The Key West Citizen Newspaper, September 29, 1947, Page 3

be Some om -_. st Bley 3 ee ees Ena eee es ae tn Chapter 11 HE letter was delivered to Homer a few days later.in Chi- cago. As Homer recognized Bruce’s sharp handwriting on the envelope, the tension that had been growing in him ever since that only, never-to-be-forgotten fight he had had with the band members seemed to explode in one mighty throb in his blood. With trembling hands he tore open the envelope. Ithpatiently he scanned the let- ter. Just a flat statement from Bruce that he could not return to the band. Homer’s first feeling was%ne of gratitude almost, and mixed up with it was admiration for a man who could with no un- necessary words indicate exactly where he stood. Of course, Homer reflected cynically, a guy could admire the way another guy could write let- ters; but a guy couldn’t eat the admiration he felt for somebody. And Homer liked to eat—and so did the boys in the band. And, Eomer thought further, a guy like me’ who’s worked to get somewhere likes to sleep late in the morning, too, and not lie awake wondering if what Down- beat says is true. None of the members of the band had said anything; but they had all read the ominous littie aye of gossip that had appeared |p the little swing journal: “Those who have heard S. Jack- son, the new keyman with Homer Gregg’s band, warming up for the big opening at the south side su- per dancery, opine that String asn’t got enough juice in his digits to melt the blacks and whites the way Bruce Crane did. But Homer ®ade the sad boner of building his factory around the piano. Wiseacres say it’s within the realm that Homer’s band ma be on its wes wey way down.” Homer swore so tly as he took the elevator down to the lobby. On reaching the street, he hailed a taxicab and directed the driver to the great ballroom out on the south side of the city. Homer hated the idea of reading Bruce’s letter to the boys; but he knew they were as anxious to know Bruce’s decision as Homer had been, It was as much their busi- Hobbyist Asks Stalin To Send Four-Leaf Clover AP Newsfeatures HANGHAI.—Charles EF. French, of Huntington Park, ! Calif., has been trying for sev- eral years to qet a four-leaf clover from Soviet Premier Jo- sevh Stalin. French. who calls himself “Clover Charlie,” conveved this | information to Mrs. Barbara | ciated Press bureau in Shanc- | Volin. secretary of The Asso- hai, to whom he wrote after see- inq a photo depicting her with a pile of Chinese banknotes, renresenting a month's salary. French asked Barbara for a four-leaf clover She replied they were hard to get here. He wrote her again, and in the course of his letter, which he enjoined her to “read carefully,” he said he had no four- leaf clovers from Italy. France or Yugoslavia, “and should you run across any from any of those places, and you can spare them I'd be rather tickled to have them.” Gen. Charles de Gaulle—“hbut no clover”—and he expected both a letter and a clover frorn the Pope,” to whom he intended to write. . “I’ve been werking on Joseph Stalin for several years—-sent him an airmail last Saturday—and I’m hoping,” French said. He said he had clovers from every state in the Union, all the provinces of Canada, and 22 for-, eign countries. During the war, he said, he had sent clovers to servicemen all over the world. LIONS’ BINGO GAME The Key West Lions Club will hold a bingo game tonight at its Seminary street club rooms. All the money rasied in the game will go into prizes. Preparations are being made to handle a large crowd of players. SOCIAL SECURITY | MAN NOW HERE | Cary Williams, from the Social Security area office in Miami, will be in Key West tomorrow and Wednesday to give informa- tion to any residents who are in- terested in Social Security mat- ters. MRS... AGNES PRITCHARD ILL Agnes Pritchard, Mrs. who was taken to the Key West Muni- | cipal Hospital yesterday, did not show any marked improvement up to this afternoon, The Citizen was informed. On the average day, say statis- ticians, 28 Americans die as a re- sult of fire. 1 from Shanghai. } | | AP Newsfeaiures | 4 PHOTOGHAPHEP He had, he said, a letter from | ; it pA Fe | | | | | | | THE KEY WEST CITIZEN MUSIC OR MEDICINE By Frank Riordan ness as his. They had made that clear to Homer that morning he had received Bruce’s telegram. As he entered the ballroom he/ th could hear the boys warming up. The sound of the piano pre- dominated; and Homer grimaced. String Jackson hadn’t. caught on to the new rhythm. He still clung to the old one-and-two-and tim- ing of Dark Town Strutter’s Ball days. ‘Somebody saw Homer as he walked across the polished dance floor; and by the time he reached the orchestra dais. everybody had “stopped practicing. “News from Bruce yet?” Homer took one look at their haggard faces. “Not a word,” he said in a straight voice, realizing suddenly i there would be no point in break- ing the bad news at such a time. “Guess we've got to go through fa) ening night without benefit of rane.’ And they did— etter taan they expected, at least during the early part of the evening. The very magic of an opening night and of actually dancing to Homer Gregg’s Hollywood band direct from the Palladium kept the mob of dance kids moaning and ca- vorting and cheer.ng and assur- ing themselves that rhyming to Homer Gregg’s band was the real usiness. .The boys began to relax a little; and the pace out on the dance floor quickened. Gai] made a magical appearance, looking like Vogue’s idea of a sophisticated seraph that sang instead of Plunked a harp; and her first group of songs went over sensa- tionally well. Everybody had a wonderful time for a while after that. Austin sang then—more mis- eraby than anybody. had ever heard him sing. His second song missed altogether and the boys on the dance floor began to hoot joyfully. Homer decided to cut Austin’s third number before he had a riot on his hands; for it was obvious that the girls who had adored Austin eight minutes ago were now feeling cheated—and resentful. After ‘intermission the crowd had diminished considerably. The BOBBY’S Overseas rh | ! CEPT SUNDAYS) at 6:00 3. M. rives at Miami at 12:00 o’ciock Mid- | nighi. LEAVES MIAMI SUNDAYS) at | clock P. LEAVES MIAMI SUNDAYS) at $:00 o'clock i.M. and = at Key West at 5:02 o'clock ' j { | FREE PICK-UP and DELIVERY SERVICE ! horrents Transportation — Company, | Fast, Depeadable Freight and Express Service Between MIAMI and KEY WEST Also Serving ALL POINTS on Florida Keys Between Miami and Kev West | Express Schedule: | (No Stops En Rouisz! | LEAVES KEY WEST DAILY iss 12:00 o'clock night and arrives at Key West at 6:00 o’clock A. M. Local Schedule: (Stops At All Intermediate Puints) LEAVES KEY WEST DA)J..Y (EX- CEPT SUNDAYS) at 8:00 o'clock A. M. and as at Miami | FULL CARGO INSURANCE Office: 813 Caroline Street : WAREHOUSE: Corner Eaton and Francis Streets . AP Newsfeatures . ke youngsters — sixteen and sixty, alike—seemed to be increasingly. aware that something was miss< ing. The band members ‘sensed; ie subtle change and gave out’ - with everything they had. Gail: — surged torridly through her la- ments, but Austin, r trouper that he was, refused stubbornly: : to try again. It was String Jack- son, however, who burned with’ bitterness when, along toward:the close of the evening the crowd began to close in on the orchestra dais and wait expectantly for a rousing jam session, , Suddenly a_ sweatin outh pointed to String and out:: “Hey you, how’s about stirring’ up the mints and licorice the wa’ you’re famous for doing.” ven “And quit canning corn,” the boy’s girl friend chimed in. ~ > ‘You’ve got to give ’em some- thing,” Homer hissed. “What can ~ do—with us just rhy -ing it.” : nx aa String mentally shot throug his pe carr in desperation said through dry lips: |... “Doll Dance. Ancient, but -it’s good. Just thump count for me. with drums.’ S fey He waded into the old,’ old melody; and Joe Taggart gave him full support—or tried to. Gai brushed sudden ears frem >her. eyes, and Homer felt himself stiffening. The boys all at once had artificiai, unmerry smiles.on : their lips. They were all thinking of what Bruce Crane could with the liiting melody of ‘Doll Dance, that old tune gay. as‘a@ bright harlequin—and as full, of pathos. Bruce, they all: knew; - would have saved the day if:he had been on hand. A The crowd listened courteous through the first few bars. one rowdy sang out: . “Save it for the harvest, ag ee : ‘ : bg ; very y began to laugh, and . String, badly upset, continued maddeningly: A rad “Ta-ta-ta-ta te-da ta-ta-te-te te-da—— sae “Where is our Brucie?” -an- other asked. ek So “He'll be back,” Homer said in a menacing tone. “Come back again soon. We’ll have him back.” (To be continued)’ °° °":: (Copyright i947 by Frank Riordan): - BUG-EYED _ took one of the butterflies from the ¢olléction of eight-ycar-cld Bobby Rankin of Denver and mounted it to | Bobby's mos? with che-’ing gum. The result was this unusual picture of “bug-eyed” Bobby. Lae. DAILY (=XCEPT Mid- at 4:00 o*- DAILY \<XCEPT Phones: 32 and 68 ie