The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-04-23
Chapter IA
FOur's A Crowd

fOure "A NrOWO
IT'D you bring your suit,
OPolly?" David wanted to
know.
Certainly I did. You don't
think I'd let you two do all the
swimming, dc your"
David laughed. and watched Pc
ter getting a bundle out of the
car.
II hope my trunks aren't full
of moth-holes," he said.
"There were a few in them"
said Polly.
"How do you known"
"Peter brought them over to
cne to mend"
@Well. / give up!" said David.
Sand Peter acting as though he
had just discovered the trunks in
my closet"
Polly was also watching Peter
now. She turned to David.
How can he swim with that
awful brace on?" she asked.
HE can't" said David.
"You know he can't walk with
out it, though. Remember how
he fell that day in the parlor?
You told me about it, David. and
--and-how's he going to walk
down to the pool after he gets
his swimming trunks on?"
"Pll carry him."
'He won't like that. It'll make
him feel so helpless"
otis the only way, Sweetness.
Don't worry, we'll make a sort
of game out of it."
ooh, David, you are a dear"
said Polly. Then she called out
to Peter: Don't forget the
towels!"
'No," said Peter, 81 got 'em."
He came hurrying back to them
as fast as his lameness would
permit. eve can all 60 inside
the hotel and dress, cant WEI"
eyes," said David. "Polly, you
take the Inn parlor. and Peter
and I'll take the dining ROOM"
why not use two of the bed
rooms, Cousin David?" Peter
asked.
"They're pretty dusty, I'm
afraid. Don't forget, all the
cleaning we've done has been
confined to the larger rooms
downstairs"
The trio went on into the big
empty house.
In the lobby David glanced at
an ornate fountain that was
built in the center of the room.
and shrugged.
"Uncle Fred sure had high
falutin ideas" he said. Imagine
putting a thing like that in the
middle of the lobby"
"Why not?" said Polly. cit
must look lovely when the wa
ter is turned on-especially when
the colored electric lights are in
use. The sound of fountain is
always soothing and nice"
We'll see how it works one
of these days." said David. "I'n
have to do some work on the
fountains piping before it'll be
in working order. But come on,
we've got a date to 60 swim
ming. Had you two forgotten?"
"Oh. gee, not by a heck of
lott" said Peter.
He went hobbing of to the
dining room.
David turned to Polly. walk
into my parlor, said the you know
whatl" he invited. We'll meet
you down at the pool"
He went on into the dining
room where Peter was already
christening the iron brace. He
stood for few moments looking
over the double row of tables,
and the heaped-up chairs. There
wasn't, he thought. anything quite
so depressing as a deserted hotel.
Hotels. especially resort hotels,
ought to be bright with ligh, :,
and singing with gaiety. Freddy's
Folly certainly looked its name.
first swim
"HOUSN DAVID" Peter said,
~ "I--I--guess you'll have to
carry me down to the pool"
Sure" said David. But !
won't be doing il long. You're get
ting to be better walker every
day"
Peter, now dressed only In his
swimming trunks, looked down
at his leg. "But--but--how'll /
stand up in the pool?" he asked.
The water will hold you up"
said David. "All you've got to do
is stand on that fine left leg of
yours, and learn the breast
stroke Don't worry about that,
boy. Wen manage-you and l."
A few minutes later, he, Polly
and Peter were in the water.
He tried not to feel a great
wave Of pity sweeping over him
when he saw Peters shrunken
leg. And somehow or other he
hated for Polly 70 see il. But
she acted as though there was
nothing at all wrong. and he fol-
lowed her example.
While Polly swan and dived.
he stood In the shallow end of the
pool giving Peter lessons in swim
ming. They boy caught on
rapidly. and he was soon doing
wonders with his strong young
arms, and his good left leg.
Holding 20 the rod that ran
along the POOLS edge, he worked
his legs IN an effort 10 get the
crawl movement--the right leg
moving only feehly.
You're doing swell" David
encouraged. Exercise is all you
need. In no time at all you'll be
kicking practically ell the wa
ter right out Of the pOoll"