The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-08-14
Chapter 20
Jingle Bells

MR.. ADAMS had hoped to avoid
1fl this condition. But, faced with
1t. he comported himself magnifi-
Gently.
"Gangway," he roared, bowling
a frantic, red headed female out
Of his path. "Gangwayl Lady's
tainted"
Never was a more palpable un-
truth uttered. Far from swooning
Packy had just slapped Tacks's
face resoundingly.
In some pain. Tacks corrected
himself.
"Gangway" he beloved again.
'Iady's t1ysterical."
II am not" said Packy. with cold
fury, "hysterical."
Mr.. Adams did not reply. He was
now in the midst of the crowd.
butting through it with super
human strength. In this laudable
endeayor he was materially aided
by a fat woman who opened an
immense hole through the center
OF the line. Down this alley Tacks
plunged for nice gain. He was
stopped in his tracks, however, by
an elderly gentleman of the army
colonel type who called on all to
witness that, fire or no fire, he
wasn't going to leave this fiimfam
joint without his hat.
Backing off, Tacks went around
the colonel's end for more yard
age.
There now remained between
Mr..Adams and a clear field naught
save an old gentleman hobbling
on a cane. In Difference to his de-
crepitude, Tacks forbore from TAX
ing out this blocker in the best
New Haven manner. Instead he
executed wide fianking move
ment, cut in and raced into the
clear. The next instant he stag
gered triumphantly out into Fifty
Seventh Street.
During this hegira Miss Packy
North had by no means abandoned
herself to slothfulness. The slap
that she had landed on Tacks'
countenance just prior to his ster-
ling exhibition of line-plunging
and broken field running had felt
extremely good to her. Wherefore.
during their progress, she had con-
tinued to slap at the Adams visage
at regular intervals. As they
lurched into Fifty-Seventh Street.
she landed a particularly juicy one
upon his left cheek-bone. Tacks,
clear of the crowd now. filed pro-
test.
Il wish you'd lay off that" he
said complainingly.
TIL smack you till you put me
down." ragged Packy. Have you
lost your mind? Do you realize
that you're making public spec
tacle of yourself and me. too?"
As she spoke she socked him
again. Mr.. Adams weathered the
blow creditably.
"Cheer up" he painted. "We're
only spectacular for the moment.
! know my New York. The town
will forget"
With that he proceeded doggedly
along Fifty.Seventh Street and
paused not until he had reached
= large conveyance, vaguely remi-
niscent of a delivery truck. that
was drawn up at the curb.
Then things happened N such
whirlwind fashion as to cause the
head of Miss Patricia North to go
round like wheel.
Without fumbling Miss North.
Mr.. Adams managed to get an arm
free for a second. He wrenched
open the door at the back of the
vehicle. He thrust in Packy North.
She landed on what appeared to
be a kind of cot or berth. The next
instant Mr.. Adams was beside her.
banging the door shut. And before
Packy could have said Nuts" to
a squirrel. the car was in mo-
. ton. Almost instantly there arose
a horrible changing sound that
chilled the blood.
White with fury Packy wheeled
on the painting Tacks.
what right have you to dc
this?" she almost shouted at him
"What kind of car is this? What is
that terrible noise?"
You Cady
lacks did not answer in1me.
4 diately. Instead he took off hi:
dinner-jacket and folded it care.
fully. Then. from somewhere with.
in the recesses of the car. he pro.
duced white coat He put this or
and it buttoned up to the chin
completely obscuring his black tie
"Now." he said. fishing ouf
cigarettes. II am prepared to take
up those questions of yours in theil
order. You wanted to know frs
by what right | do this? reply
the right of q strong, silent mar
to make a fight for the woman hG
loves"
She looked at him with bitter
contempt. silent? You've chat.
tered like magpie every time I've
seen YOU"
you wanted to know what kim
Of car this is?h Tacks continued
sThis car, Miss North, is an am
bulance that rescued at the very
brink of the grave"
@Oh, don't gibber sol or course
] know it's an ambulance now.
was-er-confused for q moment.
I'll bet they never confuse yol
for long. though. But. honestly,
did save this ambulance from thl
scrap-heap. ! bought It last nigh
from a used car dealer who wa
going to junk it Nifty bus. eh?"
In your warped opinion, ] sup
pose. Why are you wearing tina
ridiculous coat2"
'sFm an inferno. aren't we all7'
said Tacks airily.
BY this time the ambulance wa
changing merrily eastward. II
driver, 8 shadowy figure behinl
the glass partition that set or hi
domain, invoked the law that per
mits vehicles Of mercy to ride high