The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-04-21
Chapter II
CURIOUS CALLER

Chapter IL
CURIOUS CALLER
. MADAME entered as held the
AVA door open. She looked rather
nice; she wore again the clinging,
coppery-green silk gown. and her
red hair shone under the light. Gold
hoops swung at her ears; her face
was white and soft and her lips
heavily rouged.
The white cockatoo sat ON her
shoulder; his crest was fiared hand.
soInely upward, and he was twist.
ing his head this way and that in an
] inquisitiye but family reproving
manner.
/ shouldn't have been at ali sur
prised If he'd said to me converse.
tionally. $50 this Is where the muir.
der was. Tut. TUT"
"Am 7 disturbing your" said Ma
dame Grethe. Her green eyes were
shining, and her manner was very
pleasant.
mot at ALL" ! said and then, as
she gave every Indication OF having
come merely to pay q social call,
added: Wont you SIT DOWN."
She moved in a graceful, leisurely
manner to the chair opposite me and
sat down; the cockatoo chung to her
shoulder and made an admofiitory
remark which was aimed apparent.
ly at me.
"Pucci, Pucci," she said in d ca
ressing voice. II am sorry about
your being arrested, Mr.. Sunbeam.
My husband and ! regret It very
much"
There was a shade Of mockery IN
her shining eyes.
Eat any rate" / said, 1T didn't
last long"
mo. Apparently rot. / hope thar
! is all you will hear Of the affair"
Your hope is shared, madame"
For the instant | employed the
! ghost Of Marcel's shrug, d useful
gesture which I was growing to ad.
mire very much. It irritated her.
Her eyes 1T for d moment. then she
dropped smooth lids over them, lift.
ed ons rather large but soft and
white hand TO rucci's mech, cafeksed
him for q moment, ana thsn glanced
about the room.
How the wind blows!" she said.
Doesn't II annoy you at night?
Surely there Is loose shutter some
where near
zone OF those on the window.
there"
II must tell Marcel to repair the
catch. Although shouldn't you like
another room. Mr.. Sunbeam"
"I'm quite all right here. thank
you" wondered what time It was.
"Conie, come. Mr.. Sunbeam, admit
that you'd be happier In another
room. One not so far from the rest OF
as. One not so near" She moved
one supple hand In q quick gesture
toward the corridor.
But was firm. mainly because
she insisted. for ! had no reason to
like my present room. heaven knew!
And / was beginning to wish she
would leave. 1t would soon be time
for Sues promised arrival.
"nH. very well. then" said Ma
~ dame at last rather sharply.
''0n your own head be II. Mr. Sun.
dean" she leaned suddenly for.
ward. and pucci toppled. caught his
balance. and gave . hoarss cIuck Of
disapproval--"why are you hereg'
she asked almost In whisper. her
green eyes shining into uiine.
II came to meet q friend" said.
"Wlll you have 4 cigarette9"
''Yon are evasive. Mr.. Sunbeam .
she said In q less caressing way than
she had previously employed.
"Evasive9 You ask me why have
come to this hotel. tell you. TO meet
a friend. which is the truth" ]
smiled at her.
AT such time. Mr.. Sunbeam, one
must ask questions OF unidentified
straugers.s
mo doubt" I said pleasantly.
Whats It all about. iiiadaniei An
attempt on my life and murder at
my threshold. That's more than co.
incidence. Are you 80 determined 70
make me leave?"
I had spoken expefimeutaaly,
more than from conviction, ana I
was little astonishsd to see how
my words affected her. she leaned