The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-05-04
Chapter %
BATTING FATHER hobart

FATHER RoBART looked down
and hastily swerved just In time
to prevent Pucci's sudden transla-
tion to undoubtedly a warmer spot.
Pucci croake6 again and fluttered
strugglingly upward to chair and
!. looked at the priest with his sus-
PIGEONS confirmed.
The priest in the meantime nut.
tered something that sounded very
much like Curse the bird" and was
most unsuitable to his cloth. and
had regained his threatened balance.
aWhy. Father Robart!" / muir,
INJURED in a reproaching way.
He stood, a long black figure. with
the wind sweeping the skirts Of his
robe outward and threatening his
shallow shovel hat. In spite of his
trappings he looked anything but
pious.
Still, priests are but normal. and
perhaps the mysterious illness that
had brought him to Armene had
made him a little more peevish than
ordinary. Peevish. however. was
scarcely the word; the man was
glowering Town at me. he was fairly
bubbling with wrath. but he was
still silent.
Father Robart!" / said again In
gentle reproach. 'Such words from
q man of God.--May ! trouble You
for match?"
His rage dubbed over at once.
He took a menacing step or two
toward me. his long black arms look.
ing. must say. anything but feeble.
Il suppose" he said. "that you've
told the police
"No. Not yet"
''Why?"
"Why what?"
He forced himself, thought, to
take long breath and to become
steady.
"Why have you not told the police
what you've just told mel" he
asked more coolly, but with the still
look deepened in his light eyes.
Il haven't had time." said with
degree Of honesty. Il had more I'm
portant matters to explain to them
yesterday. But it's my duty. Of
course. to inform them Of IL"
1T doesn't natter" said Father
hobart. Having no alibi Is moth.
Ing"
Nothing at ALL" Iagreed. "Stiil,
! suppose the police Will ask-why
has this man been at some pains
to prepare q false alibi?"
"a QUESTION that Is easily
, answered" he said coldly.
I'm these unsettled times. when the
Church itself Is assailed. 1t Is IN.
wise for men or the Church to per.
init themselves to be entangled In
any way with such things ass
He made a gesture toward the north
wing OF the hotel. with its shining
glass wall looking down at US and
the little iron stairway at its end.
"As that" he said conclusIvely.
Keeping myself completely clear
OF the thing was merely another
duty. Mr.. Sunbeam, which yoa who
talk so giIbly and Familiarity OF duty
will understand" with which he
said good-morning in q way which
limited at triumph and turned sweep
ingly away.
The dignity Of his departure was.
however. somewhat married by the
cockatoo's making q sudden clutch
at his soutane with . long gray
claw. and hanging or for dear life.
and squawking Ike very devil. and
having to be forcibly released.
During the releasing l think he
nipped the priest slightly. for the
priest uttered suddenly an enraged
ejaculation AID put bis finger IN
his mouth In q most rndignified
way, and altogethe- Il was . con.
fused moment CT two before Father
hobart resumed bis exit. which
was. then. q ruffIed and rather
hasty affair and gave me some
small pleasure.
PuecI. perchIng on the chair. gave
me q diabolicaiiy knowing look.
shook his feathers gleefuiiy. and III
bat chnekied. Il vas possible. Il
occurred TO me. that 10 had nas.
aEal antipathy for churehly vest.
ment.
And what. said Sue behind me.
-did yoa DO to Father Rohars7s