The Key West Citizen Newspaper, July 3, 1940, Page 4

PAGE FOUR THE KEY WEST CITIZEN HIGH TIDE By Franc es Hanna She was looking for shipwrecked treasure Chapter One Salvage OMETHING was fioat- ing on the water about two or three miles off shore. It could be al- most anything, Jan re- flected, but it was probably a dead barracuda. The annoying thing about curiosity is that it won’t leave ou alone until you satisfy it. igid self-discipline was the only means of counteracting it, Jan de- cided. She attempted discipline by laying down her binoculars, stepping back from the parapet, and surveying her latest work of art with a critical frown. “It’s terrible —awful—rotten!” she pronounced, adding, “as us- ual.” Carefully, rebellion rankling in her eyes, she picked up a cloth and wiped the canvas clean, eras- ing an impossibly blue and cheer- ful sea supporting an impossibly neat white ship. “Why can’t I do it?” she cried, her young face tight with despair. “Why?” She knew there was no answer which could satisfy. Loving the wide sweep of ocean stretching before hr from this roof-top, lov- ing to paint, having studied and studied ART, still she could not catch that essence of beauty and briny majesty on canvas. No use trying to do anything more today, she thought. The sun was setting with a splendor that mocked her futile attempts to catch it with a paint brush. The tide was running ‘:., curling white and foamy on the brown sand be- fore her house, depositing its bur- den of shells, seawe> and tiny sand crabs. Jan snatched up the binoculars from herdeck chair and stared out over the water. That something still pobbed around in the trou ;h of the waves way out beyond the fishing pier. It wasn’t a boat nor a box—it looked hu- man! She resisted the impulse to run for her boat and investigate. Surely no human being would be swimming in a cold March sea with evening coming on, and if they were, they would certainly swim in now with the tide. An- other hour and the high tide would give way to the dragging heavy ebb. With a shrug she put her paints and the canvas in a wa- terproof locker and began to fold} she had come a good two miles.| breath of death bie: poe close, the easel. Again she picked up the binoculars. The bobbing thing was farther out now. “You may as well go!” she scolded herself. “If you don’t you'll be imagining fantastic ings such as silks, golden coins. or abandoned animals floating| guided the boat close and looked | around out there. Of course you needn’t worry about the dinner | sciousness. She tossed a length of | reached for him and this time he you should be cooking——” Lifting a trap door she stepped down on a ladder and scrambled into the depths of the house. On| heavily from side io side, floating. | him little by little into the bottom the way to the front door she Picked up a thick sweater and a scarf to tie down her sun-bleached curls. She’d be werm enough in her old flannel slacks and sweat irt. She hurried past hambu: er stands still boarded up from win- ter, past a few prematurely and hopefully opened concessio? the end of the long pier she kept her combination to re deep sea fishing barges anchored. ‘Leave Me Alone’ TS up?” the lifeguard called from the float be! “After more salvage? Or another cat in distress?” what it is. I saw something toss. around out there and my wo-/} man’s curiosity got the better of me. You didn’t see anyone go in for a swim, did you?” me to go out with you?” But the b though, and tell Lance I'll be back in a jiffy. I forgot to tell him.” Frank, wrapped in his great sweater with the lifeguard insig- nia on the fror.. of it, cast off her sixteen foot boat when she started the motor: “Good fishing,” he called, as the boat headed for the end of the breakwater. Out in the open sea the water was choppy and feathery salt spray smacked her dark gold skin. There was still enough light to see clearly. A sense of exaltation tingled through her, effacing to- day’s disappointmeat, as she felt the frail boat slide over smooth swells. She laughed out loud, happily. unafraid. “The sea is my love,” she fancied. “A teasing, taunting lover I can’t capture. Now she looked Lack and saw | Her “treasure” should be very | near now. here, over there. It | was—— “Oh, dear Lord,” she whispered | sickly. “It is human! A—a man— but is he dead or alive?” Cutting the motor she expertly into dark eyes t held con- stout rope to him, shot it and I'll pull you in! He ignored the rope. He rolled g. “Grab not swimming, appearing entirely etic and frighteningly half- ed. in here, you fool!