The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-05-13

that brought Francis Tally after
her. suppose we all moved TO
watch them cross the lounge.
Grethe led the way up the stairway.
her body undulating gracefully
under the green silk, and her red
hair cleaning. But even cool Ma
dame Gretthe had not wished to use
the tiny elevator that hung there.
Then turned 20 Lorn. But he
was suddenly withdrawn, his eyes
yelled, his expression exactly as ami
mated as that Of o chair.
"Did yon know he was coming?"
| asked quickly.
He did not look offended at my
Implication that he was concealing
that important bit of knowledge
from Sue and from me-a knowl.
edge that. II he had had. in fairness
he ought to have shared.
"No." he said quietly. II didn't
know"
"This puts a different complexion
on the affair"
Eyes" agreed Lorn remotely. I
wondered what he was thinking,
but the unwontedly disconnected
look had entirely left him--had left.
in fact, so completely that doubted
whether ithad ever been there. He
added:
"In the meantime we may as well
go to lunch. After all. one must eat"
IT WAS a strained and dreadful
meal. Not even the food was
good. for Paul's hysterical nerves
had apparently had their outlet in
burning what was burnable and sea-
soning too wildly or not at all. The
hors d'oeuvres were dat and taste
less, the fish crisp. and the only
thing entirely edible was the cheese.
Marianne came and went, still
sullen and dark and wary.
And the four Of as In that still
cold dining room tried to eat and
drink like civilized people when I've
no doubt our combined desire was TO
fee from the place. Mrs. Byng did
not arrive at all.
The priests table was still by
some oversight set with the silver
and glasses of the previous night.
and 1t was rather dreadful to see II
there. facing me. and remember how
I'd last seen that flaming red beard.
That thought spoiled even the
cheese, and eat there crnmbling
bread and not wishing. somehow, TO
leave the room until sue left.
Il was true that she ought to be
safe now, II she was ever safe. with
her brother and his detective, &C
the same time ] was perfectly
aware that Francis TaIly's unex.
pected arrival might well give q
last horrible impetus to the dread
ful wheel that was revolving 90
ruthlessly, guided by unsee hands.
there In the black depths Of the old
hotel.
Francis Tally himself was admir-.
ably cool. He was also stole. for he
ate his lunch, crisp tish and all. with
gusto. The two. Sue and the new.
conner, talked very little. and their
every word was plainly audible in
the silent white room and consisted
Of commonplace.
/ He told her what boat he'd sailed
on: and when he'd landed three
days previously. IL appeared. She
assured him in that stiff voice thar
did not belong to her that, yes. It
was cold. And, yes, the wind was
apt to blow like this for week ct
q time.
II was directly after lunch that
Sue and her brother retired 70 the
parlor. LoTn. always Q BIZ mysteri.
Gus. became suddenly more mysteri.
Gus and. u seemed 70 me. more &C
tive and even q little agitated under
that mysteriousness. he disap.
peared before could get Q word with
him. Not that I really wanted Just
then. TO hear his customarily upper.
tnrhed half-statementa
For | had even then that feeling
or approaching climax: OF haste: 0e
urgency. There were things that
must be ionA II tbs visws that I
was beginning vaguely 60 entertain
proved to be faulty and clumsy and
eatirely incorrect. why. then. no
one but myself should eveF know e.
n was anllen. breeding Marianne
iwho found me IN the dark corridor
near the dead priests room. waiting
| my chance 10 dodge the policeman
| on guard and enter. ! wanted "a
search for myself.
Marianne indicated that was to
follow her. and when We reached
1.-THE lobby l found the entire estab.
IIlshment gathered there. We we're
| It seemed. going 20 the police
fcepEvagAf 1855 Mteaoa O, ResrAaxtI
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