The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-11-10
Chapter Al
DANGEROUS STORY

DANGEROUS STORY
CAROLINE shut her eyes. She felt
0odd and light. like soap-bubble
that is Just going to fly away.
When she opened them again, the
Inspector was sitting at the writing
table. He had sheet Of paper be-
fore him and pen in his hand. Jim
was sitting opposite to him. and
Major Anderson was standing with
his back to the mantelpiece. HeSwas
frowning as Caroline opened her
eyes. He said,
Before you make statement l
had better tell you that Mr.. Van
Berg is expected to recover con-
eclousness any time during the next
few hours"
The inspector was full OF disap-
prevail. The law had been complied
with: Mr.. Randall had been warned.
II he ran his head into moose, so
much the worse for him. and so
much the better for the law.
Major Anderson's frown deep
ened. He had known Jim Randall
since he was eight years old. He had
dined at Hale Place four times q
year for fifteen years. He wasn't
going to have Jim Randall bucketed
into making a statement without
knowing what he was up against.
"One moment, Inspector" he said.
''Now. Randal-you say you want to
make a statement. Before you do
so think you ought to know that I
saw Mrs. Van Berg this morning.
"Yes?"
She says that on the night OF the
sixth Of August she came down be-
tween eleven and twelve o'clock TO
get q book. She heard voices In the
study. and she now says that she
recognized one Of them as yours"
"Yes." said Jim-"I was there. I
think you had better let me make
my statement. There really isn't any
time to lose. Meanwhile let me tell
you that the man who shot Elmer
Van Berg and lifted the emeralds Is
Jim or Jimmy Riddell. and left him
twenty minutes ago having an inter.
: view with his wife up at st. Leon.
ards Tower. Here's his description.
Five-foot-eight or so--slim-wiry--
two teeth missing in front--iong
nose--long chin-palish - between
thirty and thirty-fve-"
Jimmy the Fell" said the In
spector.
Well. you'd better look quickly
or he'll get away. His wife's maiden
name was Nesta Williams. She's
cousin Of the housekeeper at Pack.
ham Hall. and she's living with
brother. Tom Williams, at Happicot,
Sandringham Drive. Lexington
End
The atmosphere In the room had
changed.
Jimmy the Eel!" said the inspec.
tor under his breath. Then. wed
better get hold Of him. Exuse me.
sir" He lifted the telephone and
spoke into It.
Jim struck in.
"His original idea was to get to
Glasgow. lie low there for bit. and
then get abroad. But / think he's
more likely to hang around here
now-you'll see why presently"
The inspector nodded and went
on with his instructions. Presently
ne hung up the receiver.
''Now, Randall" said Major Ander-
son.
We'll" said Jim. Il landed at Liv-
erpool on the first OF July--but ifI
you've been taking an interest in
me. expect you know that. was In
the wreck of the Alice Arden ON
August eighth, and until about half
an hour ago ! hadn't the remotest
idea of what had happened between
those two dates" He paused, and
added. with one exception"
a WAVE OF excitement swept over
a Caroline. The color rushed to
hercCheeks.
Look here" said Jim. ''can tell
this my own way7 I'll sign a formal
statement afterwards II you want
me to. but I'd like to tell It to you
first Just IS It happened. Can do
thatf'
"Yes." said Major Anderson.
"Carry on"
well then. understand that
was taken to the Elston cottage hos.
pitai. where | kept on repeating the
name Of Jim. or Jimmy Riddell.
They weren't sure at tirst whether
! was saying Rlddeil or Randall. so
they sent out q message with both
names. Next day Mrs. Riddell rolled
up. Identified me as her husband.
and carried me OF.
sNow come TO what do remem.
Der. | woke up next day in q per.
fectiy strange room. A perfectly
strange young woman came In and
assured me that my name was jim.
my Riddell. and that she was my