The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-07-10

dlQ why QlQ he run away. Is my
playing as bad as all that?"
Frank had his big fist lifted to
knock as she pulled open the front
door. A delighted grin creased his
broad face. I'm bringing pay for
last nights feast" he said. extend
ing newspaper-wrappedb bundle
to her. yellow tail. and a big
onel"
Il could hug you for this" Jan
cried. Pm down to hamburger
tonight. Frank, this is grand.
Lance loves fsh-want to eat
with us?"
Wish | could, but | have to
play Waterman tonight. If you
think Of it. you might send a cup
OF coffee over to the station about
ten. Guess I'll run up and see
Lance a minute, l think I've got
buyer for the clipper ship he Just
finished. Say, almost forgot to
ask. how's that bird you pulled
out yesterday"
Hale and hearty, l guess. At
least he eats as if he were. Frank,
you don't happen to know. of some
kind OF job for him, do your"
"Job?" Frank rubbed his brown
jaw thoughtfully. Does that
mean he's going to hang around
here awhile?"
$50 he says"
Now, listen. Jan. if you don't
want him around just say the
word"
Il want him around if he
works" she put in hastily. 81
need money. thought maybe Cap
Tupple?"
THAT old crouch. He'd love to
mistake me for a tuna and stick
harpoon in mel Trouble with
him is he's griped because he has
to run fishing barges instead of
liners. He amt fit for anything
but a barge. if you ask mel"
Heart OF Gold
IAN started kitchenward with
- the fish. Hes all right, Frank.
I'll ask him about a Job for
Derek."
Frank, following her, declared:
you don't know bad people from
good, Jan. You think everyone
has a heart of solid goldi"
She laughed merrily. I'm not
quite that stupid, old dear. Most
people aren't really bad, though,
if you take pains to know them.
Run up to Lance now, will you7
A prospective purchaser for the
clipper ought to chirk him up for
dinner"
A grateful warmth put a smile
on her lips as she heard Frank
call out to Lance. Frank was so
good. He had been Chief Life
guard at Sea Tide for five years.
ever since old Peter Merriner had
bought this house as haven for his
years OF retirement. Lance and
Frank had hit it off from first ac-
qualntance. Jan bered
what joke it had been to every.
one at the beach when Frank and
Lance took turns entertaining
each other on their days off BY
alternating flying trips and fish
ing trips.
1t was Frank who had kept un-
ceaSlng watch over Lance two
years ago in the hospital; Frank
who had kept the plane factory
conscious of their duty to Lance;
Frank who had forced them to
bring in specialists so his friend
might have chance to fly again.
And now it was Frank who came
every night without fail to carry
Lance downstairs for dinner and
up again; to make him chuckle
over the miShaps and adventures
of lifeguard's day.
Sometimes. when the day was
hot and not too windy. he took
Lance in the wheelchair out on
the beach front. Frank had
enough medals to cover his great
barrel chest, should he ever choose
to wear them. He had saved.
literally. hundreds of lives. He
insisted, chuckling, pulling at his
old black pipe. he would write a
book about it some day and give
the world the lowdown on human
nature. Gratitude. he contended.
was an artificial emotion of civili-
cation. People. generally, were
ungrateful. Few of them ever
bothered even to thank him for
saving their lives.
Jan often argued this with him.
Gratitude" she'd scott. MY
goodness. Frank, they're scared
half out of their wits and can't
even think"
At the market Jan spent five
cents for carrots and five for let
tuee, then emerged triumphantly
from the fifteen-cent store with a
razor, comb and toothbrush still
the thrifty posseSSor of two dimes.
She found Derek and Norma in
Specting the fish when she arrived
home. Il see you two are &C.
she smiled. tossing her
sweater on the hook with prac-
ticed ease.
Norma shook her head. 81 think
he's quite hopeless. Jan. He lust
asked me if fish always looked
like this before it was cooked! He
admitted never seeing a raw fish
ready for the frying pan"
Never had a fishing pole In
my hands" he stated cheerfully.
Jan groaned. And I'm planning
to get you a job on a fishing
bargel"
Job? What if I don't choose to
work."
Il won't choose to feed you"
To be continued.