The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-08-24
Chapter IS
Return OF The Native


THOUGH mythology does not
1 belabor the point, it is conceiv-
able that at the moment when
The returning Ulysses crossed his
threshold to find a bevy of lounge
lizards making time with the fair
Penelope, vastly silence settled
aver the palace. Conversation, in
lubitably, stopped abruptly; WISE
rack died on shocked lip; lutes
we're muted. For it is moments
ike these that breed silence. And
such a moment occurred when Mr..
richard Craftonbury Adams, fol-
owed by Matherton in a great
tate of trepidation, appeared like
form of harried avenging angel
in the doorway of his own living
room.
For two awful moments Richard
Craftonbury Adams glowered at
the assemblage Then he folded
his arms and spoke.
What the devils going on
here?" quoth Richard Grafton
bury.
No one seemed prepared to reply
to. this simple inquiry. Richard
Craftonbury trie d exhortatory
measures.
We'll, speak up, dammit" he
said. Speak up, somebody" As
he said it, he peered at the group
and discovered two individuals
with whom he had a nodding
acquaintance. They were Van
Hardness and Jumbo Cutler. He
picked on Van. "Hal You, Hark-
nessl What does this mean?"
"Er-aagh /" began Van and
stopped, finding himself suppressed
ed by someone possessed of a bet
ter gift of language.
It was, surprisingly enough, Miss
Dorothy South. For some seconds
Miss South had been studying
Richard Craftonbury. Now she had
him categorical. He seemed to her
the incarnation Of a breed with
which she had had a world Of ex-
periencc. namely, the tired BUSH
ness man. He looked like a har-
assed sugar daddy. And, such being
the case, she held him in no awe
whatsoever. She addressed him as
she was wont to address sugar
daddies.
Hello, Pops" she said. "Come
on in. The waters fine"
Richard Craftonbury jumped.
'Eh?" he calculated,
Il said oil up the joints and let's
you and me touch off a rhumba.
You look as if you could bend a
wicked ankle, Pops"
Richard Craftonbury smirked
slightly. Back in the golden nine
ties he had bent ankles with the
best of them. But in his day gen.
tlemen had not danced with young
ladies to whom they were not yet
introduced. He sought introduc-
ton in a direct and tycoon-ish
manner.
who the devil are your" he de-
manded.
Now, Pops" said Miss South
soothingly, keep your shirt on.
A10NAtCAAACllN Od0 III JOuI OlOOQ
pressure. But, just for your infor-
nation, I'm the Head Mistress of
the School for Backward Girls.
Therel That'll learn you to swear
at a lady"
Richard Craftonbury regarded
her with interest. He liked this
young woman. She had spirit.
Spunk. He studied her for second.
She was good locker, too.
Didn't exactly swear at you, /"
ne said now, a little grumpily.
always swear at everybody.
Don't mean anything by ii"
That's okay, Pops" Miss South
said. "Come on over and sit bv
me and let's let our hair down"
On the point of obeying this
command Richard Craftonbury
was diverted by slight noise be-
hind him.
Jonathan Harland, was coming
along the hall conveying a most
attractive young woman.
You Young RapscalIiOn
CPIRITUALLY, Richard Craft
- onbury was over on the divan
Lifting down his hair with Miss
Dorothy South. But, corporeally.
he remained in the doorway of
the living-room. Now that he had
culled a speaking acquaintance
with Miss South he was willing to
join the party. But, under the cir
cumstances, 1t was point Of honor
with him to bawl somebody out
before becoming a member of it.
And here, made to order, was his
nephew Jonathan. He took a
breath and began.
You young rapscallion," he
Numbered.
Tacks halted. an arm around
Packy.
aU-Uncle D-Dick," he SIAM
mered, mouth agape. He had
thought Uncle Dick safe in Europe.
Richard Craftonbury whipped
out q cigar. He could bawl-out
better when champing on some
thing"
"Well,n he snapped, speak ur
Don't stand there like a driveliliu
idiot. Explain thisl / demand an
explanation of this. I come hon
from Europe for peace and quiz
and what do / find2 What do / inG
Hey! A brawl. A shambleS goir
on in my house. A blowout, a ian
boree and every light in the plsc
blazing He moved to the he
table and pounded it. He ccu
enunciate better when poundin
Il won't have it, / tell YOU.
WON'T HAVE TT"
Under this barrage Jonathan