The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-09-09
Chapter AZ
ON THE STAIRWAY

ON The STAIRWAY
THE car had been ordered to wal
4 half block away. where ColiI
was to rejoin 1t and then continue
on to Spinelli's.
He followed Buck 0'Mara nov
along the alleyway that fianked tn,
tobacco store, and turned into TIL
lane behind. It was intensely dark
but as they began to skirt the real
of the building he could distinguish
the outline Of door. They passed
this-and halted before another on
a few yards farther en-.
He remembered what Benny Ma
lone had said. The first door was til,
one common to the mob; this one
Of course, was the private entrances
to the quarters above that were sa
cred to the big shots. He would yer!
much like to see those quarters. Blu
would Buck O'Mara invite him in
side. or would he be told to wait on
here for the money he was to take
to Spinelli?
Buck O'Mara had been fumblinl
In the darkness with his key. HI
opened the door and stepped inside
'Shut the door after you. and FOL
low me-" he said; it'll save me
coming downstairs again"
Colin obeyed--and then, unher
aided. as he moved across the
threshold into an unlighted interior
q sudden inspiration flashed int
his mind. His brain was virile, work
/. Ing at lightning speed now.
Suppose that instead Of merely
visiting these quarters as he wal
now obviously going o do. he coulC
. spend q night herei He would give /
great deal to spend a night In tn,
Wine Press! Much might come O.
! Il. or nothing might come of 1t. bu
It held untold possibilities.
There was Buck O'Mara himself
for instance. After what had hap
pened in the last few hours. o'Mars
was almost certain to communicate
with the Mask tonight. Would 1t b.
from here? How?
The night might answer those
uuestions--and others--if only be
could stay here! And there was al
least possible way whereby he
might succeed In doing so. he
meant to try 1t now anyway. It was
too big q chance to lose.
II the ruse worked, It worked: II
II failed. he lost nothing. for Ger.
tainly now. with the events OF the
early part OF the night to endorse
him. Clarke Lunn would hardly be
suspected OF guilel
His arm had been bleeding a little
again on the ride In. He had felt
the blood soaking through the ban.
dage. but II had not run down on his
hand. Buck O'Mara had not noticed
it--and he. Colin. had said nothing
about 1t. It would take very little to
start the blood flowing as profusely
40 ever: Il would look infinitely
worse than It really was. and
A light went on. Buck o'Mara was
mounting flight OF stairs whose
rather shabby carpet. Colin noted,
was strictly In keeping with the Bar.
neys' floor coverings downstairs.
-Come on" o'Mara called over
his shoulder.
sSurel" said Colin--and. gripping
his coat sleeve. wrenched at the ban,
dage underneath. he felt the ban
daga give-and. by the time he bad
mounted. three or four more steps
q trickle or blood upon his hand
He kept his hand behind bis back
II would not look serious enough
yet.
u EEPING close behind the other
~ he reached the topmost staii
and stepped out into what proved tC
be . narrow hallway earpeted like
the stairs--and here Buck o'Mara
spoke again:
swat here. Clarke" he directed
-lt'il take mo two or three minutes
to set the kale. and then you can SC
back the way you came"
"Surel- said Colin for the second
time.
And then. as Buck 0'Mara moved
away along the bail. Colin squeezed
at bis wounded armand bit hls
lips. II was paining now-bnt the
blood was flowing freely. His hand
was red with Il. AS for the rest