The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-08-01
Chapter 20
ALICE WHITE

ALICE WHITE
EIIIHEN Shipley Is satisfied the
w cane is clean he goes on into
the lane," continued Hylton. by
7.25 he's at the junction of the side
lane and the road. and he bumps
into our heaven-provided tramp. OF
course it startled him-just think
of the state his nerves are in!"
sand do you mean to say" cut In
White, "he'd start waving his stick
at the tramp and telling about it the
way he did, If he had just committed
"a murder with it?"
mot it, because. Have you ever
had to do with a murderer, White?
! have. Numbering somebody is just
about ten times as intoxicating as
getting blind drunk. 1t may sound
funny. but it's true. When young
Shipley was waving his stick at
friend Durley and saying this is the
stuff we keep for poachers' or what
ever 1t was. what he was actually
longing to say was see this stick ?
I've just done an old fool in with it;
that's the kind of chap | am"
Sergeant White nodded sombrely.
"You make it sound very convinc-
ing, Inspector" he said, "but some
how-well. l wouldn't like to think
young Mr.. Shipley was mixed up in
it."
81 shall suspect you. Sergeant, Of
being a sentimentalist soon," Hyl-
ton laughed. I'm afraid Mr.. Ship
ley is going to have rather an un-
pleasant day tomorrow. Meanwhile
let's clear our brains a .bit-get
the chessmen out"
Without further comment White
produced the board and men and
the two of them settled down to a
game. The Sergeant did not show
quite the same command of things
that he exhibited at their first en-.
counter. and after a little more than
an hours play they found them
selves in a rather dreary stalemate.
Hylton was pleased not to be
beaten again. AS he was taking his
leave he turned on the doorstep and
asked, where's Mrs. White, by the
way?"
cover at her sisters. sir. at Nye-
ton. she often pops over there for
an evening""
"Hope she won't mind my beastly
cigar smoke all over thu house.
Don't be late in the morning Ser.
geant."
"Very good. sir"
HARRY SMALL, the Nyeton
IL gamekeeper. jerked his head
up: he hoped he had heard tap
tapping on the kitchen window.
Small smiled. drew his finely-made
body out Of the chair and went in
his stockinged feet to the back door.
Harry Small was a big, broad
shouldered. dark man. with a body
made as hard as hickory by the
early risings and the long hours In
the open which his Job demanded.
Six feet exactly he stood in his
stockinged feet. his shirt open at
the throat. his well-cut corduroy
breeches showing off his strong
legs. He crossed the unlighted
kitchen and lifted the latch Of the
back door.
"That you Alice?" he asked.
mice fool you'd have looked If It
wasn't" she said. "You ought to be
moro careful with your names,
Harry"
Small laughed. ooh hell, you're as
bad as that husband of yours" He
stood looking at her for a moment
in admiration. a shaft of light from
the front room fell on her like the
limelight of a theatre. she was pant
ing little and her cheeks were
flushed. He caught his breath sharp
ly. "My God" he said, you look a
picture"
She laughed again. Like me
Harry?"
81 might EaFe meant a picture Of
misery. You've hurried haven't
your"
''Im at my sisters"
"And where does she think yor
are?"
"On the way home-I can't stay
long Harry"
She upturned her face.
you haven't kissed me yet
Harry"
"Plenty Of time"
81 don't know-we might all bt
dead in a year"
"You say some funny things, mi
dear-there. how's that?"
Alice White took her full red lip
away from the mans reluctantly
Her eyes were shut. she was breath
ing quickly