The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-08-18
Chapter 80
Brother Against Brother

brOaher against brOther
"a ND now, my friends" Morris
"A resumed, Il =. hiya, Adj
miral what time does the feel
saiI?"
This irrelevant inquiry was adj
dressed to Matherton, who had
Just appeared in the doorway bear
ing another consignment of cham
payne. Hearing himself thus rude.
~ accosted Matherton paused, then
high-hatted Morris East in the EN-
est British tradition. Lifting his
head until his three chins fell into
the proper alignment, he bent
upon the swaying figure Of Mr..
East a look that would h ave
brought out fur coats in Singa-
pore. Then he set the champagne
down on the sideboard.
$50 you won't talk, chr" said
Morris East unabashe d. well,
friends, as l was sayin', I'm goin'
to close my speech tonight with a
Ill story. They was onct a bare
back rider in a circus :. :"
Mr.. Horace East emitted kind
Of strangled bleat. Mr.. Horace
East knew this story. !.
Morris" he shouted, mot an
other word out of you. You're dis
grazing us publicly"
Doin' nothin' of the kind" said
Morris, gazing over the table with
Benevolent eye. well, ladeeze and
genlmun, this bareback rider falls
in love with hon-tamer -"
He got no further. Mr.. Horace
East was on his feet. With a side
long twist of which he had hither-
to appeared incapable, he seized
Morris about the middle. For mo-
ment Morris teetered wildly, like
an ape in the grasp of python.
Then by a series of eel like
squirms, he broke the hold and
turned on his brother.
''Now you listen to me, you
Horace" he said wrathfully. 81
got a snoot-full of this. Always
shuttin' me up, always pipin' me
down." Emboldened by his hbaI
tions, he took a definite stance.
rB'gosh, I'll talk all I want to.
Who's got a better right? /
aaagh, you-you make me sick. !"
And, to emphasize his statements.
he gave Horace a push.
1t is the law of the jungle that
when guy pushes you. you push
him back. Horace East reacted in
orthodox fashion. He pushed Nor
ris. Nothing loath. Morris pushed
him again. Horace retaliated with
a fine. free, fervent push. The next
instant the East brothers, rolling
over and over, were mixing it on
the fine Oriental that lent dignity
and refinement to the dining-room.
A series Of Mortified gasps broke
from Packy. Miss Dorothy South
and Miss Luella West. But the
conflict made an instant appeal to
the sporting instincts of the gen.
tlernen present.
sFive dollars on Morris" cried
Van Hardness. Hes fighting for a
cause"
you're on" Bill Steele said.
~The brains Of the act has the
cooler headl"
But the bet was never settled.
AL of asudden the voice of Horace
East, underdog at the moment.
shrieked: Therei Now you've
done it. you fool" And, shooting
arms and legs in all directions. he
struggled out from under his
brother.
Then came distinct shock. Nor
ris arose, looking sober and Sheep
ish. Horace arose merely looking
sheepish. But they arose separate
~ and as two men. Horace and
Morris were still twins, but not of
the vintage Siamese.
A cry broke from Bill Steele.
whats this?"
"This," said Tacks, with quicker
perception. Seems to be very
clear case of fake freaks He di-
rected an inquiring look at Horace
and Morris, who stood shutting
their feet. well, boys, let's have it
whats the idea?"a
Horace and Morris hung their
heads guilty,
Guilty Secret
MIOBODY'D pay just to see
~ twins" muttered Horace.
$50 we had to do something,
didn't WEI" Morris demanded, still
slightly belligerent from the wine.
Morris" said Horace, 'be quiet!
I'll tell this" He addressed the as
sem blage. ats like he says,
though. We had to do something.
So we doped it out that we'd be
Siamese twins. It works. too. for
FIVE years and nobody gets wise.
Till this h1natic here"--he glared
icily at his brother-''gets tight to-
night, jumps me and buSts the belt
thing that holds us together"
His obvious discontinue brought
q general laugh.
"Well, never mind" said Bill
Steele soothingly. Get hitched up
again and enjoy yourselves. Your
guilty secret is safe with us. )"
'sYou-you mean you won't say
nothing to Diffenderfer?" Horace
and Morris inquired eagerly and
In the same breath.
mot l." Bill said. IF you want
to pass yourselves of on Diffen-
derfer as q bandy-legged octopus.
it's okay with me. On with the
dance"
But even while these gala pro-
ceedings were taking place, one
was descending upon that gather
ing after the manner Of the Assyr-
ian coming down like q wolf on
the fold. The lights Of q Long