The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-08-03


man that's always tryin' to get my
freaks away from me.
He was interrupted by a hushed
litter which escaped Patrolman Ira
Smith. To Patrolman Smith the
idea Of anyone wishing to hire
such freaks as he perceived before
him was extremely ludicrous.
Patrolman Terence O'Mahoney
silenced Patrolman Ira Smith with
a look.
proceed" Patrolnian O'Ma-
honey ordered Mr.. Diffenderfef.
Patrolrnan O'Mahoney had visions
of one day being big-time cross
examiner.
Naturally" proceeded Mr.. Diff
fenderfer, when fella comes into
my the-ay- ter and. starts tryin' TO
pinch my freaks, | object"
This appeared reasonable to Pa
trolman Benjamin Druckensbrat-
ter. He murmured sympathetic
caIly.
$50" concluded Mr.. Offender
fer, skipping lightly over a few
minor details, Il told him to scrarn
an he up an socked me in the
aWaitl'' said William, at this
point. 'That. isn't quite straight"
Mr.. Diffenderfer ignored him
with magnifcence. Triumphantly
he indicated Harry, the bouncer.
who still sat on the floor wonder
ing why he had chosen to stop the
Twentieth Century with the pit of
his stomach. "An' not only that, but
he hit one of my bouncers in the
stummick an knocked him out"
Having gotten this over, he be-
came conversational. "Now you
know, Officer, / can't have that
kind Of thing goin' on. ! keep a re-
spectacle place. ] want that young
fella locked up. I'm goin' to prefer
charges"
Patrolman O'Mahoney nodded.
So far as he was concerned the evil
dence was in and the case closed.
He was, of course, jurist enough to
recognize that Bill might have a
version of the affair. But William
had (al socked a jaw and (b)
socked a stomach. To Patrclmar
O'Mahoney's mind these facts
overshadowed all else.
"Okay, boys" he said now to his
cohorts. 'eTake him along"
'sBut," objected William, with
heat, you haven't heard my side
of it yeti"
Patrolman O'Mahoney frowned
finon him darklv
You can tell your side of il" he
said unencouragingly, ito the
desk-sergeant. Come on, boys"
Patrolman Ira Smith snapped
into position on Williams right.
He grasped Williams arm. PATROL
m an Benjamin Druckensbratter
arranged himself on Williams left.
He grasped Williams other arm.
Patrolman Denis Finn got imme-
diately b e hin q William. He
grasped his nightstick. Patrolman
Terence OMahoney took a stance
some feet to the left obfique. And
in a body they marched out of Diff
fenderfer's. They marched past
the freaks, who giggled delighted.
ly. They marched past the shoot-
ing gallery tycoon, who favored
William. now that evil days were
upon him, with a CLASSY stare of
non recognition. They marched
out into the binding publicity of
East Forty second Street. And
though a crimson spot of embar-
rassment came to dye the tan on
each of Bill Steele's cheeks. he held
his head high. He was shamed.
disgraced, fallen to low estate.
But, as he tramped out Of Diffen-
derfer's with his official escort,
there chung to him a certain no
bility, such as may have invested
the person of Caractacus walking
in the chains of the Romans.
Aunt Wee
"DOY," said Mrs. Samuel Sack
- vile tartly, you don't eat
enough to keep a humming-bird
in trim"
Mr.. Tacks Adams ceased to wor-
ny his crab ravigotte.
Pm not hungry. Aunt Vee," he
said.
Mrs. Pemberton stamped her
foot beneath the table.
How many times" she demand
ed, "have told you not to call me
Aunt Wee? | hate contractions. I
loathe nicknames. The nam e,S
Vera. boy. VERA. Can't you
even say Vera after four years at
Yale?"
eyes, Aunt vee," said Tacks alb
sently. He was thinking of other
things
Mrs. Sackville's eyes, black and
forceful, blazed at her nephew.
Mrs. Sackville was about five feet
tall, but dominant of spirit and
possessed of a waspish energy
which had been putting Tacks
Adams to rout since the day he had
eschewed swaddling clothes.
If you can't speak without
mumbling and you can't eat and
you can't remember that my name
is Vera" said Mrs. Sackville acid
ly. why do you trouble to come
here to lunch at all?"
Listlessly, Tacks harpooned 4
piece of avocado from his salad
dish.
you asked me to" he pointed
out.
YES snapped Mrs. Sackville,
'.and the more fool I. asked you
last week and you acted just the
same, like 9 sick cat. What's the
matter, boy7"
"N-Nothing. said Tacks. Moths
ing"
His Aunt Vera's eyes were two
black searchlights.
You're liar" said Aunt Vera.
at length.
Tacks started. aEh? How's THAR
Liar7"