The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-02-02
chapter as
LEILA CANE EXPLAINS

Chapter IS
LEILA CANE EXPLAINS
Il DID not tell anybody" shouted
. Mrs. Lodely.
"But you made It your business
to get a copy OF the wire, in the
firms name. I SUPPOSED" demanded
Farrell.
"Yes did, Mr.. Farrell Armitage,
and I'd do 1t again. And moreover
I said to myself it's clear Babs and
Mark'll marry one day. They're cut
out for each other. And II poor
old Sylvia gets this money she'll
move right away and those two poor
kids'll be parted So kept 1t and
| waited. And what business It has
all been of yours, I shall never IN.
derstandI"
"And father goes to Jail or hands
Barbara forty.hve thousand odd or
perhaps he goes TO, JAIL. anyways"
put in Leila. "That the idea,
FarrellT". ~ Fl
II was Marks thin voice that
answered her while Farrell was
choosing his words.
1--WE been painting to hear why
you've been brought up for trial. at
all. Leila. Now that Judy has been
let OF with a caution, don't doubt
your case will come on next. Are
you. by any chance. your fathers
keeper?"
Leila" snapped Armitage, made
It clear to me from the first that
she ASSOCIATED herself from what
she suspected to be her fathers
attitude. l think It was an extremely
difficult thing for her to convey but
she conveyed Il. / don't know why
she should have had any suspicious
10 start with"
Il heard Mrs. Quentin asking
father about the shares; and | think
that, like Judy. must have remem-
bered that telegram and father read.
ing 1t. And then, four or Eve years
ago, l met man at a dance here
in Town. He asked me about Kings
Mallard; did I know the Quentins?
He said they'd bought some worth.
less shares from q pal OF his once,
out OF sheer decency. and then sud
denly gold was found, after the pal
: was dead. That" Leila.s cool tones
became even cooIef-swaa, as say.
quite five years ago."
"The reason / asked you 10 be
present" put in Armitage with
slight impotence. "was this. It's OBJ
vlously going to be best to dodge
publicity. II you1l put the whole
business before your father he'll be
able to make restitution over a con.
venient period: there's no doubt
Barbara win let him have time."
He broke OF. Sounds were coming
from Mrs. Lodely that were almost
coherent.
-Four or ave years ago, did you
say Leila7 Did you say II was as
long ago as that that you first had
an inklin' Of what your father had
been up tot All / can say Is, you
don't seem to have hestlrred your.
self. in spite OF being considered so
splendid"
''T'm not in the least splendid.
ASSURE you. On the contrary, when
was in Kings Barn the other day
got hold Of Judy's copy OF the tele-
gram to Quentin, Lodely and Cane
and I-discussed It with father.
Keep quiet one minute. Judy. d'you
mindf Father saw the force OF my
argument when I said that on q
capital OF forty-flve thousand odd he
could allow mo at least Ave hundred
q year more. ! think he rather ad.
mired me-"
A rising shrek OF laughter came
from where Marks face gllnted
narrowly white against rugs and
cushions.
"I've never in my life been as
amused as am tonight adore you,
Leila. for amusing me sol"
do you mean to say, Leila. that,
with absolute proof in your hand,
you enjoyed money that Is indis-
patahly Barbara'sf" demanded Far.
rell harshly.
Guilty. my lord"
II adore You for amusing me so"
gasped Mark. "Yes. really am
laughing. Armitage. not Just doing
what can to add TO the general
diseomfture Leila the little pro
vlneial gatecrasher. getting her
fingers into the tim And now che
and her dear papa win have to eeono.
miEe.n