The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-10-30
The Wrong Murderer
By HUGH CLEvELY

- hO9B S66 LII
"And who's yer pal?" asked the fat
man. 81 don't remember to ave seen
i'm before"
"Why, it's Mr.. Brown himself" an
swered Barney with some pride. I'VE
had a bit of friendly argument. and
the spalpeen laid me on the fat of
me back. After that the police came
and we got out by the roof"
''Wot. e laid you on the fat of
your back!" exclaimed one Of the
other men. "Wot within"
with his fist" said the Irishman,
and he laid his hand almost affec-
tionately on Mahony's shoulder. "Be-
COB. he's a foine fighter is Mr..
Brown"
The fat man turned to Mahony.
His eyes were cold. and his express
sion was unfriendly.
$50 you're Mr.. Brown. eh?" he de-
mauded.
"No, I'm not" answered Mahony.
81 told Barney l wasn't. but he
wouldn't believe me-
True, you're not" answered the
fat man roughly. II know wot Mr..
bIoomin' Brown looks like: seen
i'm once when went to the 'ouse in
Jamaica Street"
Here was a chance of getting In
formation, and Mahony took 1t.
What does he look Hke?" hs de-
manded.
Taller than you, and darker. with
little moustache. And 'e's got lit
tie scar on the back of is left and
answered the fat man.
He scowled at Mahony suddenly.
100 the ell are you. anyway. askin'
questions?" he went on suspiciously.
Suppose you tell Us q bit about yer
SELF"
|NGAHONY did not answer for q
Af4 moment. The fat mans descrip-
ton Of Mr.. Brown had given him a
sudden shock. Tall. with a little dark
moustache. and a scar on the back
of his hand-that description exactly
fitted his friend Billy Ross.
"Well?" demanded the fat man.
"Ain't you got a tongue. Wot was you
doin' in that 'ouse?"
81 was sent there by a fellow
named Nilsson; he told me that II ]
called there at ten Mr.. Brown would
give me job" ansewerd Mahony.
"Milson?" said the fat man. mil.
son? never card Of i'm. Wot's e
look Hke?"
Before Mahony could answer,
there came three sharp raps on the
outer door. followed by another rap.
The man who had admitted Mahony
and Barney went to the door and
opened ii. A man entered.
He came into the room, stopped
short. and stared at Mahony and Bar.
ney with the expression Of one who
cannot believe the sight of his own
eyes. Mahony stared hack at him;
there was a smile about his lips but
the expression in his eyes was hard
and dangerous.
"Hellow. Milson." he said.
After Mahony's words there was
pause. The air of the cellar was
charged with kind OF dramatic ten
sion. Nilsson stood just inside the
doorway. an expression Of amaze
ment and fear on his face, staring at
Mahony and Barney.
Just behind him, in the doorway,
was the man who had let him in.
The fat man had risen; his express
sion was one Of hard, scowling sus-
picion as he stared from Mahony to
the man called Nilsson.
Mahony had moved back slightly
and was standing against the wall;
his expression. too. was keen and
hard. and his hand had slipped into
the side pocket of his coat.
During the pause. the bow.iegged
man also quietly entered the cellar
and stood looking with some curios-
ity at the men in there.
The fat man was the first to sneak.
"Milson?" he demanded roughly.
"Wot dyer mean. Nilsson? That's Mr..
Lake" !.
HE told me his name was Nilsson,
and he sent me down to that house
in Jamaica Street to see Mr.. Brown
about a job" stated Mahony.
Nilsson. or rather Lake. made q lit
tie nervous movement with his hand.
He was afraid of Mahony and the
big Irishman. and to conceal his fear
he tried to buster.
well, and supposing I did?" he
said shrilly. II had my orders and /
carried them out. And it's q nice
thing you've done to let them In here.
Id like to know who's responsible
for that. There's going to be some
trouble about that. can tell you. I"
Il sent 'em along ere becos the
cops wos arter EN-" put in the bow.
legged man. "Wot else wos to dor"
"You damned fool. The cops were
after them because :" began Mil.
son. Then he broke OF as II he had
said too much.
fcopyrtoht 1886. Hugh clerelyD