The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-07-16
HI 6 = It'd e
b. frances lam.

, 'You're all bursting to know how
I made out. Well, I stuck it all
right, but I don't like If. Your
Captain Tupple is a Simon Le-
gree, Jan, but this old Uncle Tom
took his beating without a yowl!
I lost one of the big cane poles,
managed to turn a very bilious
green, and insulted a customer.
However, don't look so distraught
II didn't get fired"
you'll learn" Jan consoled.
'That's my greatest fear" he
mourned. He held UP his hands
to show her the rising blisters on
the palms. Anyhow, I'm tired as
a dog, if a dog ever gets tired.
Why do people say that? Why
should a dog be tired, he never
does any work! Happen to have
any cream or lotion for my face.
Jan? I'll look like a Mexican
vaquero by tomorrow night"
"And what does a Mexican va
quero look like?" Norma asked.
Like an Indian trimmed in sil-
YER" Observing his listeners in
tereSt he expanded under the in
fiuence of a well-filled stomach
and steaming cup Of coffee. '"The
vaquero is picturesque, but not
nearly so much so as the street
sleepers who sit all day huddled
against buildings, benches or trees
with a blanket over their Shoul-
ders, knees drawn up, and a
gaudy sombrero over their faces.
You see the same ones in the
same places every day. II one Of
them died it wouldn't be discov-
cred for daysl It's different,
though, down around Acapulco.
Most of the natives, men and wo-
men and children, work very
hard. keep Immediately clean.
and save their pesos"
"You must have travelled quite
a bit in Mexico" Lance COM
mented. Il was offered a job once
flying the Mexico City airline, but
I didn't take it."
II spent six months there"
Derek said, then cut himself short
as if afraid he'd talked too much.
He rose from the table, frowning.
"Pm going to bed"
Hes a queer cuss," Lance said
as the sounds of Derek's feet died
out up above. "I'm beginning to
feel the STRINGS of curiosity"
Red Flag And Bull
Johnny came in, putting an
- end to speculation. As If by
tacit agreement they never men,
toned Derek to Johnny. "It's like
waving red flag at a BULL" Nor
ma had put it succinctly.
81 can get you a swell job"
Johnny told Jan with explosive
enthusiasm. '"They want a hostess
over at the Club and they'll pay
good money. Fix yourself UP and
I'll take you over for an inter-
view"
She looked at Lance, who shook
his head. Thanks, Johnny" he
said stiffly, 'but we don't need
money that bad"
There's nothing disgraceful
about it." Johnny argued. "All
she has to do is meet people
and"
NO." Lance cut in. "she's too
young. She isn't the type. don't
want her mixing with that arti-
fetal bunch of rich picture people
from Hollywood"
Johnny looked so crestfallen, so
injured, that Jan said, 'Tt was
sweet to think of me, but Lance
is right, Johnny. I'm definitely
not the type they'd want. I'd have
stage fright and Utter all over
the place. Besides. / have no suit
able clothes and no way of get
ting any,"
"You are the type" he insisted.
''That is, you could be, if you
have your hair done by an expert
and your face"
Leave her alonel" Lance or
dered, his thin hands gripping the
ruber tires of his chair. His pale,
worn face flushed with annoy.
ance. She's fine just the way she
is. / don't want her made into a
painted, Sinking mannequin. Just
because ! can't take care of her
Is no reason She" the anger died
suddenly from his voice and he
seemed to shrink into his shell
or meager flesh. do as YOU
please, JAM" he ended.
Il wouldn't consider IL for q
moment" she dismissed the en-
tire matter.
The brief scene distressed both
her and Norma, for they knew such
a swift ascent of emotion might
keep Lance sleepless for hours.
Norma, driven from her usual
placidity by concern for him. an.
nounced firmly: ''Pm going to
take you to a moving picture,
Lance! Jan, you get heavy coat
for him"
Il won't CO." he protested. Il
won't be stared at. won't, tell
you! A woman pushing me along
the beach, showing me into a thea
tire where / have to sit in the aisle
and people have to sque Ze
around me and fall over mel ]
went once with Frank last year
and I swore I'd never go again.
What's the matter with all Of
you? Are you determined to tor
ment me with my helplessness?"
Norma's plain little face paled.
I'll thought" she hesitated,
went on: "The picture is Test
Pilot I thought you might want
to see it, Lance. You love air
planes So"
His lips worked TO control their
quivering. swell, why didn't you
say so? Get my coat, Jan. To hell
with the mob"
| To be continued.