The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-05-25

4ac6ktoB IAe HOUSeHOt0s
Chapter Is
iNQuIsTTIoN
a FEW minutes later Mrs. Du.
= fresne's sister arrived. with hes
husband. Richard Croydon. One had
only to glance at Aline Croydon "a
recognize her as the sister Of Sylvia
Dufresne. Her hair approached an
auburn shade rather than the golden
blonde coloring Of her sister.
Her features. too. though Of the
same distinctive beauty. had less Of
the fragile and ethereal quality. Her
natural manner was more vigorous
and fortnight. though not lacking
either In poise or graciousness.
Mrs. Croydon excused herself IL
the first opportunity to 90 upstairs
and see If she could be of any ser.
vice. Harper continued TO talk with
Richard Croydon. He found thia
brother-in-law Of Pierre Dufresne 4
nervous. impulsive personality. but
with an alert. incisive turn Of mind.
He questioned the detective close.
y along lines which showed thar BE
had a keen grasp Of the essentials
Of the mystery and . bond Of mutual
liking and respect sprans up BE-
tween him and the Sergeant OF D..
tectives at their first contact.
Il was not until later that the de-
tective found out that Croydon WA
the famous concert pianist.
Croydon was not the only one VINO
exhibited a strong Interest IN the
strange mystery of the breakfast.
room. The chauffeur. Donagh5, Iis.
tened intently and said nothing. And
Harper was surprised to glance up.
ward and md D.. UIrich standink
near the head of the stairs. absorbed
in the conversations below. he
caught the detectives look and SLOW.
" backed away. with q sardcnic
CLEAN Of the eye
When Mrs. Croydon returned from
upstairs. Harper mustered them ali
into the breakfast-rocm. They
formed into two natural groups. rae.
ing the body in the chair. IL one
group were Pierre Dutresne. and
Mr.. and Mrs. Croydon. In the other
were the two Whitmores. Andrews.
and Donaghy.
The detective gave q brief sum.
mary OF the situation. to which they
listened IN absolute silence. He dem
onstrated how the features had been
altered by the disguise.
Have any Of you ever seen this
man beforeg"
Pierre Dufresne looked on In stony
silence.
"Havs you. Mrs. croyden7"
II am sure have not" she an
awered in a very small voice.
~Mr. Croydenf"
-No. Sergeant. Sorry | can't help
you"
"whilmoreG"
The black.browed Mrs. Whltmore
spoke up before her slow.mInded
spouse could pull his wits together.
no. we've never seen him" she an.
swered. sharply.
Perhaps your husband would
prefer to answer for himself"
Harper suggested. annoyed BY her
air.
well. ought to know. We've
been married twenty some years.
and II | didn't see him. John didn't
nes him" she shot back. her black
eyes swapping.
That's right. don't know him. .
the slow.voiced John Whitmore re-
piled. with q sheepIsh look.
-Andrewsf"
The tightlipped butler looked
more gium than ever as be silently
shook his head.
"DonaghyG"
THE handsome chauffeur had been
4 the most interested member Of
The group. He looked long and care.
fnliy AZ the unidentified victim. Ell
seems 10 me I have seen this man
somewhere before" be stated,
slowly.
HIs deliberate words ha0 the &c.
feet OF q bombshell N mat room,
harper caught the sudden tense.
ness. The sharp hiss Of sons oneS
breath. = catch that iust missed Be.
ing q gasp. His eye swept The group,
Andrews look vas positively veno
moua The detective scented some
thing In the wind.
-Thinx hard. Douaghy. This n
most important
Joseph Donaghy held he pause "a
the limit. then be smiled and ahroh
his head. -For 4 moment l thought
4 had it-somethink about the fAea
an try to remember. Sergeant. Nay,
b Il win come back to me-