The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-04-12

IL the wind had net Iuiled Just al
that instant / should not be alive
now. But / heard 1t and moved %
lone side in order TO look over the
curve Of the railing. And at that
very instant there were two SHARP
cracks of a revolver, my fiaehlighe
spun out OF my hand and thuddea
somewhere below. the wind sweoped
down upon the courtyard with q
crash, and every light in the hotel
went out. T ~ '5''
MY hand tingled but wasn't hurt
There was no sound hnt the hurk
ing Of the wind. and found myself
running down the stairway. hold
ing to the railing. There Is no en-
cuse for it. but that Is what did.
I encountered nothing on the
stairway. II It was L0vschaem who
had shot at me-and | thought IL
possible-he would probably either
follow me to finish the lob or seek
to Renter the hotel himself.
He certainly was not apt to re.
enter the hotel by way Of the Wind.
ing stairway and the corridor where
the priest and the porter waited:
If followed the wall cautiously past
the great iron gate below the en-.
trance arch and then around the
corner. opposite. might catch him
at the door of the lobby.
tpY this time I had cooled a tribe,
- and my progress was slower and
more careful. and | wished had
some kind OF weapon. fopschiem
was TAT. however. and out Of condi.
ton. II could get him before he
had time to use hts regolver-again
something brushed my hand This
time 7. was not q shrub. Il was a
rough fabric and an arm, and Il
moved quickly away, and hurled
myself In It's direction. tackiIng low
as In football
fcaught only the flying end OF some
kind OF garment which wrencned
itself out OF my clutch. my kneea
scraped the pavement and there
were three flashes or light from
somewhere on at my left and three
revolver shots that spak vicioasly
through the tnmult. Vaguely ]
thought It was lucky | was fat on
the pavement and waited. There
were no more shots. and the wind
shrIeked. and 1t was black as pitch
everywhere.
wished had had the good sense
to retreat before It was too late.
and got cautiously 20 my knees, then
swiftly to my feet ana ran to my
right few steps. The sound made
by the wind covered mp own eoot
steps. but It also eosered the sound
Of any movement he had made.
Cautiously. sfraining ny ears DO
hear. edged toward the wall or the
north wing. not. however. toward
the corner Of the stairway. Thak
| thought. vas where no would On.
pect me TO 90: It would be natural
for me to attempt 10 escape hy the
way in which l had entered tho
courtyard--aia entrance which. /
realized rather chilllngly, had been
entirely too precipitata. When
someone starts shooting at goa d
the dark and you have 40 meapon
at all. you can't help wlsAlng vehN
mently that yoa were elsewhere
Against the wall with come kinA
Of small tree 10 q tub az one side q
me. waited. r. ne approached
from the side of the shrub would
hear him or feel him and have zone
warnings then. since you'd rather
take a chance than atand still ana
be shot ! could take him parhAps
Unexpectedly and have q better
chance h q ilght.
Presently began 10 work quietly
toward the door 10 the lobby. ne
entrance gates were locked sue had
said; he would not deliberately en-
TER the hotel ~ the north-wsne cor
'rfdor above. and the only place len
WAS the lobby door.
| encountered no one ana heard
nothing but the Wind And / haa
not more than arrived al the lobby
door when the lights snddenlg
flashed up: the light swayine above
the entrance. throwing the court
Into shadows ana empty wAlte
spaces again: the light from my
door above: and now q light d she
lobby beside me.
stepped aside from the door into
the shadow and waited again. There
was nothing 70 be seen but the
shadows and the bending shruAa
and trees n the courtyard.
Defeated and angry. openea the
lobby door. MaaamA her red hasr
shining under the desk light lookes
up at me- q quick lash a Aer green
eyes.
-your husband iuse eama n ~
this door" I said where h her
"No one catered % that aoos.s
she replied cfisply. TIE eockaloo
chartered. and she adaea. -flusA.
PUGET
TcopsysoAt tsss asoaa@ . sA@A4rtl
faa,orrn,s S,.a asave. .v,t,, ,.,,n.