The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-05-22
CHAPTER II
ENTER MAS. DUFREsNE

CHAPTER Il
ENTER MAS. DuFREsNE
RoYLE left Sergeant" Clymer
answered.
did he do any telephoning?"
enc. sir. We heard your orders
about that"
Harper nodded. He supposed that
ths reporter had become anxious
and nervous about his SCOOP" and
had some ont to try to ind another
telephone. As be turned to his work,
there came the sound of hurried
steps entering the hall. doors
slammed, and woman's voice cried
out, Historically. pierre! Pierre!"
she walled, where is he? Oh, where
10 he?"
The detective understood IN q
fash why Doyle had left the house.
Laboring under the delnsion that Du.
fresno had been killed. the reporter
had taken II upon himself to carry
the news to the mans wife.
He nearly collided with the on
rushing ngure. She was wrapped IN q
fur coat and out Of its huge collar
her lovely mead rose, hatlsas. and
with snowfakes glistening and melt.
ing on her soft hair Her eyes were
wide with terror and despaif. the
beautiful mouth twisted pItiably.
! Blocking the doorway. he laid his
hand on her arm.
STEADY. Mrs. Dufresne." he said,
trying to lead her back into the hall.
"there has been q terrible mistake.
Your husband is safe and sound. The
man who was killed here is strang-
or. He wore disguise that made
him look like Mr.. Dufresne. Do you
understand me7"
~Yes. yes" abe breathed. "there
has been mistake. Pierre is safe.
But let me see-let me seel"
=Are you sure you want to look
into that room. Mrs. Dnfresnef"
Il must see" she declared. In a
low voice. II must see for myself"
Harper moved aside from the door.
Mrs. Dufresne stepped into the room.
"0hl" she gasped when she saw the
weird tabIeau II death.
"I'll show you how II is." Harper
said. The detective stripped away
the beard and moustache.
When Mrs. Dufresne saw the m.
tural features AZ the man. she made
strange. wordless sounds. Without
warning. her knees buckled. she
reached forth vaguely 70 support
herself. then collapsed. As she fen.
her face struck the sharp corner Of
the center table. opening . long
cash across her cheek.
Harper leaped to her side with q
cry of dlsmay as he saw the blood
pouring from the wound. Calling
for DR.. Miller. he gathered the nm.
conscious figure into his arms and
strobe from that Inflated room.
DR.. Miller gave q little grunt as
he Strengthened up beside the bed
where Mrs. Dufresne lay stretched
out.
"How Is she. Deer Harper In.
CURED. anxlously.
swell. I've stopped most Of the
bleeding. but thess old hands Of
mine are too clumsy to attend 70
that cut properly"
"Will It leave q SCARF
That's what we must avoid. Some
Of these new chaps do wonderful
work along that line. tia be best 70
have one In. think"
"We'd better get hold OF her own
doctor arst and let him handle this.
I hate to think OF her being SCARED
or dlsflgured."
DR. MILLER bent down and asked
~ his question. He scrubbed the
doctors name and initials on biz
prescription pad and handed the leaI
70 the detective. Get hia phone
number and tell him to come 90 soon
az possible. The sooner. the better.
When Harper left Mrs. Dufrssne'a
room to so downstairs again. be
found Howard Doyle waiting at the
foot OF the stairs. @kiow - she. Ser
geantY" he inquired Il once. stsfhly
perturbed.
Harper replied angrily. II Mrn
Dnfresns's face b marred Cor LIE
you ought 70 pick out high hridee
and throw yourself over
why aidn't yon say eomsfhins
then. besore ron ieflG This = On
fresne,s house and the dad man
certainly looked Ike DnfraanA xoE
held rs all back. locked the door. and
went away without saying ang
thing"
Harper's faea famed with anger,
-Listsn TO thia. Doyle. warned yos
not 10 release he story untii I sAps
the word. Hold on. now--f'ta &c
time 10 argue. IN talk 10 Eon latas.s
The detective looked M nr. Q. G.
----------------.. -.-- ---.------------------