The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-08-17
Chapter 20
All Hands On Deck

b
All Hands On Deck
MISS PACKY NORTH had been
IF getting more and more into
the spirit of the occasion. The hard
little lines with which she always
fortified her mouth when in the
company of Tacks Adams had al
most entirely vanished. Tacks
might be a reprobate and a scamp
and q young wastrel and firebug
and kidnapper but. undeniably,
he was amusing. There was mer-
" CLINT in his gray eyes and he
possessed a vast fund of entertain
ing small talk. Also, she decided
reluctantly, he was quite good
looking.
She gazed around he table.
Across from her was Van Hark-
ness who seemed nice, Packy
thought. And his girl was terribly
attractive, even if the wisdom OF
the ages lay in her bright, rather
hard, eyes. And that little fat man,
what was his name, Cutler? He
was cute, too, sitting there like q
happy cherubim while the grave
eyed girl beside him passed mus
ter on everything he put in his
mouth.
That big boy from California,
Bill Steele, he looked like a grand
chap, though she confessed to
some baffiement at his choice Of
dinner companions. She was pre-
pared to admit, however, that the
party gained definitely by the in
clusion of the East brothers. The
East brothers were delightfully."-
naive. The diction of the East
brothers was spicy and racy, redo
lent of cheap vaudeville houses
and late hours in tank town rail-
way stations.
Liking it," whispered Tacks,
under cover of the din around the
table.
She flashed him one of her Sec
ond-rate smiles. After all, she and
Mr.. Adams were only in a state of
truce.
Its better than / expected"
she admitted.
well, that's something, any
how. Mind if / make a speech?"
"Oh. good Heavens, are you GO
ing to talk some more? You ought
to 90 on lecture tour"
Tacks picked up a spoon and
raped sharply on a priceless glass.
Meeting will please come to or.
der"
"Why?" demanded Morris East.
He was having an elegant time be-
ing disorderly.
Morris" said Horace, "be quiet. /"
Tacks rose to his feet.
my friends" he began profess
sionally, II must tell you a story
which may explain to you three
charming ladies and to the visit
ing firemen over there"-he indi-
Gated the East brothers-"just why
you are here. If
Hey, Horace" interrupted Nor.
ris East, whats he talking about?"
"Shut up" snapped Horace. Lis
ten and you'll learn"
"Once upon a time" said Tacks
doggedly, "there were four borec
gentlemen playing a very boring
game of bridge. In the course o.
this boring game, one of these gen
tIemen had brilliant idea. Briefly
II was suggested by the position:
at the bridge table, North, South
East and West. The idea was
roughly, that the man in, say, The
West position should take the Man,
haitian telephone directory, selec
from il a girl named West, use hi:
ingenuity to make her acquaint,
ance and bring her to this dinnel
tonight, under pain of FORGETTING
one thousand dollars. ] note witt
satisfaction that the gentleman
who occupied the West position
did his stuff nobly."
Jumbo bowed.
'You follow the modus operand
Of the game. do you not?" went or
Tacks. Gentlemen in the othel
positions were constrained to de
likewise, selecting Misses North
South and East. It would be obvi'
Gus to q blind man that Mr.. Hark'
ness and myself, being in the south
and north positions respectively
proceeded with the most charming
results. At the beginning. how,
ever, we struck a snag when We
came to the east position, held By
my good friend, Bill Steele. Mr.
Steele, peering into the telephone
directory, found It notable for {
lack of eligible women of the name
Of East. -"
Tell The Birds
sT KNEW a Maggie East onct,
i said Morris East. "She was /
good-looker. She didn't have M
phone, though"
Hold your tongue. Morris" sale
Horace.
'Mr. Steele's loss, I'm sure
said Tacks. TO resume, after con
siderable wrangling the COMMITTEES
allowed Mr.. Steele to regard thu
producing Of one of what we sup
posed were two or more Eas
brothers who were listed in tn,
phone book. Mr.. Steele, it appears
was able to induce both brother
TO be with us tonight. Well, ladieI
and gentlemen, that's a rotteI
speech. But thought some of yol
might want to know what it IS al
about
"But what was the point Of
all?" asked Dorothy South, mysti
fed. Il can't see what you boy
stood to gain by it" Miss South,
was q practical mind. Where gail
was not involved. she refused Il
play ball
~As ] said" Tacks explained
s'we were hopelessly bored. Thi
game gave us something interest