The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1942-11-21
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you mean that loan= can't be
extended?" Rita's face showed
lines of worry.
THAT lisa matter to be decided
by the Board of Directors" ,z.,y;,
Don't misunderstand. me,
please, Mr.. Cunningham. know
that THE fact that you and dad
went college together has moth
ing, to tdol with this deal. The
money was borrowed anG has, to
be paid back, but there is so much
more at stake than just a rancher
by the name of Ralston, his
daughter and Blossom Ranch"
"You mean the orange concen-
trating plant your father wrote
me about?" Cunningham asked.
Eyes" Rita said Simply.
You're thinking of all those
friends and neighbors of yours
who put their savings into th~t
venture?"
A look of sudden surprise
crossed Rita's face. "Then. then,
you know all about it?"
"When we make a loan of that
size, dear, we always like to know
exactly what the money is being
used for. l have a complete re-
port in my files"
You know. too, the good that
has been accomplished with that
money - that over 100000 GAL
Ions Of concentrated Juice has ali
ready been shipped to England
and distributed free from phar-
maceuticYall 4ho4rses TO children rp-
otherwise mighR Have been easy
prey to malnutritien"
GIoriaes" . slid"
before Cunningham answered?
- his secretary came into the
room. controlling an exasperated
frown. "Mr. Cunningham, your
daughter"
The door behind her was yanked
open violently and a dark-haired
girl. whose exquisitely groomed
appearance was married only by
the willful line of her lips, en-
tered. She gave the secretary an
accusing glare as she whipped in
past her.
"Conferencel" she scoffed, nod
ding toward Rita. 'Tt's only a
grill"
Cunningham smiled sympathet-
ically at the secretary as she left.
"Try straight jacket on her the
next time, Miss Martin" Then he
turned back to Rita. Miss Raj
ston, this is my daughter, Gloria"
AS Gloria acknowledged her
with bored nod, Rita regarded
the other girl with an apprecia-
tive eye. She was truly dazzling
with her long bob falling in blue
black cascades from under q
smart white suede hat, her close
fitting black street dress revealing
a trim figure and her slim shoul-
ders enhanced by the soft luxuri-
ance of a silver fox. She was
shut her jeweled cigar
cite case and tapping cigarette
on one heavily lacquered nail.
AS Cunningham bent forward
to light his daughters cigarette,
he was forced from his concen-
tration on the business in hand 70
a contrasting appraisal OF the two
girls-Rita SO freshly eager, So
well, the French had a word for
it - "bal-dnced!" - while Gloria
radiated only an irritated tension,
a driven. frustrated determine
ton. What was the difference in
the two? He found himself say
ing hopefully:
GLORIA, this is Rita Ralston,
the daughter of one of my old
school friends. She's from Caiifor-
MIA. Perhaps you'll be able to see
something of her while she's In
town."
What shame!" Gloria snapped
a polite smile in Rita's direction.
"Just simply showed under-n
I'd only known you were COM
ing The next time"
She wandered about the Office,
in on Rita's converse
ton with Cunningham. She called
a friend and made exciting plans
III kAiC -dAbCI AlOOA dAl0 yGNCAiuAE-
Rita grew more and more con-
fused and diStractedy She won.
dered if Cunningham were really
hearing her story. 5.F(,so q
She was relieved on this point
when ,he, took her to the door and,
laid an Understanding hand on
her shoulder, while lie said, 'aThe
Board of Directors meets tonight
and I'll tell them the circum-
stances regarding your fathers
loan. Don't worry about il. NY
recommendation carries a lot Of
weight. Call me in the morning
and I'll give definite answer"
Rita swallowed a lump that had
risen in her throat. "I'll be watt
lng-and thank you so much, = she