The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-07-09

pner once said: He WIN eats even
the last crumb is a poor criticl' !"
What Chinese philosopher?
Ham. demanded. relaxing on the
Sand.
How should I know" asked
Gina One of them. The Chinese
always say something to fit every
occasion. =
They all fingered for few min
utes after the meal was done, but
finally Brett Rodman, with a
meaning glance as the sky. re-
minded the men that the trees still
mad to be trimmed and dashed to-
gether, If they were to assemble
anything that looked like a raft
before darkness descended.
The girls started back to the
house. There was nothing else to
do, since the men were obviously
unwilling to have their amateur
lsh efforts watched. Both of them
dreaded the return, because Eve
knew that Julie would fret and
INIT broadly that she ought to be
more encouraging to Neil Bowron.
Gina, remembering her aunt's in
dlgnatlon abort Uncle Theodore
only that morning. tried to make
the walk last longer
Anyone would think he was
glad to get rid of me-" was what
Aunt Helen had walled, according
to her niece. THE next time look
at an old house. he comes with
me. And see how he likes being
marooned in the middle of now
here!"
However, when they returned,
Julie had persuaded Mrs. Mar
bury to play bridge, and had
moved table to the old but still
lovely veranda. Glad of chance
for placating the two women. both
Gina and Eve agreed to play, too,
although their eyes strayed long
ingly back to the beach.
Almost Saved
HE afternoon wore on some
1 how. When Eve could no long
er stand it. she went in and braved
Mrs Jackson, demanding some
tea. This was served, with no good
grace, by the shutting Mr.. Jack
son himself. 1t put period to the
afternoon. and KEPT them from
being hungry as the hours went
on, and still the men failed to re-
turn to dinner. Mrs. Jackson had
heen asked to serve that meal at
eight o'clock, but at seven thirty,
when there had been no sign of
the men, Julie began to worry.
They ought to at least report
how they're getting on" she said
aggrievedly. st isn't as if we
knew exactly how long it takes
to make a raft. Oh-Mr. Howell"
she exclaimed as that gentleman
emerged from the house, looking
very pink and white after his nap,
Il wonder if you'd mind walking
down the beach and telling the
boys it's time for dinner, and
they'll have to work on the raft
tomorrow"
Certainly not, Mrs. Emerson"
the lawyer said puctiliously. But
before he could start. there was
the sound of flying feet, and the
dirty, tired figure of Ham burst
onto the porch from the path.
"Come right away - b in
matches!" he painted. There's a
ship off shore. Ask Mrs. Jackson
for kerosene. Hurry"
"Whoops! Saved at lasti"
shouted Gina, jumping up from
her chair and diving toward the
kitchen with Eve at her heels. A
fey seconds later they were run
ming toward the beach, a can Of
kerosene swinging between them.
Julie had paused only long enough
to gather few pieces of wood
lying near the house, and Mrs.
Marbnrv. Ham and the LAWYER
brought up the rear of the pro-
cesSion.
BY the time they reached the
shore, they could make out a
small schooner. standing offshore
abou. to round the point. 1t was
dimmed by the late afternoon
haze, but when Eve suggested a
mirage, Neil looked at her so dis.
painfully. she retired meekly to
the background.
Everyone's help was needed.
The logs felled at so much effort
that day, some of them already
lasned together as a raft. were
sacrificed for the fire, and other
sticks and logs were dragged to
the spot. So furiouSly did they
work, that no one even looked
up until the fire was a tail column
of flame above their heads. Then
an exclamation from Mrs. Mar
bury stopped them short.
Look" she said tearfully. "The
ships going away"
ut can't do that" protested
Ham. "Hey, you--ship ahoyl Come
back here"
In spite of the sadness of the
occasion, Gina could not help
laughing at Ham His normally
good humored face was covered
with layer of dirt from his I'M
accustomed labors. And the dirt
had tracks through It from sweat.
and in addition his cheek bore a
great smear which was, most like
", a relic of the fire and the kero-
Sene.
"You look like a newsboy just
after he dropped his papers in the
mud" Gina said. and Ham smiled
.crookedly.
Il feel a lot worse" he admitted.
"a whole lot worse"
The party stood helpless, except
Mrs. Marbury, who subsidized upon
the largest stump she could find.
Although it was evident the ships
crew must have seen the signal
They'd have to be blind, not to
see it." as Brett said bitterly--it
had turned away and was heading
out again, into the thickening
mist.