The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-08-06


Van Dyke and smelly briar
pipe. He had fallen to this side
walk vending, he mourned to Jan,
gesturing melodramatically, be-
cause the demon arthritis had so
crippled his hands he could no
longer paint his exquisite master
pieces.
'Tripe," said Angus Lorry, the
younger one, to Jan out of old
Carlos hearing. HE never paint
ed a work of art in his life. That's
just sob story he hands out to
the gullible public. A good one,
too" he admitted grudgingly. "He
often gets double and triple his
fee and his portraits are lousy
Say, why are you trying this
racket? For fun or for money!"
Money" she assured him. 81
like to eat as well as anyone else.
l won't mind, though, if some fun
comes along. Is it likely to?"
Depends on you." he said.
obliquely.
Despite his effective getup he
looked not at all like an artist,
but more like a farmer boy on
holiday. He couldn't be more
than tWenty-three or four, Jan
decided. He had crispy sandy
hair, a snubby, freckle-spattered
nose and a square, bony face upon
which he strove to wear an ex-
preston of worldly cynicism. He
was short and thick and he had
broad, stubby fingers. But, she
decided, after seeing some of his
work, he had a very real and
genuine talent, especially for
caricature.
Although old Carlos seemed to
resent her coming, Angus well
coined her. "The sort of people
who'd let girl sketch them, be-
cause she's young and pretty,
wouldn't come near me or Carlos,
anyhow. You won't take any
bread out of our mouths, I VEN
ture to say" he told her.
SmOck And Beret
THE first morning of work she
L turned up in her yellow smock
and white beret. her immense
blue eyes wide with anticipation,
her golden skin flushed rosily.
She learned that the proprietor,
in return for his commission, fur
nished pencils and white drawing
paper. chair for the person who
posed and good solid drawing
board on a stand.
JAMS first patron was a timid
middle-aged man who'd had a
secret yearning for years to be
sketched, but somehow never
found the courage until he wan
dered by and met JAMS quick,
sweet smile.
He gave her a dollar for the
sketch, eyed it as if it were an
original Rembrandt, and scurried
off, smile OF pure delight on his
timorOuS pinched face.
The three artists worked inter-
mittently, dropping the coins into
SmOck pockets, resting, not talk
ing much between times. By din
ner time that night Jan felt more
Oriented to this new world. so far
away from Sea Tide and the red
house and all her problems and
worries. Even Derek seemed part
Of long ago yesterday.
Angus took her into the Cafe la
GolOndrina for dinner, ordering
the cheaper Mexican table d'hote
with red wine instead of the more
expensive Spanish dinner. The
lights were dim and candles sput-
tered on each narrow table made
of narrow, polished planks. Half
through the meal an orchestra
took its place on a stage in one
corner and played Mexican and
Spanish folk songs. The place
was crowded. colorful and fas-
cinating to Jan. who watched
everything with avid eyes.
Later. Angus led her up a stair
way to a small dance floor above
where another orchestra played
rhumbas, tangoes and other dance
music. Angus danced well enough
and it Was stimulating. Leaving,
he said, without the least self
consciousness, Your half of the
check is sixty cents"
Jan sorted some change out of
her pocket and handed it to him.
Then they went back to work I'M
til midnight when the crowds
thinned and the shops began TAX
ing in their wares.
Reckoning profits and commits
SiOnS with Gonzales, the proprie-
tor. she found she had Melted over
four dollars. Gonzales seemed
more surprised than she. He
nodded wisely, ats because
you're so pretty, muchacha, so
eager and like "a bright new
candlel"
That" said Jan. sis meant.
judge, to be a grand compliment"
"Of the finest" Angus assured
her. grinning.
He walked to the Stfeetcar with
her and asked her why she didn't
take a room a few blocks away
in the Mexican Quarter. where a
number Of artists and writers and
poets had established a miniature
Greenwich Village. Cheap rent,
cheap food and stimulating COM
pany," he asserted.
And so, the next day, Ruth
drove her down early, inspected
and approved the little box-like
room with its bare floor and
bright Grapes and flower pots in
an old brick hotel near the Plaza.
She OWNED. although Jan had
said little, that the girl needed a
change badly, chance to assert
herself as an Individual.
To be continued.