The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-04-14

pass, ana ! caught = ulCkET OF
Madame Grethe's eyes.
Approach near. monsieur.' said
the young officer. Now" Iae mo.
toned the others back, and We were
all crowded into the corridor, but
the full light fell on the Murdered
man. Now. monsieur. Is this the
way you found him? Was he IKE
this exactly7 No passport Nothing
in his pockets? Was there no
Weapon?"
There was no weapon. THE dag
ger / had forced Madame Grethe
to drop there on the dead mans
chest, the dagger | had so carefully
refrained from touching myself in
order not to leave fingerprints, was
certainly not there. Had not been
there evidently when the police
came upon the scene. EIad It been
there on my return from the court
yard? could not recall more than
glancing at the body,
Who then had taken IT! The
priest? Marcel? Sue Tally Was
that why had felt SO definitely her
sudden withdrawal from the sub.
iect Of the dagger? And IL so. was
it because her own frightened hand
had snatched that thing and plunged
it? Because she knew its grim sig
nificance? Because she knew its
urgent Importance as q clue?
It was an inconCeivably tgiy
thought, but It was not one that
could easily be thrust aside. Ana
It was one that, naturally. had its
own influence npon what was to
come.
Strengthened up.
"Of course there was weapon. :
said. 1T was q small steel dag
ger. Loyschiem. here, withdrew 1t
to look at It, and we discovered that
II was the sword from the clock IN
| there on the mantel. We left IL on
the dead man. Someone has taken
II"
THE clock IN your room theTels
cried the young ofIlcer without
waiting to translate to the older
one.
"Yes.p
And You knew nothing Of it,"
Nothing. Except that it was here
on the dead mans body when 1
went down into the courtyard, and
now It Is not here"
He turned then, and French
cracked between himself and his
superior while the others listened
anxiously.
who was with the body while
you we're gone?"
"The porter and the priest"
Where il this priest?"
Madame interviewed.
Probably In his room. Your men
win ind him."
The young officer whirled to Mar
Gel. whose Hack eyes were snap
ping. There was d rapid exchange
Of questions. and he turned back to
me.
THE porter says he knows moth
Ing OF It. That he saw no one take
the dagger; did not OF a truth know
that It was not here. But be Gays
there was no light for perhaps ten
minutes"
Sue had turned toward the door
to MP room. Suddenly she said:
1T Is therel The sword Is on
the clock again"
Everyone else looked at once. 1
shot one look aE Sue. It was d very
BRIEF look. but It was enough. !
knew suddenly that was right. Sue
herself had cleaned that dagger
and replaced IL
A torrent Of French broke out,
and I watched the faces and strain.
ed my ears for words that knew.
Finally the young ofiicer turned
again TO me.
Monsieur VIII remain here,
please. and hold himself at the dis
position OF the police. There win
be Investigation
| said shortly that understood.
After all. they didn't mean to clan
me into Jan on suspicion. as rye
been given to understand Is the pre-
rogative Of the French police.
It was just a. the Young oficer
was detachlng the tiny sword from
the soldiers grasp and wrapping i,
carefully IN q handkerchief that 4
commotion arose In the corridor.
Il grew louder. the young oiflcer
and Marcel dsrtea to the door to
look and then stepped back, and the
commotion resolved itself into sew.
eral policemen. he dark little maid
weeping. Father Robart. and 4 bun.
die OF shawis topped BY what ap.
peared TO be q large white cabbage
In = stage Of imminent dissolution.
Z said; ~Afy God. do you intend
to hold Q court Of inquiry here In
my bedroomf Has man no privacy
IN Francef First = murder at my
door. then an attack on my life.
and now 49,.
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fCepsssAt 1855. Afssnoa o. EserAaysl