The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-06-11

Square stood local traffic cop,
whose relationship to Asey was
about the same as that of Pam
Frye to Nettie Hobbs.
As Syls truck approached. he
put up his hand and blew his
whistle Importantly; Asey did his
best to obey. but the brakes of
Syl's truck were unaccustorned to
quick stops, and AseY coasted on.
up to the rope barriers that were
keeping the throng Of people off
what was left of Roddy's plane.
The cop marched up to him.
: Where's your inspection tag?
What's the matter with your
brakes? Gimme your license and
registration"
Il haven't any registration,
Asey said honestly. "An' my Ii
scense is in my other coat The
trouble is. Jerry, amt used to
these brakes of Syl's. They work
all right. but they're sort Of frac-
tious, like. Now"
Jerry's face grew red. In loud,
penetrating voice. he expressed
his opinion of Asey. Asey's car,
Asey's brakes. Asey's general
character and ancestry.
Go on" Asey said. San | was
drivin' on the wrong side. too. ]
guess. Jerry, if you didn't recog-
nize me. without the car an the
Stetson, no one will. Can | park
this crate an stink off about my
business. or do you iail me?"
Asey. have you got into this
mess at last2 Thank God We're
all goin' crazy. That state cop
Hanson is off his nut. heard that
the selectmen were intendin' to
ask you over, It's not Pam that
killed her sister. It's someone here
that was sore about the faces in
the mural"
Jerry" Asey said. 81 come to
Quanomet TO bring a load Of loan
an to do some paintin That's all
An you'd better yell at me some
more"
Jerry winked deliberately and
raised his voice
Heated Voices
THEY spent the next quarter
hour putting on an act that
charmed the tourist trade. Finally.
after promising never to ignore
another stop signal. Asey took his
paint cans and brushes out of the
rear of the truck. and Joined the
crowd that sWarmed the streets.
The space in front of Nettie
Hobbs's store was teeming with
people. Obviously the Woman's
Exchange was doing a land office
business. Asey edged his way to
the windows and stared.
There were fancy calico pan
holders. crocheted lettuce bags.
aprons of every style and color
all apparently designed for the
oversize figure. Asey thought. Any
one Of them would have made a
fine pup tent. There were huge
quantities of luncheon sets, en-
broidered dish towels. beribboned
cushions bristling with pins. and
lines of doll-like door stops made
from milk bottles. There were
pies. cakes. rolls. dishes of home
n ade fudge. There was iar-it
was almost a tank-of pickle
lines. And the tourist trade was
buying Just left and right.
Now | wonder" Asey MUIR
INJURED. Il wonder if maybe the
ladies amt pullin' a fast one"
II was the wife of the minister
with the Wart, who darted out to
talk to a woman standing near
Asey, who confirNed his sus-
picions that the ladies were aug
menting Nettie's stock with church
fair material.
Jane. you've got to helpl The
Baptists have more aprons-go
get EN- from Minnie. And a quilt
from the Methodist Chapel. And
tell Sally to hurry up those quo
hog ash trays she's decorating
we're getting fifty cents apiece
for them. I've got all the children
at the shore getting shells-they're
paying ten cents apiece Just for
undecorated onesl And for merey'S
sakes. ask Harry where you get
pickle limesl We're selling those in
there for a quarter each. We
what? Oh. Nettie can't remem-
Der where she got these. She's had
EN- for years. she says. Jane. you
hurry up-we can rebuild every
church in town and repave Main
Street-if only we can find things
to SELL"
where's Nettie?" the other
woman asked whats she got to
say about this selling2"
II don't know, and I don't care.
the minister's wife returned. "All
she's thinking of is the money
she's getting for articles and,
statements. She doesn't give a fig
for the churches! She's out back
now. talking 20 someone-more
reporters, | shouldn't wonderl"
Asey edged his way out of the
crowd and along the sidewalk to
the narrow alley that separated the
Exchange from Red Mems Hall.
Swinging his paint cans. he
marched up the alley and through
the gate into the yard at the rear.
Voices - heated voices - issued
from the open window in the ell.
THE whole things absurd. and
you know it's absurd, an you know
you're lying like q bloody trooperf"
The woman who was speaking ac-
cented her words with a good
hearty th0mp on something that
reSOunded alphabetically.
what" Ii was Nettie Hobbs
whose voice rose to a Shrill scream.
What do you meant / saw Pam
FRYE kill her. / tell YOU | saw il
with ms own eyes.
fcesprxaa Isss Fsesss xszooa v4rsesl
Who Is talking 70 NettIe HohbS9
Read Mondays chapter.