The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-08-19
Chapter "a
THE BATTLE BEGINS

AEENhM<AANHt a mOmeuL or mental
~ torment came and passed Ire.
placed by reassuring thought that
dashed into his. mind. The launch
vas well hidden in the shadows
back there along the river. and It
was not at all likely that any search
would be made for It.
The only risk on this score was
the chance Of contact with, and rec
cknition BY. Larocquet and Bolduc,
tut these two men here were not
Larocaue and Bolduc, and from what
they had said be gathered that. hav.
ipk now been rendered innocuous.
As would be left where he was. and
that they were calIousIy Indifferent
aktO what became of him afterward.
Fer the time being then, at least.
thik meant safety for Germaine,
thank God!
The gag in his mouth, distorting
Biz Mps and jaws. brought him bru-
al discomfort: his wrists felt
rltmbs where the belt was dashed
around them. He strained q little at
the lashing Intellectually: but other.
wise he made no movement. His
eyes fastened on the two men. They
were standing within foot or two
Of him. Both were armed with what
locked like sawed-off shotguns-the
butt OF one Of which he had no
doubt, had crashed against his skull
not 60 very long ago. They were 81.
lent now. saying nothing waiting.
His eyes searched past the two
men. The power house. which be
could still see from where he lay,
was, as Bouchard had said, only a
few yards away from the club-per-
hnps forty at the outside. Trees, ris-
Ing from the slope OF the river bank,
showed between the two buildings;
but Just beyond the power house
there was an open space where
there we're no trees, and It seemed
~ though he could catch in the
moonlight q glimpse Of white. tum-
bling water.
There was no sign OF any Of the
retk Of Dollaire's men. nothing to In
dictate where they might be sta
toned. Cor. except for that single
open space beyond the power house.
The entire clearing was bordered BY
wooded land.
Ills glance rested on the two men
again for an instant. and then. &c
though Ia = sort Of premonitory fas-
elnation. bis eyes fixed and held on
the clubhouse In front Of him. De.
tails we're Of no consequences. but
be found them registering them.
solves on bis mind in an extraneous
sort Of way. What difference did ii
make that the club was built In the
style OF q bungalow, that II was
roomy and large. that Il had q yer.
anda on at least the two sides that
he could see. and that
"A Low whistle came suddenly
"A from somewhere near at hand.
n was answered by one Of the two
men. A form came into view through
the trees.
''That you, Paul7" demanded the
voice Of the man who had called
himself ChTistophe.
"surel. replied the newcomer.
s:lt's me Tor sure. You ara all ready.
Jon two. ehi"
HHeili" II was Baptiste'a voice
this time surly with complaint.
How much longer do we waitya
The newcomer laughed II 8 sort
cg ugly mirth.
"Just long enough for me 70 tell
you what you are 10 do-when you
are through here. He has done well.
Dollairs. He has, The man broke
OF abruptly. and. stepping suddenly
forward, peered down &C Colin.
"who the devil u thisg"
"one OF the gang here that We
caught on his way over to the club"
christophe answered. we gave him
alittis tap on the head to keep him
quiet. and then stuffed his mouth
and tied him like you see"
:"Goodl" applauded the man who
answered TO the name Of Paul.
THAT win be one less TO begin with.
Now. llsten. and | VIII tell you. That
fellow Bonchard says that the man
named Kenniston who runs toe club.
and another man named LaEarre.
are the only ones In the clubhouse
ever there now, and that the rest are