The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-01-17
Chapter Eight
A CLUE

AYBERG'S obsidian eyes flick
w cred. Their glance interrupted
Greene as a blow would have.
Greene. said the chief executive
OF the Consolidated. this iss not one
of your monkeyshines?Y
Greene opened his mouth to pro-
test. Wfnslow waved him to silence.
Il think it's on the level. Mr.. Ny.
berg" Grahame noted that Wins.
low's-the scoffer's-voice held a
finge of respect. Whether 1t was for
consideration OF the seriousness OF
the situation or for Myberg. he
could not tell.
The newcome. asked to be told
what had happened and what they
knew.
He listened, frowning. at the car.
pet. There was something Napo.
leonic about his posture; yet, too,
something that defided the compari.
son. Finally. without looking up, be
asked. ''Who iss this MANI" His arm
gestured vaguely.
Frank Grahame."
"oh. the jungle man, eh?" Ora
hame was favored with a swift
glance. "You get people out OF trou'
bles. Ell? All right You get Janice
out Of this Jam she iss now in, and
hire you. hire you for the new pic
ture. pay you" He pursed his lips
and stared at the ceiling. He took
out a small black notebook and tore
a sheet from It. Carefully he IN
capped his fountain pen and serb.
bled something on the paper. He
handed It to Grahame.
Grahame with some establishment
took the paper. He glanced att.
"The salary seems SUFFICIENT be
said somewhat stifiy. "But does
this seem the time to-"
ANY time iss all right to talk
business" said the man in black. He
Strengthened his shoulders. "You
call up that Teller 0rtega. and ask
him what he knows. He bass ants. /
know when a man bass ants. He
looked graphically upon the three
men and the woman. and turned
through the door. He called over his
shoulder:
"Gfahame. :. That figure on the
paper Is for the week. not the
MONTH" He disappeared through
the doorway.
Grahame glanced again at the pa,
per he held in his hand. He Kissed
a soft whistle through bis lips.
"And | thought It was for the
year." he said. He laughed with q
trace of uncertainty. Il can't figure
hlni. The mans a nut !. +. or fool. !"
VITlNsI.0w smiled family. ''You
W don't know him. Frank. He may
be amt perhaps s. but nobody
ever proved him q fool You're
lucky. lie likes you. And"
Crahame gestured impatiently.
He crumpled the paper be held In his
hand and tossed Il toward the waste
paper basket. HE said cail up or.
teea. Good idea. Know his NUMBER
Il don't" slid Winslow. He stared
blankly toward the girl. Paula. "Bnt
Fhe does.r
"No. - began the maid.
"call him up. snapped Winslow.
Paula went sullenly to the phone
on the nlght.stand next to the bed.
ostentaliously sho thnmbed through
the telephone book: she glanced
once with a shade OF defiance toward
Wlnslow. who met her look with q
faintly ulockilg smile. She bent her
bead over The phone and dialed the
nnmber.
There was slight delay and she
held che receiver toward Wlnslow.
'.H't hls hotel" she said. =
Grahame said. give me that. He
took the receiver.
Il want 10 speak with Mr.. Ortega.
what? He's lett fou mean left
the hotel = checked outf What
timer For the space of minute or
two he listened attentively. . "oh.
all right !" He put the receiver
back upon It's .tand. he said:
I EEL so damned helpless In all
this, There's something wrong.
know felt that the other night.
That accident was framed. You
langasd at me. Spin. but I'm right.
Just the same he strobe toward the
door. turned. aud paced back. "or
tega checked on. hours ego Left 10
forwarding address. The hallhnp put
bis bags In a cab while 0rtega made
. cal on the lobby phoar That's all
khe clerk knows