The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-02-14
Chapter Eight
49, ~---@


ON THE Wednesday of that week
" Bobby received another letter.
1t was addressed in a foreign, slant
ing handwriting. Its contents were
somewhat surprising to the young
man.
It was from the firm of HenriqueZ
G Dallo in Buenos Aires and, to put
1t concisely, it offered Bobby a job
in the firm with salary of thou
sand pounds year.
For the first minute or two the
young man thought he must be
dreaming. A thousand a year. He re-
read the letter more carefully. There
was mention of an ex-Naval mans
being preferred, suggestion that
Bobby's name had been put forward
by someone (not named). Accept
ance must be immediate, and Bobby
must be prepared to start for
Buenos Aires within week.
well, I'm damned" said Bobby,
giving vent to his feelings in some
what unfortunate manner.
"Bobby!"
"Sorry, Dad. Forgot you were
there"
Mr.. Jones cleared his throat. II
should like to point out to you"
Bobby felt that this process-usu-
ally a long one-must at all costs be
avoided. He achieved this by sim.
pie statement.
Someone's offered me thousand
q year."
The Vicar remained open-mouthed,
unable for the moment to make any
comment.
That's put him off his drive all
right" thought BODY with satisfac-
ton.
my dear Bobby, did l understand
you to say that someone has offered
you thousand Year,"
"Holed it in one, Dad" said Bobby.
sits impossible" said the Vicar.
Bobby was not hurt by this frank
Incredulity. His estimate of his own
monetary value differed little from
that of his father.
"They must be complete NUTS"
he agreed heartily.
"Who-er-are these people?"
Bobby handed him the letter. The
Vicar. fumbling for his pince-nez,
Peered at ftasuspiciously. Finally he
read 1t twice.
most remarkable" he said at last.
"Most remarkable"
"Lunatics," said Bobby.
"Ah. my boy" said the Vicar, 1t is,
after all. a great thing to be an
Englishman. Honesty. That's what
we stand for The Navy has carried
that ideal all over the world. An
Englishman's word! This South
American firm realizes the value of
a young man whose integrity will be
mistaken and of whose fidelity his
employers will be assured. You can
always depend on an Englishman to
play the game"
"And keep straight bat" said
Bobby.
THE Vicar looked at his son doubt
L fully. The phrase. an excellent
one, had actually been on the tip Of
his tongue, but there was something
in Bobby's tone that struck him as
not quite sincere.
The young man, however. ap-
peared to be perfectly serious. "All
the same. Dad" he said. why me?"
what do you mean-why your"
There are lot of Englishmen in
England" said Bobby. Hearty fell
lows, full of cricketing qualities.
why pick on me?"
Probably your late commanding
officer may have recommended you"
Eyes, / suppose that's true" said
Bobby doubtfully. ut doesn't mat
ter anyway since l can't take the
job"
Cant take it? My dear boy. what
do you mean?"
"Well, I'm fixed up, you see. With
Badger"
Badger? Badger Beadon? Nom
sense. my dear Bobby. This is seri-
ous."
ats bit hard. I own" said Bobby
with sigh.
"Any childish arrangement you
have made with young Beadon can
not count for a moment"
att counts with me-"
young Beadon is completely ir-
responsible. He has already. under
stand, been a source of considerable
trouble and expense to his parents"
Hes not had much luck. Badgers
80 Internally trusting
| "Luck-luck! I should say that
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| peuinsuIar 3 0ccidan