The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-09-06
he HIDDEN DOOR

RY FRANK [. PACKARD

zee . Q Q eel
each side of the table-and. thanking
the companionway, locker, whose
top appeared to be catch-all for
everything from nautical instru-
ments and charts to bottles and
glasses.
Dollaire waved his hand toward
the locker.
Help yourselves" he invited with
a grin: "and then you, tell Heimie
how many bottles he can make out
OF one. with the kick she's still
there! BY gar! Me, sometimes
think / will do that like you fellows
before / leave st. Pierre"
"Thanks!" said Buck o'Mara-
and, pouring out a stiff portion,
downed 1t at a gulp.
Benny Malone did likewise.
The bottle was steady in Collins
hand as he poured for himself.
Queer! They were going to kill Dol.
laire in here. And his, Collins, hand
was steady. The fiery three-fingers
was like so much water.
Dollaire took one of the chairs.
Buck O'Mara took the other. facing
Dollaire across the table. Colin.
obedient to nudge. slumped down
beside Benny Malone on the settee
behind Buck o'Mara. Benny Ma,
ione's hand was thrust negligently
into the side pocket of his coat. Dol
laire was in full view from the set
tee.
Buck o'Mara tossed a rubber
banded pile OF crisp new bills down
on the table in front of Dollaire.
Heres the dough" he said. go
ahead and count it"
Dollaire reached for the money
greedily. ripped OFF the rubber band,
and began to count. He counted la
boriously, steadily. wetting his fore
finger on his tongue. At the end he
snapped the rubber band back into
place around the bills.
"She's right" he announced. And
Heimie. he's all right, too. put
this in the safe. Yes? Then we all
have another little drink, eh?"
I'm glad you're satisfied"-there
was a purr in Buck O'Mara's voice.
I'VE wouldn't like you to feel when
you're sitting in with our outfit that
we'd hold anything out on you. or
that you're not getting all that's
coming to YOU"
"Sure. I'm satisfy" grinned Dol
llaire as he stood up. moved over to
the safe and swung its door open.
"Sure, I'm satisfy I'm satisfy"-he
swung suddenly around, revolver
in his hand, his face working with
fury. his voice a snarl-"I'm satisfy.
by God. it is a trick. You moye--one
OF you three-and l shoot. This
money! got lots like this. know
where she come from. She's coun-
terfeit."
mo one moved. The metamor-
l = phosis had been dynamic. almost
instantaneous. In the fraction OF q
second. Dollaire, the condemned, had.
become Dollaire. the executioner.
Dollaire. behind that ugly, unwaver-
ing muzzle. held the whip hand
and DolIaire would not have the
slightest qualm about using 1t.
And then Buck o'Mara spoke.
Jaw. snap out of it," he retorted
coolly. CONTEMPORARY. You sound
like you'd got a leak in your dome
cover. II you think there's anything
phony about that dough. slip 1t back
to me quick. boy. for. say. can use
1t. believe me. Counterfeit hell! It's
so good it's worth a rake-off where
you come from anyhow. What's the
matter with your Have you gone
crazy-or WHAT"
It was an about face-and Colin.
listening. as he stared at the re-
yolver muzzle in Dollaire's hand. did
not need to be told that Buck
0'Mara had no other chance. no
other play to make. Counterfeit
money. So that was 1t. It seemed
as though he could see again Dol
laire's attack upon the club. II
seemed as though he could hear.
from ont of nowhere. the Masks
burst OF laughter as he had con-
ceived this ironic bit OF by-play.
but now? Buck o'Mara perhaps
had not expected that the spurious
money would be recognized at once.
and possibly not at all. in which lat
ter case he had obviously intended
to tannt Dollaire with It Ia the end.
On the other hand. should Dol
Iaire recognize II Of hiSOwn accord.
O'Mara had undoubtedly expected
some sign OF the facA and had In
tended TO act accordNlaly the mo-
ment the sign came. Eu could not
have guessed DolIaire's cunning. q
have anticipated N. lightning
change that came as he Nurned back
10 the room from the de.
There was Dollair..s gun. and
there sat his three visitors.
fcopirSsat. 1855. FrnHk l. Paekardl
remorrew aesiea ssmss assars