The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-03-21

Bobby drew a long breath as the
narrative came to an end.
"All the same" he said reverent-
ly. you are a miracle-a singularly
beautiful miracle! But for you. Bad
ger, my lad, frankie and | would
have been little corpses in about
an hours time"
He gave Badger a condensed &C.
count of the activities of himself
and frankie. Towards the end, he
broke off.
Someone's coming. Get to your
post, frankie. Now then, this is
where our play-acting Bassington-
french gets the surprise of his life"
frankie arrange herself in de-
pressed attitude on the broken
chair. Badger and Bobby stood
ready behind the door.
The steps came up the stairs, a
line of candle-light showed under
meath the door. The key was put in
the lock and turned, the door swung
open. The light of the candle dis
closed frankie dropping dejectedly
on her chair. Their jailor stepped
through the doorway.
Then. joyously, Badger and Boz
by sprang.
The proceedings were short and
decisive. Taken utterly by surprise,
the man was knocked down. the
candle flew wide and was retrieved
by frankie. and a few seconds later
the three friends stood looking
down with malicious pleasure at a
figure securely bound with the same
ropes that had previously secured
two of them.
"Good-evening, Mr.. Bassington-
French" said Bobby, and if the ex.
ultation in his voice was a little
crude, who shall blame him?-"It's
nice night for the funeral"
s.l2ul i
THE man on the floor stared up
L at them. His tince-neZ fhad
flown off and so had his hat. The
face was the pleasant. slightly va,
cuous face of Roger Bassington-
french.
He spoke in his own agreeable
tenor voice. its note that of pleasant
soliloquy.
Very interesting" he said. 81
really knew quite well that no man
tied up as you were could have
thrown a boot through that sky
light. An interesting light on the
limitations of the BRAIN"
AS nobody spoke. he went on still
in the same reflective voice.
$50. after all. you've won the
round. Most unexpected and ex.
tremely regrettable. thought I'D
got You all fooled nicely"
80 you had" said frankie. You
forged that letter from Bobby. l
SUPPOSE"
81 have talent that way" said
Roger modestly.
And Bobby?"
IL knew he'd gone to the Grange.
| was just behind him there when
he retreated after rather clumsily
falling off a tree. l let the hubbub
die down and then got him neatly
on the back of the neck with a
Sandbag. All | had to do was to
carry him out to where my car was
waiting. shove him in the dickey
and drive him here. | was at home
again before morning."
And Moira?" demanded Bobby.
did you entice her away some
howe"
Roger chuckled. The question
seemed to amuse him. Forgery is a
very useful art. my dear Jones'"
he said.
you swine." said Bobby.
why did you pretend to be DR..
Nicholson" frankie asked.
why did now?" Roger seemed
to be asking the question of him.
self. Partly. | think. the fun of
seeing whether | could spool you
both. You were so very sure that
poor old Nicholson was in it up to
the neck"
"And really" said frankie slow
ly. "he was quite innocent?"
LAS a child unborn" said Roger.
But he did me a good turn. He
drew my attention to that accident
of yours. That and another incident
made me realize that you mightn't
be quite the innocent young thing
you seemed to be. And then | was
standing by you when you tele-
phoned one morning and | heard
your chauffeur's voice say frankie
There's one thing you must tell
me-" said frankie. I've been driven
nearly mad with curiosity. Who is
Evans?"
"Oh." said Bassington-ffrench
so you don't know that?"
He laughed-and laughed again
That's rather amusing" he said.
1T shows what a foo one can be-"
Meaning us?" asked frankie.
NO." said Roger. "In this case
meaning me. Do you know. If you
don't know who Evans is. l don't
think I shall tell you. I'll keep that
to myself as my )wn little secret"
Copyright 1933-55-56. AkasEs cEyistis)
Monday, MORA turns up
druooed.