The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-04-21
ess.ss.sssss.sss.ssssessss
I The WEnife COCIes1foo

81 Migs0s 6. E9trhdrs

quietly back in the chair again, but
her face had gone rather sharp and
set, and I did not like the look or
her eyes back OF their darkened eye.
lashes. 1t was a good sixty seconds
before she spoke, and in the little
interval PUGET cast me a reproving
glance and then pushed his wide bill
against Grethe's red hair and fiared
his yellow crest.
81 don't understand you, Mr.. Sun.
DEAN" she said at last. Surely YOU
don't think the murder Of last night
had connection with your
It was clear, OF course. that there
was something evil going on in the
old hotel. But / think that, until
that very moment. had not felt SO.
definitely the presence OF widening
and entangling currents.
Z She did not. / think, detect the
course Of my thoughts. although her
green gaze was very sharp. said
quietly but more cautiously:
mo, ] don't think anything of the
kind. While ] may not be particu-
larly welcome guest, still don't
think anyone - would go to the
trouble Of numbering a man in order
to get rid OF me. BY the way-who
was the murdered man?"
Il don't know" she said in a tight
voice; narrowed eyes watched my
face. 'sDo your"
{ II? Absufd!' You know that. But
another question, madame" IN my
turn ] leaned toward her. "Why
were you anxious to keep me from
arrest last night?"
Ter smooth lids went down
= again. but not before I'd caught
look that warned me. She rose,
and ] rose too, naturally, and the
move brought her very close to me.
So near that ! could feel the warmth
OF her body. Her lips were parted a
little, and her eyes, lifted again to
mine, were very bright and shining.
1T should not be difIicult to md
the answer for that" she said SOFTLY.
| She would be plant and warm and
exciting in my arms. I wondered
feetingIy how soon / could replace
the family triumphant look I'd
caught in her eyes with something
quite different.
] tossed my cigarette into the Are.
took the cockatoo from her Shout.
der and set him on the chair near
and bent over her mouth.
But 1t waited for me, and i
Strengthened suddenly without
touching 1t or her.
Madame" / said pleasantly, zig
more than kind. Madame is also
beautifuI. The cockAtoo is eating
fringe or the chair"
He was actually doing Just that.
IN . heaven inspired moment but
with q very dubious look. He took
another bite without eagerness but
philosophicaily. as II IN scientific
pursuit one must put up with d poor.
tasting bite now ana then. and Ma.
dame Grethe looked at me.
I was rather interested to note
that there was nothing but d kind
OF family surprised curiosity in her
gaze. Then she laughed little,
turned and picked up the cockatoo--
he resisted out Of pure deviitry.
stretching out his neck for more
fringe and soualling. but her hands
were firm about him--and she faced
me again. still sniiiing.
And Monsieur" she said, SIS a
very reckless young man. Good
night.
! opened the door for her. she
held out her hand to me. still smil.
ing. and think genuinely amused
and not In the least angry. bowed
very low over her hand, and she
turned gracefully into the corridor.
and ] closed the door behind her
and took q long breath ana hoped
she wouldn't meet Sue. At least
until she was at a considerable dis.
lance from my room.
/ was thinking OF Sue when I
heard her knock on the door. AS I
opened It she was looking rather
flxedly al the spot on the corridor
floor where the dead man had hud-
died. She looked small and quiet
and frightened. and took her hand
and pulled her quickly into the room
and closed the der.
Were the corridors creepy" I
said. "Come over to the tire."
She shiv4red and said yes rather
breathlsssly and sat down In the
chair had Just left.
"Tt's very queer" said Sue. "But
Tor me last week or two I've been
rlditulonsly nervous about going
through these half-dark corridors. I
keep feeling that there's someone
coming along behind me. or looking
out Of closed doors"
fcopDrieAt. 1855. MlSAon q. EAaAarl1