The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-03-25
HAL
BOYLE
SAYS
BY HAL BOYLE

ring of Wilbur PEBBLES annual re
union with his old college chums
a stag affair.
II hope you won't be, lonely,
! he said guiltily to his wife, Trelli.
Mae. II may be little late get
! ting home"
His wife looked at him in colo
silence and held out small bun
die.
whats this?" said Wilbur, sur
prised.
.It's your new drinking cos
tune" replied Trellis Mae. 4
made it for you myself, dear"
what in the world do / need
with a drinking costume?" de
manded her husband.
81 got the idea from a news
paper article" nurred Trellis Mae
at told about a millionaire sports
man who took his drinking so Sc
riously that he dressed for il like q
viking-in a horned helmet and .
suit Of chain mail. 3
ooh, yeah, / remember" said
Wilbur. 1.-THE motto of the Viking
society was, "A Viking can always
drink one mere But''-his voice
grew what has that g0t
to do with met"
We'll, evervtime you come home
from one of your college reunions
you have q black eye. year clothes
are mussed or torn, or your shoes
are scuffed," said Trellis Mae.
so | invented safety drinking
uniform for YOU"
Her husband mutely tnWrapped
the package. Out came his high
school football helmet, a suit CT
green coveralls, some heavy win.
ter overshoes, and a pair Of heavy
leather gloves. Across the front
of the helmet was lettered q sign:
..Sip in safety"
"Pm not gcing to take along
this junk" Wilbur said fatty.
You're being absolutely silly"
"You are going to take i'll" said
Trellis Mae firmly. And you're
going to promise me you won't
take single drink without first
putting it on ever your regular
clothes-or you're not leaving this
housed"
After half an hour Of stirring
debate, Wilbur stomped out the
oor--carrying the package under
his arm.
Trellis Mae fell asleen few
hours later with a victory smile
still CT her face. At $3.50 am. she
was awakened by pounding on
her door. She opened it and saw
a policeman holding a nightstick
in one hand--and the sagging form
Of her husband in the other. vii.
bur was wearing his overshoes and
coveralls, and blinked cslishiy at
her from beneath his old football
helmet.
Does this thing belong to you,
ma'am?" asked the policeman,
pointing to Wilbur.
Yes. I'm afraid so,'' sighed
Trellis Mae. DO you want me to
sign for him, officer?.
mo, just take him off my
hands, said the cop. "He said
he lived here, but l thought ne
was nrowier from Mars or some
thing"
Wilbur undressed and climbed
with tired gratitude into bed. Trel.
lis Mae lay wide-eyed and sleep.
less in the next bed.
''Wellg" she finally demanded.
Il sure took q kidding from the
boys when | first unwrapped the
tundle. Z said Wilbur .Rnt after
couple Of drinks they all want.
ed TO wear the costume Too /
had an awful time getting ii back
from them when The party broke
up.
"H-m-m-m-m" said his wife.
IN made such hit with III.
boys they formed new irinkinp
scsiety on the spot = said Wilbur
They told me 10 ask you a j
favor. % design another uniform
for us-one not quite 50 heavy.
And what Is ne name of your
new society, may | ask sa,d
Trellis Mae icily.
The SAFETY Slippers Club ], !,
swered Wilbur drcesily. ..Our mo,
to is. WHAT you sip safely can,
hurt y0u. z