The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-04-19
Chapter IL
Slurs AT Slade

Cl1FS Al SIdQe
TT WAS on his way back to town
i that Asey met with the soprano
who had been practicing with the
chorus the day before at the Town
Hall. She was pushing a bicycle
with fiat tire, and Asey gallantly
stopped and offered aid.
Like to put it in the rumble an
drive back?"
Thanks" The woman was rather
massive, and Asey suspected that
she was more or less unaccustomed
either to bicycling or walking. q
didn't expect this. And ] tell you
now, as far as bicycling goes, my
figure can stay where it Isl"
She was so emphatic about il
that Asey grinned.
you're the soprano, amt your"
he asked as he lifted the wheel into
the rumble. Madame"
M-e-a-u-x," she spelled it out
mot Moo. The next one who moos
at me is going to get his teeth
pushed in. You" she surveyed with
admiration the sixteen-cylindered
Porter, "are not native. are your
mot of this town, so 60 as fairs
you like" ASey said. Tell me,
what do you really think of Bill
ingsgate Beautifully"
Madame Meaux looked at him
Don't! Mrs. Brinley brought me
here-She heard me at a Women's
Club convention-and I'm CRATE
full. and all that. but didn't know
about 'Billingsgate Beautiful until
got the contract signed. She
wrote the words. and the music
And the music. mind you. Let's
just pass over Sister Brinley.
want to have kind thoughts about
her till Sunday night. I get paid
Sunday night. She pays me- Words,
mind you, and music. both! Why
the words alone should carry TWEEN
ty years to life with 'eml Say. after
you leave this bicycle some place
could you take me down the road
a bit? want to see man named
Slade."
mike Slade?"
eyes. | didn't know he lived
here, but bumped into him last
night at the carnival. | was with
Sister Brinley-Say. she got stuck
on the ferris wheel, and | nearly
died laughing! Anyway. Mike gave
me the high sign-I guess he and
Mrs. B. don't click-and later when
he got chance. ne said to drop ir
on him. Great lad, Mike"
known him long?"
well. was working on a thea
ter project a couple of years ago
and he was on an art project, anc
we were in the same Office He got
kicked out. Too Wordy Gee. he was
sore last night about something
He looked just the way he die
when BlickStein-he was our di.
rector-fired him."
THAT must have been after the
fire near his studio" Asey said. 'He
was only little sore when | saw
him-but say, he amt home. JUS
been there. He's probably beer
found and put to work by now
He's a big shot here. you know"
Hes all right. really" Madame
Meaux said. except he likes Il
talk, and he gets sore easy-well
il he's not around leave me here al
the garage, and I'll get home or
that thing somehow. | ought to rest
anyway. / got to sing with the
rhythm cats tonight, and | need Z
rest"
with the what?"
The yokel swingsters. Upjohn'.
Merrymen, or whatever they cal
themselves. Thanks. Be seein
you"
Asey waved and set off for the
Town Hall. He had a higher opin.
ion of sopranos. somehow. And i
would take considerable force, he
felt. to compel this one to MARBLE
the ditty about tying apples to ;
lilac tree.
Pompous Little Man
I ARTHUR BRINLEYs stopped
Os him as he entered the Towr
Hall by the rear door. Asey knew
1t was j. Arthur, because his badge
said so. There was even a hint O.
proclamation in the inch and hall
high letters.
He was short, fat pompous Lit.
tie man, and ASey wondered if the
shoulder seams in his blue flame
coat could take it until Sunday.
Er-Asey Mayo? / understand
from Weston that you're helpinl
the town, and l want you to know
we appreciate"
Asey barely listened TO the little
speech. He had a definite feelins
that j. Arthur wanted something
and he waited rather impatientiy
for the preamble of thanks to fin
ish.
'Now I know" Brinley said
that you will be able to do the
town one great service. I refer tc
Slade, who has-well, / hate to say
1t, but he has communistic tenden.
cies. know, Mr.. Mayo, that YOU
VIII be able by tactful methods
or other methods if necessary-tc
restrain him"
whats he done?" Asey asked
My wife and I have always fell
that JEFF and Sara Leach rather
overstepped, il you know what
mean, when they campaigned fol
him, and actually allowed hin, q
place on the town board. When you