The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-08-15
Chapter q
Temporary Truce


1 Packy, with decision. "As soon
Is / get back to town I'll tell the
whole story to the man who runs
the night club. And / hope you'll
be arrested"
you'd look great with your
husband in jail. wouldn't your"
Husband. The day marry you
Long Island Sound will turn to
ink"
IF you hadn't broken your date
with me for tonight in a very
unsportsmanlike m a nner this
wouldn't have happened"
'Unsportsmanlike? What could
have been more unsportSmanlike
than the way you forced me into
the date in the first placer"
Now, listeni At great risk, res
cued you from the slavering jaws
Of an Infatuated beast. Instead OF
falling on my neck as a well-bred
young lady should. you acceded to
my request for date in a most
ungracious manner. Then you
ditched me in the middle o. Fifth
Avenue by -.
"Oh, my Lord!" groaned Packy.
you are the most long-winded
person"
IL resent that. | am copious
thinker. To resume, you gave me
the slip in most unworthy fash
ion, leaving me alone and unarmed
with probably the most dangerous
dog In New York. After which.
you went home and wrote me
curt letter to the effect that the en-
gagement was off. ! ask you. is
that sporting?"
"Al1 very plausible. Mr.. Adams, "
Packy said sweetly. "But it hap
pens to be only your side OF the
story"
Tacks waved his hand. "You
haven't got side. And. inciden-
tally, il might interest you tc know
that Ilove you"
Size shook her head. Fairy tales
haven't intrigued me for years"
You are without doubt the cold
est woman ! have ever met. said
Tacks very seriously. "You just
naturally break guys heart.
There was a shade Of wistfulness
IN his voice which Packy tried hard
to ignore. But she couldn'
After all, bad as this Adams was.
she would have to grant him the
virtue of persistence. Never in all
her experience had she rebuffed
anyone more frequently or thor
oughly. Yet the Adams never
failed to bound back as if made of
India rubber, and ask for more.
Suddenly, and to her intense sur
prise, she found herself feeling a
little sorry for him.
Listen, Mr.. Adams" she said
hesitantly. "I-I don't want to be
too hard on you ="
"Ahl" He snapped at this crumb
too eagerly. Beauty relents. Beast
forgiven. All ends hap ="
Packy silenced him with chilly
glance.
that's the trouble with you.
abe complained. Every time ] get
q generous impulse in your direc-
ton, you kill it Immediately with
some smart remark. / started to
say that didn't want to be too
hard on you. You have. Of course.
annoyed me terribly for some
time. But / oh. well, If It will
make you feel any better. IL
don't actively dislike you. In fact.
there was time-just once-when
was almost on the verge of lik-
ing you"
lacks almost bounced of the
cot.
"When was that?" he demanded
quickly, glowing.
@Never mind. got over that
er-crisis very easily. And the inn
possible things you've done since
make me sure that there won't be
another one"
Bunch OF Gargoyles'
ALMOST timidly Tacks laid q
"a hand on her arm. To HIS SUR
prise. she made no attempt to
shake IL of.
sWhat have done flats so aw-
ful7" he asked, in a low voice.
Packy waved her hand. indicat-
ing the darkened interior of the
ambulance. well, this, for in
stance. Do you call this the usual
method of taking girl to party7"
Now you mention il, it Is q lit
tie irregular, perhaps" Tacks ven
ttired. But. :. well, simply had
10 get you to this party"
@But whyf You must know q
thousand other girls"
II do. And they're Just a bunch
Of gargoyles compared to you"
But" Packy persisted. s'just
why was 1t so imperative to bring
me in particular"
Listen" said Tacks frankly, Fl
can't honestly tell you now. But
before tonight's over you'll know"
He paused, as il weighing his
words. @And I'll promise you an
other thing. After tie party I'll
drive you home In a decent car.
And then, if you really want it
that way, I'll never bother you any
more. I'll never try TO see you
again or-or anything. Only" lin
the darkness his hands clenched--
SIN just going to hope that you
won't want il that way.
Packy didn't answer Immediate
~. Tacks. looking gloomily out the
door, perceived that Sulxiyald was
nearing his goal.
"I'll tell you what" Packy said
unexpectedly. 81 blame myself for
just one thing. ! could havs stopped
you easily outside the club tonight.
But III didn't want to make q
scene. And since we've come this
far. We might as well attempt To