The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-08-28

this day and age" objected Rich.
ard Craftonbury.
the sea" said the Chiseler, els
vast and mysterious. We were on
the beaten track, stranded, with
out means of communication. To
conclude, we were rescued three
months ago by a fishing smack
which had been blown of her
course. This vessel brought us to
Jacksonville, Florida. Eventually
! made my way to New York
where, through relatives who had
believed me dead, was able to
trace my wife. And tonight we are
reunited, after these long anu-er
wasted years. Gentlemen, am a
man Of sentiment. This-this occa-
sion is too much for me-" He pro-
duced an handkerchief and blew
his nose violently. After which,
ostentatiously. he wiped the cor.
ners of his eyes.
Richard Craftonbury, having
nothing better to do, lighted his
cigar.
'It's saga" he said.
sc it is" agreed the Chiseler,
mastering his emotions.
Funny / didn't read about it in
the papers," said Richard Grafton
bury.
The Chiseler smiled tolerantly.
81 presume that the press was
not interested" he said. @You must
remember that we were forgotten
men from forgotten ship"
well, since you're here, man,
put your pants on.
IT had been on the point Of retir-
ing" said the Chiseler. with ex-
treme delicacy.
Retiring? Ha! Anybody who
thinks he can sleep IN this house is
crazy" And then, all at once, Rich
ard Craftonbury paused, assailed
by a terrible thought which drove
all others out of his head.
Coming Home
NOV that he considered Dip
y sang's fantastic tale, he told
himself that he didn't believe
word OF it. It was far more likely
that the fellow had merely desert
ed his wife for a few years. Mr..
Adams knew his sailors. They had
girls in every port. Doubtless Dip
sang had been amusing himself
around the world and had only
come back to his wife because he
was down on his luck at present.
But that didn't alter the fact that
he was back. And in all probabili-
ty, he would want to remove his
wife from Saltair Acres. And that,
Richard Craftonbury vowed sic
lently, must not be. He paled at the
very thought of it. Mrs. DipSang
was the best housekeeper Mr..
Adams had ever had. He must han.
die this matter with care, how.
ever. He must conciliate Dipsang,
treat with him.
well - er - Dipsang," he said,
"now you're back in civilization,
what are you going to dor"
'My plans for the future" said
the Chiseler, adhering rigidly to
the truth for the first time since
entering the preserves of Saltair
Acres, "are vague and indefinite"
aYou speak as if you'd had some
education" said Richard Grafton
bury.
81 assure YOU" the Chiseler said,
shat had an excellent education.
I was being groomed for the clergy.
But, a headstrong boy, I went
counter to the wishes Of my par
ents and ran away to sea. ! regret
it now, of course. But too late. Still,
! will pick up the broken threads.
! will find work of some kind"
It'll tell you what you ought to
do, DipSang," said Richard Graf
tonbury enthusiastically. "You
ought to ally yourself with some
good, sound company. With q GO
ing concern.
Precisely" agreed the Chiseler.
II had something OF the sort In
mind"
Il have it." said Richard Graf
tonbury. "Tll find you a berth on
one of our tankers. Second mate or
bo'Sun'S mate. or something"
Behind his magnificent muStach-
los, the Chiseler paled. He was dis.
tinctly not lover Of the sea, ex-
cept in fancy. As q matter Of fact,
he had once been violently i'll on
the Staten Island ferry. However,
he declined the offer Of the Job on
the oil tanker in nautical manner.
"AvaSt there!" he said now to
Richard Craftonbury. SIN done
with the sea. You will appreciate,
I am sure, that after my narrowing
experiences the sight and sound Of
the ocean sickens me"
Richard Craftonbury snorted.
He was not accustomed to having
jobs he offered turned down.
well" he said grudgingly,
"what suggestions have you to
make? Some provision for your
future has to be made"
The Chiseler smiled inwardly.
It was extremely good of this irri.
tated gentleman to be concerned
for his future. Now, If the gentle
man were prepared to lend a SYM
pathetic ear to a little proposal
that he would put forward pres
emily all would be beer and skit-
ties.
at Is strange" he said, show.
every so often, q place or a-er--
location seems to Irvine itself
around ones heart. Tonight as /
approached your estate and gazed
at your broad acres and stately
trees. I experienced an unaccount-
table feeling of belonging to them.
My limited vocabulary does not
permit an accurate description Of
the sensation. But stood for a mo-
ment by those magnificent iron
gates at the head Of your driveway
and I said to myself: .Dipsang.' ]
said, you're coming home.'s He
stopped, remembering that he was
seafaring man. sDouse my to'gal-