The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-10-27
Chapter IL
Broke

oEDly Tense more tense than ghf
had intended it be.
Just what ] said, Adele. I'm
broke. That's one OF the Things
came down here to tell you.
couldn't bear writing ycu bad
news"
7 know you came down soone,
than We expected you''-she ~
looking at him doubtfulIy-.losit
Bart you can't mean this" Some
thing Of the seriousness Of the
thing bore N on her with STARTLING
suddenneSs. why you couldn'tl
You wouldn't have let me 20 On
with that big party tonight 4
you'd been really broke"
YeS, / would, Adele. You were
having such grand time getting
it together that ! couldn't bear 10
stop you. A little money one wsv
or the ather doesn't make much
difference"
But you shouldn't have let me,
Bart"
Winthrope smiled indulgently.
You're feminine to the heart
Adele, and / admire you for 81
Blu. women always think in terms
OF petty money when they're saw
ing. and then squander hopeless
" when II comes to big things.
What would the few hundreds
you spent on that party mean to
us when our liabilities run into
hundreds Of thousands?"
Mrs. Winthrope paled. Bart.
you frighten mel"
Il haven't meant TO, Adele. I
only wanted to be honest. And
certainly this sets at rest my fears
that our children may be married
for their money"
'Is this really true, Dad2s Jerry
asked His own face had lost some
Of its color.
''Yes. Jerry. I'm sorry TO say, il
Is. feel as if I'd failed all Of YOU,
but-hiS hands moved in a geS-
ture that was somehow pitiful
and utterly new to Bart Win
thrope = sits gone beyond my
ability to do anything"
Why didn't you tell US sooner,
Bart? Surely you must have seen
this coming?" Adele Winthrope
was sorry the moment the words
were out. they brought such a
wounded look to her husbands
face.
you know how things are in
the market, Adele" he said gently
after a little silence. There's al
ways a chance that one may re-
coup. Well, ! just couldn't"
Are you sure it's quite hope
less. dear? It may not be as bad
as you think. There may still be
a chance" Adele wanted to en-
courage him, TO make up for what
she had Just said.
Il wouldn't have told you il I'd
thought there was any chance,
Adele. I've waited as long as long
as I've dared"
It was Adele who finally broke
the brief silence that followed
Bart's words.
"Just what is this going to mean
70 us2" she asked. ''In immediate
changes, ] mean"
Plans
THE help up home viii stay
l. until summer" Winthrope's
voice was weary, as II he had
gone over and over the thing TO
himself so many times that talk
ing about it was tiresome. I've
put the place on the market The
yacht will remian here In the
basin; the crew viii stay until
they can find other jobs. I've
taken il upon myself, Adele. TO
rent a cottage here for the re-
maindcr Of the winter. ! need the
sun. I'm run down from strain.
Jim's staying on there at the Office
doing what he can. / can trust
him. If anyone can wreSt anything
from the wreck, he can. I've got
10 rest and forget there Is such a
thing as business. The chauffeur
says he'll stay on in our cottage
for the winter without pay, If
well make a place for him"
but can we? Can we afford
it7'' Adele asked quickly.
Yes. And" with WY grin.
ne saws he can cook. / thought il
might Be well 70 have Sefneone
ike that around. You haven't
done any wrestling with pots and
pans in so long. dear"
Il can cook. Bari I'm a good
cookF' Adele's thought sped back
over the years to the Blodgett
house in Shirley, Indiana; those
last years when Aunt Matilda was
so frail. and she. Adele. had got
ten out her mothers yellowed
cook books, found the much
Ehumbed pages where marks in
iicated her fathers favorites, and
had learned 70 follow them. Tom
Blodgett had lived during those
days. He was proud of his daugh-
ter's cooking and often enter
tanned bigwigs of the firm who
came 70 look the Shirley plant
over.
"Of course, ! know you can.
Adele" Winthrope said quickly.
4 know you're a girl who can do
anything she sets her mind 70"
Bart. il doesn't seem to me
you're taking this as seriously as
you should. / think we ought to
let all Of the help 90. Not try to
keen them in any way"
Darling. you're not thinking
now. Those people won't be able
to walk right out and get other
jobs. You and ] have some re-y
sponsibilltv 70 them. A roof and