The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-07-09
Chapter So
TABLES TURNED

THEN you are not going to ar
4 rest me?" Mrs. Croydon gasped.
"oh. yes. That much is necessary.
in any case. But before I take You
away am going to inform your hus-
band Of the facts"
Don't DO that! Please. I can't
face any one now. Take ma away
without letting any one know. have
confesse d. What more do you
want?"
Il want to know who was In this
room with you when you marked
that table with your ring!" Harper
retorted.
Mrs. Croydon reached out a hand
blindly and collapsed into q chair.
Detective Lafferty arrived post
haste. stopping in surprise at sight
OF Mrs. Croyden's grief-stricken face
and Harper's stern features. The
Sergeant OF Detectives wasted no
time In explanation. Il have Just
placed Mrs. Croydon under arrest"
he said You win take charge of her
until come back"
Andrews was lingering in the
depths OF the hall. prey to that
troubled vision OF Aline Croydon.
harasaed and stricken Harper
strobe up to the butler. Have you
seen Mr.. Croyden?" he inquired.
"Mr. Croydon has gone across to
his own house." Andrews answered.
How long ago2"
About half an hour, sir"
Harper snatched up his hat and
oVefcoat- Putting them on as he
went. he boIted through the back
door. passed the garage. vaulted
over the three-foot stone wall and
cut across to the back of the plan.
lists house. The doors of the garage
were open, but both cars were there
Richards large gray limousine
and his wife's small blue roadster.
He went around to the front and
rang the bell. A housemaid in a
white cap and apron opened the
door The sound Of a piano pene-
trated the quiet Of the house and
the soft cascade of harmony in
creased the detectives distaste and
reluctance to perform the duty that
lay before him.
The maid re-appeared in the hall.
reckoning him toward the music
room. He entered. just as Richard
Croydon rose from the piano. what
brings you over here. Sergeant.
the latter asked. His tone sounded
perturbed and his hands nervously
grasped the Iapels of his house
jacket.
Il have very grave news for you.
Mr. Croydon. YoHF wife has just con-
fessed 10 having committed muir
der. She has given me very cir
cumstantial account of the methods
she employed. as welf' as her mo-
lives. She has put into my posses
sion all the facts except the real
Identity OF the man. HID. This she
refuses to divulge. She has surren,
dered and intends to plead guilty.
Before taking her away. thought it
only fair that you should be noti-
fed" He paused. then repeated with
peculiar emphasis. lyon under.
stand. Mr. Croydon. she gave me
very cIrcumstantial account"
Richard Croydon cooked his head
atrite at the significant tone of the
detectives repeated statement. For
q moment vital with unspoken
thought they eyed each other grave.
ly. then Croyder. drew deep breath.
squared his shoulders. and turned.
n CAN'T let her do it," The words
J rushed out I'm one breath. What
ever story she told you. Harper. |
see that You have found out the
truth. did the killing and I'll face
the consequences. can't hide be.
hind my wife's confession"
Harper said. "She intends to take
her oath In Court"
Richard Croydon put his hand on
the detectives shoulder. Thanks.
Harper. Yoal are blessed with under
standing. but we can't let her go
through with 1t. There are some
things In life not worth buying"
He smiled YEARLY. "I'll go with
You quietly; isn't that the correct
phrase? Nothing that happens now
can be worse than the hell I've been
through already"
"YoHr wife's story. then, Is true
In detail. except that you, and not
she. carried It out?"
Il have no doubt 1t was, Harper.
She would have no incentive to mis-.
lead you. except by substituting her
name for mine. We can get that all
cleared up later. shall offer no de-
tense. Both of US talked this thing
over and over last night, but had
no idea she had any such plan in
her head.
"She felt she was solely to blame.
You see. our marriage went on the
rocks long ago. began to get wind
OF this last tangle and when it began
10 get desperate | managed to get