* she yelled. “You'll drown.” His voice was so weak she had le making out his words. ‘Leave me alone. Go away.” Shifting the heavy keg she used | for ballast to balance her weight, dr tr and/| She leaned over the side of the} this, you. <meddler.” motor boat and where the big| boat and caught hold of the man’s] cl hair, jerking his head back, keep- | ing his fice up aut of the water. For no reason at all a story of; Shelley flashed to her mind, of how the poet and his wife were paddling in a boat on the Bay of Spezia, Italy, when he suddenly | determined to jump overboard | and end it all. His wife, however. | dissuaded him by joking of dying with empty stomachs when deli- cious ‘oud awaited them at their | hotel. | “Aren’t you hungry?” she shout- | ed. “I'll give you fried chicken if | you come home with me.” ‘Please Don’t Die’ | A WISPY grin flicked his mouth. | He rolled over with a last burst of strength, loosening her gtip on his hair, and lay like a water-logged fish with distended | bloodshot eyes mocking at her. Frightened beyond calm_rea- soning, cold with the salt-laden Jan screamed at him, n't die— | please don’t die! You've no right} to take your own life. Let me help you—please let me save you——” | She was rot even aware that tears rolled dowz her piteously | Pleading face. She saw an expression of stark} amazemer t in his eyes. Again she made no attempt to resist. Tug- ging, straining, careful not to up-| | set the wavering craft, she hauled | of the boat. Trembling from ef- fort, shaken with relief, she! tossed her warm sweater over his| body clothed only in brief swim- | ming trunks. So tall and lung and thin he was, he tearly filled all the space. He-glared-at her balefuli: His| | ¥oice croaked hoarsely through | his throat: “Youll be sorry for His eyes’ j He was unconscious. | Jan as she started the motor and} thro tide brought in castaway love— “Get in here, you fool!” she yelled. “You'll drown.” sure, who loved hi.a and knew his courage, had put him on that life- buoy and given him a chance to live. She called him “Neptune.” She looked down at the man with contemptuous pity. He hadn't as much courage as her cat. Destroying himself. Why? dozen surmises stirred her imagi- nation, then it occurred to her a Person was entitled to possession of anything he salvaged. There- fore, this man was hers! A man of her own. What a crazy notion, but then, her head was apt to fill with crazy notions at any time. She had far too much imagination, Lance asserted. What in the world could she do with this man, she who had never yet found time for a sweet- heart because of her painting, her house, her ocean, and Lance. Love was a word she applied to her emotion for these things and for ince. “Silly girl!” she said, halting her thoughts. Frank was waiting, worried, when she ran alongside the wood- en float by the creosoted pilings of the pier. “Its a man, Frank. Half- drowned. Help me get him to the house, will you?” She evaded the questions he fired at her without seeming eva- sive. She felt she had no right to tell anyone this man haa deliber- ately invited death. “I'll never tell,” she thought and shivered. “You were gone so long I though: maybe your motor stalled and you couldn’t get up the sails,” Frank said, hoisting the man up over his bulky shoulders. Jan tied the boat fast and fol- lowed him up the plank runway to the cement surface above. A few lights were straggling on and a half-dozen people _loitered -4around the open concessi6én booths which offered prizes -to wers, penny pitchers ball and | She pulled hard. He raised his! headed back toward the: pier.| hoop tossers. This, Jan thought, is arm weakly, trying to free him- self. His face twisted in faint anger. “If you don’t get in this boat Pl signal the lifeguard,” kill yourself?” Leave me alone—leave me alone.” 4 she threat-| “Hello, Frank. Oh, I don’t know | ened. “What are you trying to do, } | Night robed the sky with dark gray velvet as fog pulled its misty | in; counterpane over the sea. Jan had | salvaged many things but never a/ man. Once before she had saved} a life: that of a great Persian cat | who clung to a lifebuoy and who | | hands and arms when she rescued typical of Los Angeles—pretend- Z summer in March. A long block away from the turn into the amusement pier, hedged on either side by ram- Shackle cottages and hot dog stands crouching beside the strip “Yes,” he gasped. “Go away.|had dug great furrows in her/| of cement beach walk, was a ram- bling ‘house of rough, weather- She tightened her grip although | him. In the face of all evidence to| stained shingles which had once the boat was tipping crazily andj the contrary she knew he was a/ been dark red before the sun and “No, Jan. Too cold yet. Want|the water pushed greedy fingers| survivor of a pleasure yacht | fog got in their work. Into this jover the sides. Her shoulder! which had fouled on rocks far up| hous. turned Jan and Frank and “I can manage, thanks. You) ached with strain. She wished she the coast some three days before might run over to the house,’ hadn’t sent Frank to the house.i she found him. Someone. she was ’s burden. Te be continued. NOTES OF TODAY West connected with the Naval Station. = On Miami Visit Visit Relatives Here Robert Lyons was a passenger | church here. Following a brief | stop at Lockhart, the Luethis will leave for their summer home in | Hyde Park, Vt. They were ac- DIVORCE ACTION entered Suit for divorce was Mr. and Mrs. Pages, formerly on the 7 o'clock bus this morning, | C°™Panied on the trip as far as in the office of Clerk Ross C. of Key West, but now their home in Tampa, Fla, and son, A@grelio Jr., and daughter, Ofelia, arrived over the highway fora weeks stay with