The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-07-26
Chapter IL
A Blasted Life

- DAoSsO0 hSAAO
TT OCCURRED to Tacks that
! there was something vaguely
reminiscent of the Ice Age IN
Packy's manner.
~Very WELL" Packy said now.
Speak"
HAll right" Tacks said hastily.
let me take you home. Or else
walk q couple of blocks with me-.
He indicated the massive door
man who stood aloof in Jovian at
titude. 1--WE can't talk here in front
Of the Bear That Walks Like a
Man"
Packy drew back. "If you have
anything to say to me, say it right
here in front of Dmitri."
-Goodnightl'' calculated Tacks.
as that bushy-looking sap's name
Dmitri7"
sIt is" Packy said frigidly. "Did
you wish to discuss his manner"
As a matter of fact the bushy-
looking sap, in private life. sound
ed of to plain Joe Banks.
@I,S said Tacks. don't give q
boot what his name is. Look here,
at least come back and let's lean
against the building. We're block
ing the fairway."
This seemed reasonable. With Q
shrug, Packy complied.
sNow, listen" said Tacks dog
gedly, what have ] got, scarletina
rash, typhoid or hydrophobia?'
"You should know that. Why
ask mel"
~Darn 1t, l do ask you. You treat
me as If were gutter mongrel
with an advanced case of mango"
as there any good reason, Mr..
Adams" Packy said, "why !
should bother to treat you any way
at all7"
sNone on earth. But there's as
much reason why you should give
me a break as why you shouldn't.
isn't there?"
She shook her head. Il don't see
ftthat way"
"Why not?"
Need we 60 into it,"
I'D rather, If you don't mind.
81 don't suppose it matters, Mr..
Adams" said Packy, whether l
mind or not. Nothing discourages
you"
II can't afford to be discour-
aged. This means too much to me. "
She shot him a quick look out
Of black sparkling eyes.
@You have the makings OF q
line" she said.
~You aren't answering my ques-
tiUn," Tacks said. "What the devil
have done to put you so far OF
me7"
ard rather not discuss It."
But / insist on discussing 1t.
Am / so hideous-lo oking?"
@Pve never considered the mat
ter. But looks don't enter into it.
~Yours do"
IT beg pardon"
Nothing. only murmured that
you're knockout. Can't ] take you
homer"
certainly not, You don't seem
very quick in the uptake. Mr..
Adams. I've tried awfully hard to
make il clear that | don't want to
receive letters from you. I've also
sried 10 signify that I'd just as soon
not have you telephone me. I'm
now doing my level best to tell you
that don't want to stand here
talking to you and that. ii you
came to this club tonight because
YOU found out somehow that |
work here. I-well. I wish you
wouldn't do il again"
A Worm Shows Fight
lacks grinned and the grin did
| a good Job for him. Watching
q spread across his rather engag-
ing face, Packy caro- within an ace
Of relenting. she didn't quite make
L, however. This young man need
ed putting in his place.
Il see," said Tacks, still grim
ming. @Just an invitation to the
dance. But you haven't told me
why yet"
rAnd l don't think | will. Now
please 90 or I'll-Pll call Dmitri"
At mention of his bewhiskered
Nemesis. Tacks knew moment of
savagery.
II just wish you would call
him." be said darkly. There's
nothing I'd enjoy more than max
ipg a pass at that big baboon."
Packy regarded his adhesive
plastered jaw.
II wouldn't take a chance with
the other side of my face" she said
cuttingly.
well let that CO." Tacks said.
auFnmoning what dignity he could.
Il may say, however. that it was a
most unkind remark. Considering
that il was your fault--yours and
an slley-cat's-that ] hurt my
chin"
A look Of suspicion flashed into
Pscky's eyes. "Are you tight. by
any chance, Mr.. Adams? If not.
you may understand that ] hardly
appreciate being included in the
same breath with an alley-cat."
To his intense surprise Tacks
was beginning to And that It was
quite possible to get angry at this
girl
by gosh." he said, .'there are
times. just once in a while, when /
think you ought to be included
with an alley-cat."
Packy stared at him in astonlsh-
nqent. Heretofore, this Adams had
adopted a wormlike attitude to-
ward her. Now 1t appeared that
The worm was capable of showing
fight. A zephyr waited over her
interest.
Il don't know why stay here
and let you insult me-" she said.
Tacks showed contrition too
quickly. The zephyr ceased blow
ing.
n r. -. - a sswy -