The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-05-17
Chapter IS
Ragged Individualisi

\iIdpLG1 OO .a..-
Ragged IndividuaIisi
A SEY pulled at his pipe With
"A out any doubt. Billingsgate
had vastly underestimate the
spirit of the last Billings.
Damn gov'ment." Win said
That's the trouble Reds Can't
do this. can't dc that. can't shoot
'thout license. can't fish 'thout a
license, can't dig Yourself quo
haug 'thout paper sayln' so Can't
get drink IF my father could
see things. he'C shoot himself. F
greggrampa could see it. he'd rue
the day the British was licked AL
ways said it was a mistake gre
grampa did. lickin' the Britisi. an
startin' off new gov'ment-"
"WIn." Asey said. "how old are
your"
"EIghty-nine. ninety - must be
ninety-two! Dunno. Round there
But | know one thing Won't go
back to show off no more. see?"
"Y'know." Asey said. 81 don't
much see why you should. Win.
Look. what happened after you
was Shot?"
Win turned two watery blue
eyes on ASey and stared at him for
a moment.
won't go back. Made up M
mind" He grinned.
"Okay." Asey said with a
chuckle. "Pll see to it."
"Promise?"
81 promise on my word of honor.
Win Now. what's the stOry?"
"M'shouldei hurt" VIM SAID "a
KEEP out of their way. an got down
to the Ice house Awful thirsty.
was. Stopped for water He made
a face. Know what gregrampa
said? He said water was Gods
way to grow gardens. but II wasn't
nothIn' 10 rust the human body
with. Gregrampa was right"
Asey went to the door and called
for Cummings.
Got anythln' to drink. doc?
Whiskey? Gimme some"
Ten minutes with that old
tank" the doctor said. land you
yowl for spirits It's disgraceful
II the Ladies Aid ever found
out"
Asey took the bottle back to WIN
Not" he said firmly. "at one
gulp. All right You got some
water. an then what?"
why. thanks. ASey, you're a
good Teller No nonsense about you
Y'come to the point Well. y'see,
| was kind of tired like. so sat
there by the pond an then when
| rested up. | was goln to the ice
house An then they come up
blind me. an hit me a crack over
the head. an when | come to. here
was with these p'lice an the
doctor-all talkln to once. an
yellin' an Sayln' they was goln'
to send me tail. How can t ey?
Amt no lawr. my dreSSln' up an
bein' made a show of Can't put
me in Jail for that Know m'rights
Gregrampa allus said. know your
rights. an stick to EN-. an"
why wouldn't YOU talk to EN-.
VIM"
why sh'd |? B'sides. they talked
about you. | knew you'd come.
Waitin' for you. Shoot me some
more. f they want. Put me in Jail.
| won't go back"
"Where was you," Asey asked,
"the night before last? Monday
night"
Sweet nevenge
II Asst night" WIN said, 81 met
L a nice Teller. up to that cir
Gus. Nice. sensible Teller. No nom
sense. says, gimme a drink. an
he did. an"
THE night before that" Asey
said.
Night b'fore" WIN rubbed his
chin. Might b'fore Didn't have no
drink. night bfore Went to the
circuS-Seen YOU there You was
shootin'-you busted every clay
sparrer in the place"
That's right How Iong'd you
stay there. VIM"
Win chuckled oh. | r'member
now Sure thing The big wheel
pot stuck. Fool woman-She was
on Ii: Know what?"
'What?" Asey asked obediently.
"Feller some Teller - looked
like a SWEET to me. Dark. ike.
Come up to me-not SWEET Hig-
gins. II was when they first took
me off. Works to the store. he
does"
"Zeb Chaser" ASey made a vail
ant stab. "HiS mother was a Hig-
gins"
That's the one. He gimme some
money. when they first took me.
Here. pop. he says, an gimme the
money. Twenty dollars in ones. an
two tess, too" .l-
Good for Zeb." ASey said. $50
you had forty bucks?"
mice Teller. Here, pop. he says,
they got you cooped up. sect you
can have some fun with this. Said
observed it Forty dollars, all in
them little sized bills they got now.
Even moneys small! But twas
forty dollars. for me t'spend."
ASey began to understand how
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