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

BY FRANK 4. PACKARD

49, y
that remained to be scent The stage
was set, anyway.
His eyes searched swiftly around
him. Buck 0'Mara had disappeared
through the doorway of the farther
one of the only two rooms that led
off from the hall-and had even left
the door open behind him. A gesture
on O'Mara's part that cost nothing
since from O'Mara's casual refer
ence to the emergency safe It was
certainly no secret from the rank
and file that there was one herel
The two rooms. Of course. were
the two bedrooms Of which Benny
Malone had spoken, and which OBJ
yiously looked out on the alleyway,
since they were on his left.
On his right was a sort OF hetero
geneous wall, some of it ornate In
both plaster and wood, relics nc
doubt OF the old Wine Press in its
heyday-and some of it of newer
but cheap construction, undoubted.
Iy the parsimonious handiwork OF
old Keppelstein when he had made
the building into two.
At the far end of the hall was an
other stairway-the one, of course,
that led to the Barneys' quarters be
low, and that he had seen when he
had come in through the tobacco
store. Nothing else!
It was bit bizarre, of course,
with its two stairways and its crazy
quilt wall: but. since these were
readily explainable to anyone as be-
ing but an inheritance from the old
Wine Press. there was nothing else
about the place to excite comment.
let alone suggest that it was the lair
of gangster and mob leaders.
His inspection at an end. Colin
moved over and leaned against the
wall. A minute, two. another passed.
His eyes were on the doorway Of
Buck O'Mara's room now-and he
was nursing his arm and hand. and
sagging heavily against the wall as
Buck O'Mara, carrying a large.
bulky envelope in his hand. stepped
out into the hall.
Buck o'Mara came to an abrupt
halt. Mechanically he took the cigar
cite he was smoking from his
mouth.
"What the hell" he calculated.
Colin swayed little.
arm sorry. Buck" he protested.
Il didn't mean to let you down. I'll
feel kind of weak"
WITH a Derplexed scowl Buck
w O'Mara crossed the hall and
fronted Colin. He stared at Collins
hand.
"Why didn't you tell me about
this before7" he demanded.
II did" said Colin. "In the cabin
"But you said It wasn't anything
u didn't think It was. Then. my
arm began to bleed-bad." He was
jerking out his words heavily.
"Some OF the mob put a bandago on
It for me. and 1t stopped. But com.
Ing back in the car It began a little
again and"
'Well." Buck O'Mara cut in blunt.
ly. why didn't you say something
about 1t then?s
Colin clutched vaguely at the wall
-steadied himself.
saw. say. I didn't want TO WEIGH
on you" he explained earnestly. ut
wasn't bad enough for that-only
drop or two. It was only when was
coming up the stairs there that II
got like this. The-bandage must've
slipped or-something."
Buck O'Mara laughed out shortly.
swell. anyway. you're not as bad
on as Bennyl" he flung out. 81 guess
you're some kid. all right"
1T don't amount to anything" as
serted Colin weakly. except that ]
Pm afraid couldn't get very far
right now. It's only that kaie for Spi.
nelli I'm thinking Of. Gee. I'm sorry
about this. Buck"
Forget thatl" said Buck O'Mara
crispiy. Barney can attend to II.
But I can't send you to q hospital
with . gunshot wound even II It's
not serious. so It looks like you'd
have to rest up here for few hours.
I'd let you stretch out in that ether
room only I'm expecting Helmie1l
blow In. and want It. But there's the
sofa downstairs in Barney's parlor
that you can have. and Mrs. Bar.
ney'll tlx your arm up for you
Collins right hand went TO his
wounded forearm-and frightened
over sleeve and bandage. He had
lost al the blood he cared to sparel
He knew q sense OF exultation.
Nothing might come Of It: but at
least he had won the FIRST trick--he
would spend the rest o: the night in
the Wine Press.
fcopyricAt, 1853. Fraak Z, Packard
Monday. Colin aets SEINE aavies
from MIRA. earney.