The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-09-13
Chapter As
FRIENDS MeEr

FRIENDS MEET
THERE was a pause, then Ser.
! geant Mulvey spoke crisply:
Where are you? Uptown or
thereabouts?"
"Yes." Colin returned.
"Ali right. I'll fix it. Go over to the
Kranway- Stratton. One more coming
or going in that lobby'll be lost in the
shuttle. Don't register, Ask the room
clerk for the key to 6OS-Aa Thai amt
the key you'll get. but It'll be the
key to the right room. Go up to the
room and wait for me. I'll be right
along. Get it?"
Yes" said Colin laconically as he
hung up the receiver.
And fifteen minutes later. having
followed cut Sergeant Mulyey's d..
recticns. he found himself the occu.
pant Of a large. pleasant room with
bath on the second floor OF the
DEMONSTRATION. He pulled an
easy chair into position across the
room facing the door and at down to
wait.
He had come to the point, he
realized. where he could no longer
play lone hand--a fact which In
itelf afforded him intense relief. He
needed help now. Police help--the
sort that Detective Sergeant Null.
vey haa at his command. That had
been the basis of the plan he had
evolved last night.
He lighted cigarette. There did
not seem to be flaw anywhere in
the plan. He had gone over 1t de-
tail BY detail dozen times. He
went over 1t again now. It ought to
work II Tim Mulvey picked the
right men, and Tim Mulvey could
be depended upon to do that. 1t
Was
There was q perfunctory knock as
the door opened. Detective Sergeant
Muivey stepped briskly across the
threshold--and came to an abrupt
stop. Then with a suddenly set face,
he shut the door behind him and
planted his sturdy shoulders bellig-
erently against 1t.
"Who the hell are your" he
raped out.
Colin got up from his chair and
held out his hand.
Coming from you. that's a com
pliment. Tim" he laughed. "and
don't say you wouldn't have known
ms'-because You didn't. Inciden-
tally. at the present moment. I'm
Clarke Lunn-all except the voice."
"Well. I'll be damnedl" gasped
Sergeant Mulvey as he caught
Collins hand in hearty grip.
whats the big idea?"
How'd you work this sort Of
thing?" Colin countered as he
waved his hand around the room.
Sergeant Mulvey grinned.
"By special request from the
police" he said. and his grin wild.
ened. THE gags so old It ought to
make hit in one OF your books IL
that's what you're thinking aboutl
! Just get the right number coming
IN. and the floor desk up here's been
tipped OF. Nobody knows who's got
the room. and there's nothink TO
tie as up together. You can talk
your head Oh. and for as long as You
Ike
"All right" said Colin. Lock the
door then. and sit down."
CERGEANT MuLvEY complied.
~ ashootl" no Invited. as Colin al.
90 seated himself. 1T looks like
you'd got something to say. What's
20 aboutf"
Colin did not answer instantly.
II was not only a long story, and
he hardly knew where to begin
but he had Just noticed with some
inward misgivings that Detective
Sergeant MuIvey's left Jaw was
angrily red and swollenl
-weiii- prodded Sergeant Null
vey. Shake II loose. What's e.
about9"
Collins eyes lifted. met Sergeant
Mulvey's. and held the others for
. moment
-The Mask he said quietly.
'would you like 10 land him. Tint"
Sergeant Mulvey leaned tensely
forward IN his chair.
-You mean he asked hair under
his breath. -thai you've got q line
On himS-
"Yes.- said Colin: i've GOT line
on him. But want to say tlrst that
Rsddy was q million times right In
what he said about him, although