The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1932-11-22
, Chapter 80
aTHE CAT CANE BACK"

sTHE CAT CANE BACK"
nAYLIGHT faded. In the park
below lamps sprang up. Toe
late he wondered whether he had
adopted the proper tactics. Women
were bullies; they profited by mems
gentIeness. AN the justice was on
his side. II he'd stormed. he'd have
had her feeding from his hand. It
was monstrous that she should be
Furnishing him.
he ought to turn the tables on
her. How would a coarser man act
in his circumstances? He would
buzz of with another woman. Oak
had practised that type Of revenge
and lost her.
A wild surmise struck him. Per.
haps he. too, had los. her. Embit.
tered precedents might misguide
her. She'd bolted from Oak. Previ.
Gus to her first marriage her III.
treatment Of her suitors had been
notorious.
Let it be granted that she had
bolted. Whittier could she bolt
without luggageg Probably to her
parents. He could find out by tele-
phoning. But IL the breach were to
be healed, the wise policy would be
10 seek her.
The door was opened by Goff, i'm
perturbable as an undertaken, who
In days gone by had elected so
many of her admirers.
Give affected nonchalance.
Family at homer"
His fatherin-law replied.
THAT you. Give? I'm at dinner.
Stack your coat and hat"
He found Mr.. Dawn at his last
course. peeling an apple.
Presume you've dined. My wife's
away. I'm alone. Brought Santa
with your"
Give laughed with all the gusto
Of dying humorist.
"Santa's performed the disappear
ing act. I rushed over hoping to
and her."
Mr.. Dawn continued placldly with
his peeling.
"There used to be song. | re-
call only one line: The cat came
back Put out saucer Of milk and
there you'll find pretty pussy some
fine morning, purring on your door
step"
Give was shocked by this unnat-
ural parent.
But Guardie, you ought to knock
me down. You ought to take her
side"
my dear chap. I'm married TO her
mother. To take her side would
seem toe much like siding against
myself. How II brings back old days
TO hear you call me Guardiel Since
you've improved our Relationship.
you've dropped the title. I've often
wondered what you thought OF me
when We shared thi house--my
wife in Italy. pretending she was
educating Santa"
II thought you were great,
Guardie."
''Ah, but you had other thoughts.
You're in the same box now. One
has 10 appear meek II he intends TO
stay married. That passage dealing
with charity describes the ideal hus-
hand: is kind: vaunteth not, IL not
pulled up. belisyeth all things, hop.
eth all things, endureth ell things.'"
Seated in deep chairs. toasting
their toes before q blazing ere In
the library. Mr.. Dawn grew expan.
sive.
"As q battered veteran to young
recruit. who's conducting this
bombing.raid"
santa. She's running me--for my
own good, so she tells me-"
Mr.. Dawn puffed at his cigar luz,
ariously.
Tho argument sounds familiar. ]
ahall re-live my youth in listening
10 you. Some woman was bound 10
ruin you-so why not your wife?1'
AS Give finished his story with
the latest threat OF philanthropy. his
father.in-law laughed uproariously.
What's so amusing, Guardie?"
you've the wife IN o million."
-rm aware OF that. Unfortunate
~ so 10 OAK"
"But all her mistakes have been
prompted by her excessive lore for
you"
(which makes them doubiy an.
noying. Gaardle. Delicacy prevents
me from correcting them"
Mr.. Dawn rose ana straddled the
fireplace.
~Now you're talking. Delicaey is
ehe curse OF married life. We mod.