The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-08-26
Chapter 81
Root OF The Matter

ears Va mdtiAGA kOAAS Tic 66A(4s
Matherton took action. With state
~ tread he walked to the living
room and desired speech with
Tacks.
Begin your pardon, sir"
Matherton said, 'but there's an
'orrible owing goin' on h'outside
in the grounds"
Tacks looked at him, surprised.
@How's that? Howling?"
Precisely. sir" said Matherton.
From somewhere within the
premises there is h'issuin' kind
Of bellowin' an trumpetin' as
would wake the dead. that il
would. sir"
But who," said Tacks. rlaysti-
fed. "is doing it?"
Matherton gazed at the ceiling,
He never liked to commit himself
definitely. But the authorship Of
some of the rich and racy express
sions that were now ringing
through the confines of SaltaiI
Acres could be ascribed to but one
Individual.
WELL" Matherton said Judi
cially. ''h'in my h'opinion. sir. hit
could be the Master"
Tacks got the attention of his
contemporaries in the living room.
''Heyl" he said. Some of you
come with me. There's monkey
business afoot."
The occupants of the living
room ralliec to the call nobly,
Everybody wanted to 90. Tacks
seized three flashlights from the
hall table and led his band out into
the night.
As they filed out into the shad-
ows they were met by a gust OF
wind and greater gust Of pro-
family. Using Richard Grafton
bury's efforts as a sort of verbal
beacon, they converged upon the
smokehouse. On its threshold
Tacks halted the company. He and
Matherton went inside.
Richard Craftonbury sat propped
against the wall. spent by his ex-
ertions. He glowered iercely into
the beams of the flashlights.
''Hal" he said, with savagery.
Good Grief, Uncle Dickl" ex-
claimed Tacks. "What on earth has
happened?"
'Happened?" barker Richard
Craftonbufy. How the hell do
know what's happened? Cut me
loose. you damned idiot.
Tacks produced a pen knife. A
moment later Richard Grafton.
bury hristled forth from the
smokehouse.
Hal" he snapped. surveying the
asSemblage with smouldering eye
Whats all this"
'Matherton heard you shout
ing" Tacks explained. So we all
came out" He paused in astonish,
nent Goodnight, who beaned
you?"
Richard Craftonbhry put a'hand
TO his head He Their discovered
that he was the owner of lump
the size of hens egg. The knowl-
edge caused him to execute q
dance Of pure wrath.
Hal" he roared, addressing the
company at large. who struck
me?"
No one C. lined the honor. Rich
ard Craftanbury glared at the
group and went off on another
tat
Where's that young woman
came out With?" he demanded.
Gee" said Tacks, 1--WE don'i
know. You ought to"
Mr.. Adams wheeled on him
me? How should ] know, you
damn fool. / went down the steps
with her and some BLACKBOARD
struck me from behind"
"You don't even know who tied
you up?" pursued Tacks.
I'm telling you don't" thun.
dered Richard Craftonhury. "But
dammit, I'll. find out"
He gazed sweepingly over hi:
minions and perceived that there
was an absentee.
why isn't Dipsang here?" he
inquired challengingly. .
There were no opinions a. tC
this. Richard Craftonbu1y fumed
"Bahl" he said, Nobody know:
anything. "A parcel OF fools" He ar,
ranged himself at the head of the
company. We'll. come on. I'm 60.
ing to ferret this out" i
Completely Unnamed
THEY proceeded back to the
i house. Arriving in the hall
Richard Craftonbury delivered ar
edict.
'Pm going up to see oipsang.
he announced.
He started up the stairs, ther
wheeled suddenly upon his fol
lowers.
swell, dammit" he growled
@you don't all have to come. WhaI
do you think this is. the Easter
parade?" His fiery eyes dartec
selectively over his cohorts. you
Matherton, TIL want you. And you
Jonathan, you'd better come. And
The pointed suddenly at Packy o.
whose charms he had become sen
sible even while Tuning outsid.
the smokehouse-"you come too
AS for the rest of you. 60 and play
cards or something"
The elect stood forth. The dis
carded canaille faded back to thu
living-room. Richard Craftonbur,
swept his arm in a charged Chester
charge movement. They ascendeC
the stairs.
Mr.. Chiseler Jennings watchel
in fascinated horror as his trouser'
fioated out into the night 1t wa
q stunning finishing blow. like
quick forward pass that snatche
SCOUT TROOP