The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-01-17
Chapter 80
A JOB FOR POOLE
%T'LL admit I can't stand the cha


= personally said Mclaughlin,
He sat upon the edge OF a chair.
lstraightbacked and angular. In a
meat suit as grey as his hair. When
people told him that be did not look
like a cartoonist, he said that IT
WAS his ambition to look like a car,
ltoon Of retired general
HE was in a bad mood all yes.
terday," said Armitage. sBnt
hoped he'd be all right when he was
talking shop with you He's gen.
orally at his best. with you"
'He is all right ton shop, agreed
Mclaughlin. I'm fact, for a bril-,
liant youngster who knows just how
brilliant he is, he is most becom-
ingly modest. A great deal more
modest than / was at his age" Nc.
Loughlin's slow smile seemed to
crack his leathery face into two.
i'sBut the moment be gets on to any
subject but his work, he's insurer
able. Wants kicking"
you can't kick a cripple"
That's what he bets on" came
from Poole, upon whose person the
terriers had disposed themselves to
sleep.
apart from the fact that he's a
cripple" said Armitage-heavily,
Poole thought-"one can't snub him
as a guest. especially when his
mother is present."
He bets on that, too," murmured
Poole.
Very likelyi Anyway, his
beastly nature viii be a constant
factor whatever we decide about
him. and | think myself it's best to
ignore it."
Ignoring it makes him very in.
lritable," said Poole, smiling remit.
lniseently. He gently pulled a ter.
rier's ear. very irritable indeed
ii makes him."
"You don't think he should go to
Paris. Mac?"
"They won't teach him anything
in the way of technique he doesn't
know. What he needs he can get
here or anywhere"
@And that is-2''
solid, hard concentration. So
far. his work has been dashed of
under some stimulus or other; some
excitement. He's got to turn out
as good stuff when he's sober on o
Monday as he can at the Da Capo
on a champagne Saturday night"
"Any good his haunting places
like the Da Capo?"
only to his purse. From what
hear he's making a bit BY the
way, Is 1t a fact that you put in that
elevator to get him up to the top OF
this house2"
81 had it extended"
Mclaughlin left in silence.
As the front door distantly
slammed. Armitage asked
What's Lodely been saying to
get himself so warmly disliked?'
Poole pulled the terriers other
ear. Easy enough to say: "He
makes endless fun OF you, his host
and patron"--but difficult to explain
why one should so blazingly resent
Il when the host and patron didn't,
apparently. resent 1t at all. He re.
marked, instead
@Lodely talks OF giving a party.
do We have to charter the Ritz
for him, d'you known"
@No. The idea Is a small informal
gathering; but it's to include all
the rabble he has collected at the
'Da Capo during the last weeks and
a lot Of really sound people"
where will he give it,"
~In his studio. He actually took
the lift up there yesterday"
He didn't care for II, no doubt7"
"He thought It would make a
lkooo olillaru-room Win little re-
arrangement"
Armitage laughed.
"Clever Of him. wish TO heaven
he'd let me have my bedroom
lbaek!"
make him"
"No, can't do that"
He said It thoughtfully, his man.
ner robbing the words OF their in.
effeetuainess. He prowled up aud
down the room, smoking, eyes half.
CLOSED.
what about Mrs. Lodely?" he
asked abruptly. wheeling on his
secretary. "0ughtn't you--3s
sTAFu- F.a.f.. - 1870 -.