The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-08-10
Chapter %
Hot Stuff

IN an awning on the terrace Of
the Penguin Club. He'd been in
clover ever since he had extracted
Packy North's promise of date
for Saturday night.
As Mr.. Adams saw it, the fast
one that Packy had put over on
him in causing the taxicab to drive
on while he was depositing the
superdous Lily merited little con-
sideration. At the time, the girl
had been overwrought. She had
also been highly annoyed with Mr..
Adams. The appropriation of the
cab was just another of those little
feminine devices by which an
noyed ladies punish the erring
male. Probably, upon thinking il
over, Miss North had regretted
her rash act. Perhaps even now she
was simply rarin' to make amends
and she would do it by keeping the
date. He was certain that a
straightforward girl like Packy
would never break a promise.
He yawned now and looked at
his watch. Four-thirty o'clock on
this golden Friday afternoon. And
tomorrow was the day when he
would have his first real oppor-
tunity to convince Packy that he
was something more than awen on
the countenance of Progress.
At this point in his reveries he
was startled by small wailing
voice.
'Tacks," walled the voice, a thin
miserable voice.
Tacks turned around. Jumbo
Cutler stood there, looking like a
Debated balloon tire.
Corporeally speaking, Mr.. Cut
Ter appeared to be all of a piece.
But upon his face there was an
expression of mingled horror and
CONSERVATION that could have been
induced by nothing save the most
acute mental anguish.
Good heavens!" said Tacks,
surveying him. whats the matter
with your"
''Tacks," said Jumbo pitiably,
you've got to help me. Don't waste
time asking questions. Just take
my word for things and help me.
You viii, won't you, Taeks? Think
how long we've been friends.
Think ;"
Cutler" interrupted Tacks
you've been drinking
A blush dyed Jumbo's ample
visage.
Don't remind me of it." he
shuddered. "I'u never take anoth-
er drink as long as / live. I've lost
everything, Tacks. Everything"
Tacks stared at him. For the
love Of Pete, what's gone wrong?"
Listen" said Jumbo hurriedly,
"all you've got to know is that for
the last couple Of weeks I've been
reducing. ] wanted to get off ten
pounds. And / was doing nicely
until today. But this noontime, !
came a cropper."
Tacks folded his arms.
This is not clear to me Cutler, "
he said.
Now, please" begged Jumbo,
don't let's have an inquisition. AS
] said, was getting along swell
until this noon and then / simply
couldn't stand it any longer :"
Stand what?"
The hunger, you fool. I've been
at deaths door for over a week.
Today reached the end of my
rope. So / went into a bar -"
And ran amuck there?"
Il did not" said Jumbo, with
dignity. 81 was the victim of cir.
cumstance. Practically insane with
hunger, ] was so unfortunate as
to take a few drinks on an empty
stomach. I thought they would sort
OF hold me down."
Stupid logic, of course. What
next?n
Jumbo sighed. Don't askl In a
kind of dumb way / realized what
] was doing all the time. But while
the drinks were working it didn't
seem so bad. And then, all of a
sudden, they stopped working and
! came to in a restaurant eating
a piece of pie about the size Of this
terrace" He covered his eyes and
q strangled sound escaped him..
then I remembered everything.
I'd eaten sort Of planked steak
thing that must have been cut off
a sea-lion. And I'd had about
ton Of mashed potatoes and muSh-
rooms all mixed up together. And
heaven knows what else. Oh. it
was terrible"
BABY Elephant
SEE nothing terrible in this,
! Cutler" Tacks remarked.
Jumbo swung his arms. ''For
Heavens sake, Tacks, take this
seriously. I'm almost out Of my
mind"
You haven't told me yet. Cut
ler." said Tacks, why you want
to get this flesh of.
mo, and I don't propose to! It's
a private matter. If you won't help
me out of friendship, Adams, with
out letting your curiosity run riot
well, you're not the man
thought you were"
But, gee" Tacks said, ''what do
look like, a Swedish masseuse or
something's"
No, but you're an athlete. You
must know something about
weight"
WELL" said Tacks judicially. Il
know = little about taking weight
of trained athletes. But when il
comes to reducing baby elephants
who've let themselves run to seed
for twenty-five years. I'm out Of
my class.
You needn't be insulting. Just
give me a straight answer. Are you
prepared TO help me or aren't
youg"
well, Cutler" said Taclzs, ''the
only way / know to get weight Of
quickly IS to sweat II Of.
- nrMNn