The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-09-29
Chapter IL
sayou SHOT VAN BERG"

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,s9taQ Chapter IL
saYoU SHOT VAN BERG"
NIEsTA laughed.
We'll. that's where ! came in.
You tried pretty hard to make me
believe you were crazy about me.
but you needn't imagine I was such
. fool as to believe you. You were
crazy about the emeralds, and you
needn't have troubled to make love
70 me. because I'd taken the length
Of your foot in the first i've min
utes."
but you married me-"
did yoa think ! was going to
trust you? | married you because !
meant to let my share"
"And why did marry your" said
Gin RlddeIl pleasantly.
Nssta colored high. s.
FOR what you could get out or
me- she said. sYou wanted my help,
andyou thought It was safer" r
tits very interesting" said JIM.
won't you go on?'
=
Interestingly" She struck her Gig.
arctic against the arm OF the chair
and sent the ash flying.
Very. Do you mind telling me
how you helped?"
y was staying with old Caroline
Russell. rye known her all my life
--shs's some sort OF twenty-eighth
cousin. She's been housekeeper al
the Hall since the year one. and she
does what she likes with Mr.. Emit
whistle. When you spoke to me that
day.in the drive"
"Yes?"
Il was going to go next day. be
cause the Van Bergs were coming
Twill say you had . nerve"
what did / dot"
She stared at him resentfuliy.
why you got me to work It sc
that ! stayed on. II was quite easy
for old Caroline. She said was
her cousin and the Van Bergs didn't
care. And then"
and then?"
She reached ont for another Gig
asette. struck match. and looked al
him over the little yellow flame.
fare you trying to make me be.
heye I'm telling you something you
dop't know?"
* can't make you believe any.
thing" said Jim.
She threw the match into the
crate just short OF the spangled
ahayings.
"0h. have II your own way! Do
you want me TO tell you how you
pinched the emeralds?"
He had himself well In hand. He
said coolly:
~ stole themg" !.
Nesta laughed.
aYou make me tired, Jimmy Rid.
deill You stole them?" She tried to
ninic his voice. do you think you
can act the innocent with me like
that after the way I've heard you
talk In your sleep? Why. you've new.
Or stopped talking. and II | hadn't
got You out of that hospital In dou.
Bile quick time. we should all have
been inside She laughed again at
Ai9 blank look and tiung out: "Jus--
quod--stiri Haven't ever done time
] Bupposef Well ron win over this
lyon don't cure yourself OF talking
81 night.r
LIE LEANED forward with his Ell
"A bow on his knee and his chin In
his hand.
"You say | took these emeralds! =
II say you did--and I'll say It was
q pretty nippy bit OF work. Pity yor
shot him. though"
He ierked away from the word.
what are you saying?"
you shouldn't have carried 1
gun. said Nesta maliclously. II saIt
% ell along"
He got up. His spine had gone
cold. He felt the sweat break out
upon his temples.
whats that you're saylng?"
Nesta got up. too.
''rm saying that ron shot Mr.. Var
Berg"
He went over to the mantelpieee
leaning on Il with his two hands
his head bent between them. hi!
eyes staring blankly at the spanglet
nhRxines IN the crate.
what nightmare was thlss He haC
,nrcken Into . house. stolen proper
~ SHOT . man Tor = handful Of greer
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