The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-05-10
Chapter SO
THE COFFIN

THE COFFIN
THE police had discovered the
\ owner Of the gun. It was man
by the name of Michael Straysky.
And a photograph Of the dead man
had been mailed to the gunsmith.
and he had said that without doubt
IL was picture of the man who
bought the gun.
THAT must be the murdered man,
then" said. Michael Stravsky."
Lorn nodded. His face was Inn
passive as ever, but think he was
actually as excited over the develop
ment as | was.
"And 1t was a bullet from that gun
that killed Marcel?"
yes. They extracted two bullets,
and it was that gum"
But the man was dead long be-
fore that gun was used to kill Mar.
eel II the murdered man was
Stravsky that very fact links the
murderer OF Stravsky and the muir
derer Of Marcel. Stravsky's muir.
derer searched his pockets, took the
dead mans gun, among other things,
and later user the gun on little Mar.
cell
Perhaps" said LOrn. "Ee would
feel safe in getting rid Of It as he did,
Simply tossing 1t to the lounge door,
knowing that, even II It were traced,
It could do him no damage. / tell
you, Sunbeam. this is an exceptional
criminal. It took nerve to DO that.
i 1T took" said holly, thinking Of
Marcel, "a devil. thought the gun
would eventually prove to belong to
4 the priest"
4 thought so myself" said Lorn.
He pulled his coat tighter about him.
We were talking IN the courtyard.
Inside in the little lobby were sew.
eral policemen with Lovschiem, TAT
and protestant and frightened IN the
midst Of them, and Madame Grethe
listening coldly at one side.
Why are they questioning 10y.
schiem now? Trying to discover II
he knew the mani"
Il suppose 50" said Lorn without
much interest.
DO you think he did?"
Il don't know. It's possible"
"Straysky-he might have been IN
cahoots WITH the priest"
Lorn nodded impatientiy, as IL /
were very slow ct arriving at the
conclusion.
There's another thing" he said.
The poison was q compound Of
nicotine. No. nor" he forestalled
my Inquiries Quickly-athat's all /
know now. I'm OF to the police sta
ton. Perhaps I'll know more when
I get back. Ah.h-p'
He hesitated and looked q little
embarrassed. &c n he had juat re-
membered his more pressing duty,
and then said: ~You don't mind iuat
keeping an eye on Miss tally. do
your"
didn't mind. But I believe I
managed 70 say so without undue
warmth.
IN the haIl upstairs I met sue. she
= looked tired and pale even In that
dim light. and hadn't. she told me,
slept weiI.
Il felt--haunsed." she said and
then laughed D little TREMENDOUSLY.
Wen, ] had felt that way mysslf.
said:
I'm delegated to keep an eye
on You this morning. Lorn wanta
70 hobnob with the police
'sThe polloe7 Have they made any
dlscoTeries7"
Briefly told her what they were,
and she listened thoughtfully. After
a moment she shrugged her shout
ders.
$3.50 y = AtstaAA4& ~ C3u W. sup
pose, but wait." she said. "But the
inactivity Is rather bad.--come. :
she said suddenly. aYcu must see
the show piece. I'll show yOu the
famous Pope's piano"
I followed her through the dim
corridor. admirlnE as I went her
graceful smooth carriage. the slope
Of her shoulders. the proud way
her head bent on her slender neck.
II was just at the turn from the
middle corridor into the north wing
that an unexpected thing occurred.
she was wearing again the gray
tweed suit and crimson scarf at her
throat. and as she entered the north.
wing door the scarf fioated out,
caught on projecting latch