The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-08-28
FOUR BLIND OATES
81 Edin Rult
Chapter SO
The Chiseler's Chance

and one which might, by not too
great a stretch of the imagination,
lead to peace and security for his
declining years. And though his
stay at Saltair Acres had been both
brief and fraught with tribulation,
he had formed an attachment for
the place. Therefore he decided to
gamble splendidly. He got to his
feet and moved majestically to an
obscure corner of the room. He
was just in time. A knock sounded
on the door.
'sDipsangI" cracked an imperi-
Gus voice from without. "Are you
here?" The next instant the door
was flung open.
The Chiseler, standing grave
and silent in his out-of- the way
corner, perceived four individuals
In backfield formation blocking the
doorway. In the quarterback posi-
ton stood a slight. testy-lookin
man whose lips were torturing an
uiilighted cigar. At left halfback
was tall, rangy young gentleman
who seemed amused by something
or other. The position of right hall
was filled by one of the prettiest
girls that the Chiseler had ever
seen. And in the fullback's place
rested Dubious individual. The
quarterback spoke first. as is GUS
tomary.
"Dipsang," demanded the quar-
terback, chewing furiously on the
cigar, "what has been going on
here?"
BY now Mrs. Dipsang had hoist
ed the Dipsang bulk to the Dipsang
feet.
'M-M-Mr. A d m 81" she ex-
claimed, unnerved. ST. thought
you were IN Europe"
Richard Craftonbury advanced
into the room. The rest of the back
field, getting the signal correctly,
moved with him.
Europe be hangedl" said Rich
ard Craftonbury. Il came home
looking for peace and quiet. walk
into my house to find it all lit UP
like a gambling hall and some
kind of Internal corroboree going
On. And ! haven't been home ten
minutes = not ten minutes, mark
you-before some COMPOUNDED
BLACKBOARD sneaks up behind me,
hits me over the head and ties me
up In my own sinokehouse. And
what want to know is who did it?
WHO DID TT"
I'll really couldn't say" said
Mrs. Dipsang, in great distress.
The Chiseler, in his corner,
nodded. So this was what had hap
pened. He wondered how on earth
Coletti or Dorothy, or both, had
come to get their signals crossed.
Whats that?" exploded Rich
ard Craftonbury. "You can't say?
What in heavens name is wrong
with people around here tonight?
Doesn't anybody know anything
about anything? I'm going to-.
who in the dickens is that?"
He had suddenly perceived the
Chiseler, standing hobly aloof in
his corner. He stared at him, eyes
bullying, cigar bobbing up and
down. Then he thrust out a terri
bic forefinger. "Who's that. say?"
II was then that the Chiselef
cornporteG himself in such manner
as to indicate that when he turned
crook the stage had lostea great
Thespian. He strobe forward with
dignity, arms folded, head bowed
on his breast. mustachios flowing
silkily in the breeze from the
window. For a moment he con-
fronted them. And even the red
and-white underpants failed sig
nally to detract from the solemni-
ty Of his aspect. Then the Chiseler
spoke.
my NAME" he said, slowly and
impressively, sis Dipsang. Austin
Sebastian Dipsang, able : bodied
seaman. am at your service"
Astounded, Mrs. Dipsang gasped
and jumped, but no one noticed
her. The Chiseler had commanded
the undivided attention of every
one. A silence greeted his pro-
nouncement. Then Richard Craft
onbury. eyes bullying even more,
gave tongue.
"Huh?" he said.
"Dipsang," repeated the CHS
eler generously. MY name is Dip
sang"
Saga Or The Sea
DICHARD CRAFTONBURY re-
N gained his poise.
But ! thought you were lost
oh-oH
"Hatteras," supplied Mrs. Dip
sang mechanically.
The Chiseler turned to her.
II see that your memory is as
faulty as ever, my DEAR" he said
easily. II was not lost off Cape
Hatteras. On the contrary, our ship
foundered off the Florida KEYS.
Never, If / live to be thousand,
shall forget that bitter night. The
seas were mountainous, gentle
men, mountainous. The wind had
teeth. We were, however. able TO
launch cur boats. and few COM
panions were alone on the-the
waste Of the ocean" He paused, to
permit the minds Of the audience
to take in that graphic picture.
We'll, 60 on, go or" urged Rich
ard Craftonbury, who liked tales
OF adventure. what happened
Rext2"
The Storm" proceeded the
Chiseler smoothly, tossed our lit
tie boat about as though it were
an eggshelL
To make long story short, my
companions and myself were
washed ashore on q lonely island
IN the West Indian group, On this
island were natives, practically
barbarians. who informed us in
the sign language that the place
was out Of the course Of ships and
seldom visited by them. This
proved to be the case. When I tell
you that we existed there for near