The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-04-05
Chapter 3
THE SWORD CLOCK

THE SWORD CLOCK
I WAS sitting facing the windows
= which. in turn. faced the court
They we're curtained up to about the
height of mans shoulders.
The outside shutters had not been
closed. and was looking Idly at the
black. shining window. which re
flected. above. the crystal. bedecked
chandelier. and thinking that the
wind was increasing in violence. FOR
could hear It rattle the shutters,
when | suddenly perceived that
was looking straight into the face
of Lovschiem. | could see only the
upper half Of his face. bur It was un,
mistakable.
The rather disturbing thing was
he was staring with curious inten.
sity at the woman with the silver
heels. l put down the glass / held.
and the motion caught his eyes
which fiickered to me and vanished
in the same half second,
It had been Lovschiem, in flesh
however: / was sure OF that. But il
a man wishes to look in the window.
of HIS own hotel l suppose he NAV
do so. unpleasant though his gau
may be. hfl
I loitered a little over some pears
rather hoping the girl with the sill,
yer heels would leave first. SO /
night get a glimpse Of her face. Bill
she did not move. even after thu
porter had cleared the table and dis
appeared.
I rose at length, rejecting thar
after all. 1t was better to let the
vision of beauty remain without
running the risk'of establishment
and that the room was CROWN,
colder and colder.
The lounge was deserted, and thu
parlor was dark. told the porter
20 light a fire in my room and serve
me coffee and brandy there.
The night had Increased in VIC.
ience while l sat at dinner, and
when at length | opened the door
that led into the window.lined cor,
ridor OF the north wing. the cold
rush OF air swooped upon me hike
some frightened creature let loose
was glad enough to see the porter
when he followed me a few moments
later.
ITO you think It will burn?" /
asked. watching him lay kin
ding. He glanced obviously toward
the chimney. said something about
the north wind. and shrugged and
pulled down his mouth In that splen.
did French gesture which utterly
disclaims responsibility for what
may occur.
There aren't many guests at the
hotel?" 1 said.
"No. monsieur. Not at this season.
We have now Miss Tally. Madame
Byng. Pore hobart. and yourself.
That Is ALL" He blew vigorously at
the small beginning flame. His alert
dark face grew scarlet before fame
shot up. and he took q breath and
sat back on his heels with his dark
eyes now catching lights from the
IRE and his whiteapron draped over
his knees.
miss Tally. she Is the beautiful
lady In the dining room tonight The
one with the red slippers. Madame
Byng. she IL tho" he hesltated
donbtfully and finally said neatly
''she Is the other one"
A shutter banged. and the porter
skipped to his feet and across the
room. pulling open the long window
and letting In q blast OF wind that
set the flames dancing madly and
smoke billDwing into the room while
no endearored to fasten the shutter
more securely. l judged be did not
succeed. for he gave another shrrg
and left It. fastened the window
again. and drew the thick red cur
taius across Il
MY gaze wandered idly about the
ava room. over the thick worn red
carpet. the old chairs with their
satin upholstery and what looked
10 be handcarved frames. the fancy
crystal bedecked chandelier. the
great somber wardrobe. the gilt.
Framed mirror above the fireplace.
the gay French clock on the mantel
mot much clock. bur deliberately
surmounled BY the figure or a man
on horseback In br6nze.
II must have been Just about then
that I fell into a doze. for the last
thing l remember was looking at
the figure In bronze. so perfect and
complete, with the horses name and