The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-07-19

bank OF clouds, and there, sill
houetted against the sand and sea
We're two figures that looked IA
miliar.
Eve and Gina? Ham remem-
bered the old-fashioned garnet
satin dress, the sprigged muslin,
which Gina and Eve had found in
the attic, and worn. But he stared
at the figures before him, puzzled.
Even In the moonlight these
two did not look like Eve and
Gina. Lordy squirmed inpatient
~, seemingly bent on dashing
over to the. two figures.
Take 1t easy, Lordy," Ham
whispered. There's something
funny about this. If those two
apparitions are the girls, you
wouldn't be acting this way. And
If they were ghosts, you'd have
your tail between your legs. Let's
just edge little closer"
Crawling carefully along, Ham
managed to get within a few yards
Of the two figures. Ham saw the
one in the light dress raise
hand. There was the CLINT of
knife - and then, far down the
beach, the sound of Ewes scream!
Ham, startled, forgot to hold
Lordy Mac. The next instant
Lordy's small black form cata-
pulled to the sand dune, and his
sharp white teeth sank into a leg
Of one Of the figures.
Battle Royal
1T WAS an anything but ghostly
yelp of pain that came from
the victim, and it was followed by
a string of masculine curses. Ham,
running as fast as he could, pant
ed: "Hang on, Lordy, good work."
while he made a flying tackle at
the other figure, which had picked
up its skirts and started to run.
The legs Ham had wound his
arms around, gave way, but their
owner was not yet defeated. He
rolled over and, reaching down
toward Ham, proceeded to give
him a swift jab in the mouth.
Ham was startled, first at finding
a man in the old-fashioned dress,
and then at the desperate fury of
his own fighting.
He felt the blood from his in
jured lip trickling down his chin
and ducked his head as he saw
another blow coming. He knew he
was no match for his opponent.
but so long as he held on to the
mans knees and kept squirming
around perhaps he could manage
until help came.
He could hear Lordy's rare and
defiant bark and knew that the
other man must have pulled away
from him. But he knew too that
Lordy's sturdy little legs would
follow the intruder. no matter
where he went.
It seemed long time before
Neil's reasSuringly large form took
shape in the darkness, and NeiPs
voice said grimly:
"Okay, Ham. I've got this guy
by the throat. Brett has the other
pitC SOllaACQ QOWll OlA 6&iG UCoAl4.
Lordy chased him to us. -
Ham got up and tried to brush
some of the sand from his clothes.
His lip was swelling and the
words he tried to say were moth
ing but a humble and he was
limping a little, too, as he fol-
lowed Neil and the prisoner back
to the house.
Brett and his captive were in
the living room with the other
members of the party when they
arrived. The man whom Lordy
had attacked was wearing the
spriggled muslin dress Eve had
NICE worn. but he no longer gave
he impression of ghostly ferni-
1irity as he had in the moonlight.
The dress was torn and bedrag-
lied.
The mans large feet in heavy
;hoes and white socks stuck out
.rotesquely from beneath the
jagged skirt. Lordy Mac was
Worrying a black wig that had
allen off in the scuffle, and which
he dog had retrieved and carried
ack to the house. The man, in
lct, was blond and blue-eyed, and
obviously not much over eighteen.
His companion, they saw as Neil
ragged him into the living room,
was older. His costume, too, had
suffered; the garnet satin skirt
had permanently parted company
with the bodice, showing large
expa1ise Of cotton underShirt.
He had managed to retain the
blond wig, however, and it now
hung rakishly over one ear. No
one spoke for moment as they
looked in bewilderment at the two
extraordinary guests. Then Gina
caught sight of Ham and at once
ran to his side.
Darling! What in the world
happened to you? Oh, you're
hurt!"
"Just a little punch in the jaw"
Ham explained through his swol-
len lips, trying to smile. In spite
OF his injury, however, he had
never felt better than when Gina
led him to the most comfortable
chair in the room, and she sat on
the arm OF his chair, one hand
softly stroking his cheek.
Who the devil are you and
what's the idea of the get-up?"
Brett finally demanded of the two
men. And don't pull any of this
not-talking business. either. or I'll
give you a good going-over."
Maybe we ought to do it any,
how" suggested Neil hopefully,
looking at the blond wig of the
man nearest him. D7 - .'
you frightened us nearly to
DEATH" Julie said severely. 4All
that screaming and yelling"
tsH To be continued