The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-01-22
SE nH lady HsEa snD ms taos Sa VINO NE Uor
never MIND THE LADY
ri: ri: * by David Garth ~ 6: :: z;

"Gosh, Mac, what hit your Want q
doc?"
EITHER that or some adhesive
tape"
"Get in. boss, get in. I know q
good doc"
Terry got in. He leaned back
against the cushions and propped
his feet up on one Of the little side
seats.
"How are the Giants doing?" he
murmured.
bright sun was flooding the room
- when lie awoke the next day. His
head felt as though It had been hit
with a collection Of assorted sand.
bags. Had he been drunk last night?
Ee pondered. No. he'd been slugged
with something. that was right. A
merry life, yea. truly; never d dull
moment.
He looked at his wrist watch. Al
most noon. Something was due 10
happen today. Oh. yes-he had TO
take a plane at Newark Airport for
Miami and the Pan-American Air.
ways.
He got up and went over to the
mirror where he regarded himself
critically. He wasn't exactly pic
ture of beauty. with a discoloration
around one eye and his forehead
bandaged with several strips Of sur
gical tape. and when he took deep
breath the ribs on one side ached.
Well. don't take any deep breaths.
He showered and dressed quickly;
Terry Willett dressed we'll In an
easy natural way. He presented d
smart, clean-cut appearance In dark
double-breasted. blue shirt. wine
colored cravat. and his thick auburn
hair crisply parted. ;r,sdra
Then with his bags packed and
his topcoat under arm. he paused By
the table and picked up Puff Harring.
toms note. Shed evidently left It
there right after he and Fox had
gone out of the room last evening.
There were two words hurriedly
scrawled. Thanks. Terry" Sic tran
sit Puff.
You're welcome. babe. 1t didn't
cost you anything but a cigaret case.
Some detectives wife has that "evi-
dence" now probably. He smiled
slightly and tore the note into bits.
letting the pieces filter through his
fingers.
AS he closed the door behind him
and turned the key In the lock. he
heard his phone ring. He hesitated
a moment: who'd be calling him7
Puff. maybe?
Well. whoever 1t was he didn't
think it worth the effort to unlock
the door and go back. What was the
use? He let the phone ring. Terry
Willett wanted to get away from
mere - -~s@t 49,.
He had a short breakfast and then
went to the desk to pay his bill. The
phone girl said there'd been call
for him; no message. The party had
been very eager to locate him and the
phone girl had said Mr.. Willett was
leaving for Newark Airport shortly.
Hope you have a nice trip. Hr.
Willett." she smiled. She was very
pretty and lots Of men stopped by to
talk about the telephone situation.
1t was just her luck that when one
came along with whom she'd have
liked to discuss the telephone situa-
ton. he wasn't interested In the tele-
phone situation.
Black eye and bandaged brow. but
that warlike-looking young man was
real gent. thought the telephone
girl.
Willett arrived at the airport and
the big tri-motored ship was already
waiting, the sun shining on its sill
yer body with a food of cleaning
reflections. The Miami plane! Com.
ing. Corrigan.
With his foot on the step. he heard
his name called. "a
Terry" StSEfkNL
He turned to see Allaire coming
toward him swiftly. She seemed
breathless and there was q touels-pf
high color In her face. She reached
his side and put hand on his arm.
You're not. going. Terry?, Not,
back to South American. xtIt
He looked at her curiously.
"Why. of course"
"You might have come around to
say goodbye"
He laughed shortly.
81 said goodbye last night-words
and music"
Lets get out of here" said Al.
laire. as a portly passenger waited
impatiently to get aboard.
Five minutes, sir" said the plane
steward to Willett.
More than enough" said Willett,
and walked to one side. Allaire
seemed to have something to say,
but couldn't quite say It.
"If it's about last night" said WI
lett, forget it."
"oh. Terry, you can't go like this
after all you've done. ! wanted to
talk to you last night, but yen didn't
give me chance. II was grand Of
You to take my part. to sock that
heastly swine"
Copyright. 1888. tg David GARTH