The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-06-15
Chapter II
Both Sides OF The Fence

DOAAA AJhuCo Vi nC y CttCC
DOB RUSSELL nosed his car up
- 70 the garage doors and blast
ed his horn twice. Nothing hap
pened. He climbed out and peered
inside the garage. Both JocelYn's
ear and Thorn's were gone. He
krinned and ran thin brown fin
gers through his hair. Why should
he expect them to be home when
he hadn't let them know he was
coming? Opening the rumble-seat
Of the roadster he took out his ten
Ms racquets, sweaters, and pigskin
bag. Turning toward the house he
spied the eight-foot fence, cum
pleted, but not yet painted.
He laughed with ironic anuse-
ment and went on into the house.
AHamphreysl" he called. hearing
the echo Of his own voice through
the silent rooms. what the
devil7" he muttered; then remem-
bered Il was Thursday, the serv-
ants day of. Lyn and Thorn were
no doubt at the club for the day.
He was hungry and tired. He
did not want to 60 to the club.
He was weary Of people: his kind
Of people. He had won his first
two matches at the Los Angeles
meet and lost his second two. He
had been. alternately conquer
ing hero at the mercy OF society
matrons; and a vanuuished hero
at the mercy of commissioning
friends. He had disliked both roles.
He only played, tennis bsAause il
was clean sportAand vig1fous ex-
ercise and If he lost to II worthy
opponent it bothered Jim not at
all. He cared LITTLE for fame or its
perQuisiteS. However, he reflected
wryly. his friends and supporters
were not so philosophical. He
mimicked in imagination what
would happen should he 60 back
20 the club:
bob, old man." soinGCne would
say, clapping him on the back
he hated being clapped on the
back - ''frightfully sorry about
your beastly luck. Must have been
of your game. Ell? Well. you'll
show them next time. We're all
for you'll We're betting on you old
mani"
And he would say: "No. wasn't
of my game never played better.
Marley beat me because he IS a
better player"
And then: That's sporting of
you 10 say. Russell, but we know
It isn't so. You're the best IN the
} West Gene o.. have q drink
] drepped q few hundred bn you
but ri never miss It.
"To the devil with all ofltheml"
he said now. going slowly up TO
his room "Pm sick of being treated
like a race-horsel"
As he passed Jocelyn's room he
heard q faint "Meol1rr !" and a
scratching on the door panels.
Hello, Texi" he exclaimed.
opening the door. "WEat are you
doing in here?"
The big white cat extended his
forepaws along the carpet and
stretched lazily, then strolled Sc
dately toward the back stairway.
Bob watched him go; hesitated a
second; went after him and
scooped him up undef one arm.
Scat" he declared. you may be
the means of putting food into my
mouth"
Bob knocked on the door of the
Macks' kitchen, holding tightly to
the indignant Tex.
Gretchen opened the door;
flushed with pleasure when she
saw Bob. "Oh-you got back"
"No." he leased. "pI o still in Los
Angeles. Say. why doesn't your
cat like me?"
HE will; If you toss him up over
your shoulder"
Bob did; with the result that
Tex relaxed in limp contentment.
Il had no idea cats were such
rugged individralists," Bob said,
looking ever Gretcheli's head at
the other members Of the family
grouped around an oilcloth COW
cred table. NAV ] come in?"
Scowl On His Face
MRS. MACK, carrying a steam
INI ing platter Of steak ana Oh. ions
from the stove to the table. looked
at him and beamed. "Come right
in, Mr.. Russell. We always have
our dinner in the middle of the
day. Most folks do when they live
on q farm because the men are
good and hungry &C noon-time af-
ter working since sun-up."
Bob shifted the tantalizing
odors Of hot bread, steamed and
buttered cabbage, fried meat and
onions. He liked the clean. shiny
look OF thu white oilcloth and the
substantial thickness of the cheap
white plates and cups. He wanted
desperately to ask an invitation
but the Scowl on young Talbot's
lace made him hesitate.
Tally lifted a small piece of
meat to Betsy's plate and cut il
into squares. He said, challenge II
his tone: isn't all this rather ple-
beian to a Russell?n
NO." said Bob, sit isn't. I'm
hungry and 1t looks GOOD"
We'll, why didn't you speak ur
before?" Gramp demanded, pilins
potatoes and cabbage on his plate
'Draw up chair and set"
~Thanksl" Bob wedged IN be-
tween old Mack and Gretchen
Without another word, he reach &
for what he wanted anG pro.
ceeded 10 eat with enjoyment.