The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1942-11-26
Chapter Eight
Call From The Ranch

DR. BURROWS was at the sta.
n ton to meet RIA. Fright
seized her as she saw ms broad
shoulders towering above the
group on the platform. She ran "a
him; gripped his arm.
as Father worse?" wSa ~
.Now don't 60 jumping to con-
illusions. child" He smiled doWp
at her with genial comfork and
patted her shoulder. The nurse
ptioned my Office when your wire
came. and 1 said I'd bring you
along as l was goin' out to see
your Dad anyway"
He slowed ner luggage in his
car and helped her in. Tuck that
robe around your knees. That
fog's cold this evening, and you
don't look like you'd had such q
comfortable trip"
II didn't, very" She turned and
gave him a searching lock. HIS
gaze on the winding coastal high
way was brooding. Something was
wrong. She felt it. She said In a
low, steady voice. What's hap
pened, Doc?"
He was startled. He turned toe
quickly to. hide the troubled look
in his eyes. Hell, Rita. It's flothih'
much-just a lot of silly old
farmers in their dotages 81" asn
.sYou mean the comfnunity25,t
Frightened concern wider1ed her
eyes. K ri
He. nodded. Sam Arlen sub.
scribes to New York paper you
know. And this morning he saw
the picture of YOU"
aDf me?!"
with some actor in a. night
club,
Slow realization flooded over
her. That photographers fash
light bulb at their table--she had
forgotten it.
I. Well. of course the paper made
the rounds" DR.. Burrows said
with heavy humor Raised a lot
Ut talk. Lolita folks in this place
who've never been to a city, let
alone a night club. and ignorance
breeds distrust. So - gradually
they begin wonderin' if you were
the proper person to send to look
after the loan. And they all went
upsto your house and broke in
on your Dad" His voice rumbled
with anger. The darn fools! Lose
their heads completely when that
faotory's CONCERNED 4 told EN-
they had to get out of your Dads
room and 'ler him rest if | had to
clear EN- out with his shotgun,
What did Dad do?" Rita whis-
persd.
HE laughed at the picture. Said
II was b good LIKENESS Of you.
And he reminded EN- that he'd
been trying to get any one of EN-
to 90 to New York with him and
they'd all had to irrigate or pillow
under cover crops and wouldn't
bulge"
& sBut it was Dads loan--with
Blossom Ranch as collaterall"
The Doctor chuckled. "Sure, but
he got it for the factory so that
makes it theirs. Doesn't make
good sense, Of course, but when
their savings are tied up, they act
like q pack Of fools "
A p Distrust
THE CAR bumped across the
4arailroad tracks and shot down
into the. winding road Of Blossom
Valley. The doctor felt q relief
now. thatahis Job was oyer.
well, just thought I'd better
give you, the lowdowfl 80 you
wouldn't run Into the mob cold
be said. gently y"1'n' mighty glad
you're back, Rita You can
straighten EN- out and then your
Dad can get his rest" -
lie turned to grin reassuringly
at herl-afid saw her hands clench
Iii her lap. She was looking at the
rows Of orange ttees flashing past
through tear-riisted eyes. Her
voice came now an anguished
Whisper.
.But-I cana"
The big car swerved 10 avoid
a .cottontail that scudded across
the road. Doctor Burrows said
Oarflv nfter N ssAinaAfa