The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-08-07
Chapter 20
Sheer BIackmail

Sheer BIackmail
DACKY glanced quickly at Lily
4 then snapped her fingers. 'T'I
ask the first person that comes by
TO drive this dog away"
fOh, no, you WON'T" answered
Tacks. at would embarrass you
too much. know your type. You
try to give the impression of being
strong and self-reliant. That's lo1
Of hooey, of course. It's obvious
that you can't cope with an every.
day Irish wolfhound. Further
more, you'd never call the atten-
ton OF a total stranger to skirt
IN that condition. It would beer
--ah-unwomanly."
Packy compressed her lips.
II think" she said, that you
are the most loathsome, detestable
person in New York"
That's a, sweeping generaliza-
ton" said Tacks. "But, if it's your
opinion, why stick around?"
Goaded b eyond endurance,
Packy placed a foot tentatively on
the path. It was not the proper
move. Lily, robbed of her romp,
had decided upon an embattled
attitude. She growled menacing-
~. Packy hastily withdrew the
foot.
you see," said Tacks, shat dog
isn't going to stand any nonsense.
Now I'll tell you what I'll do, Miss
North. You've treated me shame
fully but I'll overlook that. If !"
White-ipped, Packy interrupt
ed. You'd bargain with me, you
miserable creature?"
Tacks lit a cigarette. II would,
indeed"
I'm going to scream" Packy
said, with decision.
go to it. There's nobody in
sight and those Fifth Avenue
buses are making terrible rae
ket. / doubt if your scream will
get to first base. But you'd better
do something. Because that dogs
not going to wait all night. She
could climb that stone thing and
get you any minute. In fact, she
seems to be getting a little rest
less now. She's only"-he favored
himself with pat on the back
deferred because I'm here"
For brief moment Packy be-
came conversational.
Where" she asked, do you
suppose this dog came from? Ger
tainly nobody would keep a dog
like that in New York;"
ooh, you never now" Tacks
said airily. "New Workers do funny
things. had pal once who kept
q barracuda in the bathtub. That
was an isolated case, of course,
but you'd be surprised at the num-
Der of vicious dogs, like this one
here, running at large in the city.
Some of them have-what do you
call that thing, anyhow-hydro-
phobia?"
You're just trying to scare me-"
"Ha! Soaring you would be
carrying Goals to Newcastle. That
dogs got you jittering like tomato
aspic in a high wind. But, to get
down to brass tacks, I'm willing
70 offer my services"
IF ] do something for you, !
suppose?" Packy's lip curled.
Precisely" said Mr.. Adams,
with great calm.
well, I won't do it."
Goodby Gesture
TACKS got up off the coping,
j Packy's voice had sounded
very reSolute and it looked as if
he were licked. He decided, how
ever, to brazen this thing out a
little further. A girl, gazing at the
retreating back of a once-pros-
pective rescuer, has been known
to change her mind. He lifted his
hat.
''Well, Miss North" he said, sits
been nice to see you. hope you
pass a comfortable night decorat-
ing that fence. Well, so long. Sorry
you wouldn't listen to reason"
He turned his. back and took a
couple of tentative steps to the
southwark. Packy bit her lip.
Much as she detested this Adams,
his society had not been unwel-
come for the last few moments. OF
course, he was the worlds mean
est man. But that didn't alter the
fact that in a second or two she'd
have no man at all between her
and this werewolf who blocked
the fairway.
And right then the werewolf
caused her to change her mind.
Seeing Mr.. Adams about to de-
part, Lily arose clumsily. She sup
posed it fell to her unhappy lot
70 accompany this pill Adams
whithersoever he wandered. It
was tough break having to re-
linquish this new-found acquain-
lance who went in for fences in
such q handsome way. But, if
leave she must, she would at least
observe the social amenities. A
departure called for a goodby.
Lily approached Packy with the
laudable intention of saying good
by.
Elevating herself she placed her
forepaws on Packy's hips. Then