The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-04-28
Chapter "a
THE SILENT PRIEST

Gnapter 20
THE SILENT PRIEST
III GOT up on my elbow and peered
toward the door, and finally rose
silently and vent to it. The table
which had again placed before II
was undisturbed.
Mice" ! told myself ~Ip the
walls. The place Is full OF them,
probably And went hack to bed.
But not this time to sleep. Among
several cher things determines to
get few quiet words with Marcel
in the morning.
should also Femember TO ask
Loyschiem for q key to my room.
After all, keys existed, and myself
intended to make no casual matter
OF 1t.
There was something decidedly
unpleasant about that deserted
wing and now that the Wind had
gone down I particularly Aisliked
the way various creals and small
mysterious rustles came 10 life.
With dawn ! fell asleep again and
woke late to gray and troublous
day.
When Marcel brought my coffee
and some very hard rolls I began:
Marcel, you know. Of course,
that I'm In rather bad Ok ab0ut
this murder7"
Oh, yes. he knew.
well, 1t develops that It is Of the
utmost Importance to both Miss
Tally and me to discover every.
thing possible about the murder.
myself am in some danger Of being
hanged for it--or guiIlotiped Or
whatever they do-and Miss Tai
Iy--"
Miss Tally Is In danger, also,,'
finished Marcel quickly, bis eyes
swapping sMe, ] know that
We'll, them I said slowly. y
won't press you, Marcel, but want
you to think It over. Miss Tally
says you have been very kind to her
--perhaps, when you consider the
matter for a time you may-eE--s
recall something you've seen or
heard that win help us discover the
real murderer"
He nodded soberly.
You know, then thet I aidR't
90 it,"
had gone too Ear.
Monsieur Il not . eFimipal,r said
Marcel. II cannot say more but /
will think. It is possible--perhaps.
Monsieur would like his bath now?"
And after running the tub full OF
almost lnkewarm water ne left
abruptly. There was about his de-
ipartnre q suggestion Of escape, and
i could only hope that his liking Tor
Sue Tally would work In our favor.
wanted TO help Sue, OF course. but
at the same time there's no use
denying that I wanted quite as
much to help myself.
The hotel had been deserted
when I first came down in the morn
ing; only PLcci cooked q suspicious
eye toward me as went through
the lobby. But when returned
from my walk Madame Grethe was
At the desk--her eyes looked very
green and knowing. and she smiled
secretiyely as she spoke to me--and
Mrs. Byng and the priest were sit-
ting in the lounge. Mrs. Byng was
knitting furiously on some enor-
nous garment.
THE place was silent except Tor
> the priests newspaper rustllng
now and then and Mrs. Byng's
needies clicking. I looked up; the
skylight was gray and the encircllng
galleries were empty and bare and
the doors blank. It was not. 10 say
the least a cheerful spot. and II
was rather appalling TO think thai
we'd all got to stay there until the
police gave us permission 70 leave.
sat down fairly near the priest.
got ont my cigarettes; paccl
transferred his attention to the
watch on my wrist.
I'm sorry" said. across the OBJ
vious barrier OF the newspaper.
@But-mey I have q matchG"
Mrs Byng's needles clicked, and
she gave me sharp look. and her
equine nose lifted a little as q Il
snined battle. The priests aewspa.
per rustled reluctantly as he shifted
Il TO one hand. The flaming radl-
ance OF his beard came into view,
he reached for the box % matches
lying before him on the small IA.
bic and passed II over to me.
Thanks marmured. M my
cigarette. and as he immersed him.
SELF In the newspaper at once. 4
persisted: "You speak English.
them"
He gave me q morose look from
the edge OF the newspaper.