's probably in a COR
ner. financially, and doesn't know
how to get out"
Thinking of the car she had
seen on the driveway the previ-
Gus evening, Constance nodded.
I'll buy that for him. she thought.
l can do that much.
you're going to have a busy
month, Conchita," John offered,
seeming intent upon changing the
trend Of her thoughts. "I'm going
to take you to some of the biggest
upstate diaries, then We'll follow
the, milk down through the depots
to the creamerieS. And then we'll
make a trip to the livestock mar
ket, and perhaps we'll find some
stock shows; this is the time of
the year for them.
you know" he smiled at her
confidentially. "I'm getting inter-
ested in this myself"
you're darling" Constance
pronounced soberly.
She held to that thought the
entire four weeks that followed.
Their long conferences before the
hearth, or across some cafe table.
were times of calm, resuscitat-
ing rest from the emotional storm
which swirled about her.
There was the week in which
she sought to compile the family
debts and to stand aghast at their
total. Here the blood of Michael
Mahoney came to her rescue.
With cash to her credit, she
stormed the tradesmen and de-
manded a percentage for pay
ment. They seemed eager to ac-
cept the terms of the determined
young woman who said, Take it
and give me receipt in full. or
walt until Mrs. Cabrillo pays
you"
Don accepted the car with COM
plete lack of graciousness. 81 had
it coming" he said blandly. "Now
try to squirm your way out OF
the publicity
Constance had already found
her way out of the phase in which
she was most interested. An air.
mail letter had come in answer
to the one she had sent Peter
Taylor; a brief, cheering letter.
written by Pedro.
DEAR MICHAEL: Dad asked me
to answer your note. He says If
he tries to thank you for your
justice. he'll pound the paper into
the desk and no Cabrillo is worth
it. Remember that is what he
says. Meg insists you are not
Cabrillo.
If the clipping means you have
decided to sell to us, I'd like you
to know you are always welcome
here and Pancho is yours. Meg
says, and | think Meg is a very
wise woman, that your room is to
be kept for you and that you are
TO spend all of your vacations
here. When is your next vacation?
However. as the news story was
written while you were here at
e. Cabrillo. | doubt that you are
going to agree to the sale.
May we know your decision at
your earliest convenience?