relatives and friends. Goes To Tampa Mrs. Asuncion Aguilar over the Highw: Monday Tampa for a visit with a Richard, in that city. left for son, Visits Daughter Here Mrs. Gertrude Mansker of Jackson, Tenness: arrived Monday night to vis Key West connected with the Naval Station. eral day with relatives and friends, Studied Fishing Jay K. Allen, who was in Key! | West for the purpose of making | senger leaving this morning for! Valdes. a study of commercial fishing nt fishermen, the methods used by the left this morning on early bus for Washington and ermediate points. Visits Relatives Adolfo Lopez left this morning friends, Luethi’s Leave making going to Miami for a visit of sev-| Miami by Rey. Luethi’s brother, A. D. Luethi, of this city. | Left For Marathon. a Charles Saunders was a pas- Marathon, where he will remain Sawyer, of Circuit Court, Monday of lafternocon by Margaret Alizarde Wilson against Willis Wilson. ——S i days here as guests of Dr. J. A. & for a week viewing the for a few days to close out his’ Visitors From Massachusetts WEDNESDAY, JULY 3 ise (Suggested by the National Safety Council) 1.—Don’t use fireworks. ly on curves or hills. 2.—Take it easy on the road. 3.—Don’t overdo in Start in.time. Don’t speed or eating or exposure to sun. take chances in passing, especial-. 4—If you swim: Don't go in Legion Picnic Holds Forth Tomorrow ‘Cala Dance At Raal’s Tonight | ery Best of entertainment is lined; Fourth of July activities to- jup for the Gala Fourth of July morrow will be centered around Celebration scheduled for tonight South Beach, where the Ameri- =H Rec Club on Roosevelt ‘can Legion Junior Baseball Team ulevard. " -day celebra- Tiny Ward, popular night club is sponsoring an all-day celebra master of ceremonies, will be in “OP- begin at charge of the program and will sunrise. highlight Jerry “Don’t Call Me; There will be aeroplane rides, Tom” Collins, the new and sen- bingo game, sport events and a pea eas pedi peat jitney dance, with music by E. toured the Southern States with ,Co™e2’ Juke Orchestra. his orchestra. He has been Activities will jalone or wh exercise, | an hour depth off or ii _ MARRIAGE LICENSE Two licenses + sued from « Judge Ra; day afternoon thorized the wedding wed Rubio and the other author: riage of William and Rosalie Torres Peace Justice Ex aldo was to perform Triage ceremonies Olimpia Coillazc rigue Esq both TRY IT TODAY— The Favorite in Key West STAR + BRAND CUBAN COFFEE ON SALE AT ALL GROCERS THE ANSWERS There will be good music for’ and daughter, Jackie, left over with Mrs. Addie Thompson. Mrs. ‘Tonight At Pena’s —— ber daughter, Mrs. Paul Cannedy Fe when the big 4th of July Ete. Musie for dancing will be furn- ig Ss See “Who Knows?” on Page 2 classed with such artists as Louis Left For Miami . Armstrong. Mr. and Mrs. Dexter Thompson dancing and many surprises. the highway yesterday for their ES home in Miami after a visit here \4th Of July Dance Thompson accompaniéd-them to Miami where she-wi!l visit with First.celebration of Independ- ‘of that.city. ence Day will take place tonight: Dance gets under way at Pena’si ,Garden of Roses. ' ished by John Pritchard’s popu- lar dance band. 1. Nearly ten months; until May 24, 1915. 2. 242,000. 33. Secretary of Agriculture Henry A. Wallace, who began to peat tem RS te study the language about three } ® ~ te years ago. Soe from Havana was "4 alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt |O.S S, with 31 first cabin pas-|__ > No; the plans become effec- | sengers and two second for Key! tive in sixty days unless both | West; 16 first and one second | Houses disapprove them. cabin passengers for Tampa. ;_ 6 Last year they purchased Cartied on the. manifest of the | 589,103,340 pairs. | ‘ 8. In 1936. three automobiles and five sacks a Navy, 1,765 planes; Arnty, j 7) , of mail, and for Tampa, ee | 10. 4 sees TRANSPORTATION tine Gallagher, Manuel! Cortales, | | George Lara, Angelia Lara and | Argelia Lara. f business interests and return to; Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Foley,| TO CHECK Key West. representing Miami. | Optical Men Here who were in Key West seeing the {sights and visiting the points of her daugh- on the early bus for a week's Electric Co. a guest at the Hotel! ter, Miss Pat Mansker, who is in visit in Miami with relatives and La Concha, left this morning for the Hotel La Concha. | Returns To Miami | Mrs. Francis Pinder, who had} ; if litt i ! Hi i 1 : if i ett ll rir tl I; i! eta if i" a» yer << 23GALLON ACP AUTOMAT- i CAS WATEE BEATER Rev. and Mrs. L. J. Luethi left Mr. E. S. Hirsch, manager of; been visiting in Key West with | Mrs. Lillian Brock of Chatta- yesterday for their home in the Eastern Optical Company, | relatives and friends, left on the! nooga, Tennessee, arrived Mon- Lockhart, Fla. Rev. Luethi re-, and Dr. Gail E Chandler, pro-|7 o'clock bus for Miami, and will day afternoon to visit her sister, cently ended a substitute pasto-'minent eye surgeon, will arrive|return in a few days to make} Miss Imogene Starnes, in Keyjrate at the Congregational, this afternoon to spend a fewjher home in Key West. Visitor From Chattanooga