The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-10-24
Outrageous Fortune
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Susie knew that. In her statement
she said that she came down to get
a book and heard voices In the
study. She may have heard more
than she said-she may have recog.
nized my voice"
Wouldn't she have said?'
Il don't know--we were pretty
good friends-she'd know wouldn't
-" He broke OF sharp.
Suppose by any horrible chance
he and Elmer had had q row. Sup
pose Susie had heard them quarrel.
ling. And then Elmer Van Berg had
been found shot Would Susie have
kept his photograph out after that?
Or would she have pushed it out of
sight with nervous, shaking hands?
He lost q bit Of what Car0line was
saying = something about finger
prints. Then he cot il. She was talk
ing about Elmer's finger-print book.
There was a page torn out" said
Caroline.
He felt the shock OF that as she
had felt 1t.
When?"
"0h afterwards--when the police
found it. You see, You were right
about the drinks. There was tray
and glasses, and the police took the
inger-prints. And then the butler
told them about Mr.. Van Berg,s
book. He told them it was on the
table. but when they looked for Il,
1t wasn't there. They found It stuffed
down behind the bookcase. And
there was a page torn out"
"a page torn out!" Then, sharply,
"How did they know"
"The cook says she remembers
the page. She hasn't told the police
yet. Mrs. Rodgers says she won't
unless she is asked, but they might
ask her any minute. She says she
because there wasn't
any name on that page. only initials.
suppose she takes an interest in
because Of her husband
being q policeman. suppose"
"What were the initials? ?"
Caroline looked at him pitecusly.
It hurt too much. Her carnation
color was all gone. Her voice was .
whisper as she said.
"J.R." ]
TIM laughed. His laughter had .
y hard edge to 1t.
"We're putting the rope ronna my
neck all right" he said.
"Jim!"
"They were my finger-prints II
remember making them and putting
my initials there. But I'll swear"
He stopped short.
"What?' said Caroline quickly.
He laughed again.
Il was going to say | could swear
I hadn't torn the page out. but ]
can't can't swear to anything. Go
on. Are there any more damniag bits
OF eyidence?"
Caroline cienched her hands.
.'The cooks nephew saw you in
the drive. He used to caddy for you
IA boy called Willie Bowman"
willie? He knew met"
eyes. he did. He told his annt-he
said It was about midnight"
That's . bit Of bad luck, but II
cant be helped. don't seem to have
covered my tracks very well -
do II"
He saw Caroline looking at him
with loving. anxious eyes. The can.
die light was bright on her rufTled
hair. He looked away from her and
spoke from where he stood with hie
back to the hearth.
i've got to make up ny mind
what I'm going to do"
"Yes."
He squared his shoulders.
what should like to do 10 to
open up the house. get in servants.
and go about my affairs - I've Q
perfect right to do"
eyes," said Caroline. Her eyes
frightened. Jim At HALE Piace-Jim
quite nearl It was like the most
lovely dream. But she knew aaite
wen that Il was ? dream.
-That.s what - lie TO do What
/ expsct I ought to- % Il TO 80 up
to town and see Robert Arbuth-
not" He paused. The pause lasted
q long time. n.
I eeNahatxI'ms sgeine. 70 do % what
VIII look most horribly dasning e
things 20 wrong and q comes 70 .
trial. I'm going to mark time" Ne
began to pace the room again With
. certain restless energy. "You 80.
II I come out into the open. sFsFyone
viii ask me questions, snd sysEy
time ms . question ] cant answer.
I'll be making things worse Whsss
have I been-and what have ! hesn
doing. Sometimes I'm On The sdes
OF remembering. too want % rive
myself q chance-stay here end
keep QUIET
fcoswssks. fsss. ,. D. Lsspiassss cs.l
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