The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-10-30
Chapter %
FATTY BASSETT

FATTY BASSE1T
THE injured constable had been
l removed into house to await the
arrival of an Ambulance. and the con
stables who had been attending to
him were hurrying up the street tc
Join in the hunt. The danger now was
that. even in that crowd. the tall
hulking figure and ugly features OF
the Irishman would be recognized
He evidently realized the danger.
"You slip along. Mister; don't stay
with me; let me take me chance on
me own" he urged Mahony. "The
cops aren't likely to know you. I'm
thinking; you'll get away much bet.
ter without me-"
But Mahony wasn't having any OF
that.
"I'm damned If will" he said.
The Irishman grinned.
Right you are. me boyo," he re.
piled. But I'm thinking you'd do
better ...'
He broke of as a dirty hand
plucked at his sleeve The hand be-
longed to a little, squirting bow.
legged man. dressed in a disreputable
check suit and a red muffler.
Get along to Fatty Rassett's, said
a hoarse voice. slip away quietly
mate. I'll give the cops something to
think abart while you're gettin'
away"
The bow-legged man edged away
from them through the crowd and
suddenly raised his voice in an ex.
cited shout.
There they go! Look, on that
roof 1 seen one of EN- dodge behind
that chimney stack" he yelled
shrilly. and raised a pointing hand
Where? Where?" A dozen voices
asked the question. A police sergeant
grasped the bow-legged man By the
arm.
"You saw them?" he demanded.
81 seen one of EN-. large as life
behind that there chimney stack" de
clared the bow-legged man in a voice
Of excited conviction. "'E popped i:
cad out. took decko. and orr again
] seen i'm as plain as see me and.
The sergeant ran in the direction
OF the house at which the bow-leggeG
man had pointed. For the time being
the attention OF the crowd and police
was directed towards that mouse
That gave Mahony and the Irishmar
the opportunity to slip out of the
crowd and make their way along &
dark side street.
But the danger was not over yet
the police in the whole district would
be on the lookout for the two fugi
tiVes. For five minutes they dpdged
cautiously about the dark. narrow
streets. keeping wary eye open for
prowling policemen. Then they drew
into the shelter of an arch overhang.
ing massive gateway
This way" said the Irishman
Follow me-"
LIE led Mahony along a narrow
II passage that ran between the
back Of a warehouse and a row of
small. grimy back gardens. Hallway
along the passage he turned OF to the
left. crossed small garden. and de
scended half dozen stone steps into
dark area.
In front of him was a door, the
kitchen door OF house He raped
on 1t sharply three times. paused
and raped once again The door
opened very slightly. ard gruff. sus-
pietous voice said: Who's there?"
Barney Flynn and another an
swered the lrishman The cops j.
out after US"
Come in" said the gruff voice, and
the door opened wider.
They entered through a dark ran
Try INTO trowSy kitchen lighted in
adequately by a Pickering gas let.
Three men were seated at the kitchen
table drinking beer ano playing with
greasy pack of cards: another chair
and mug had obviously just been left
by the man who had opened the Goor.
The three men looked up as Mahony
and Barney entered. One of them. a
very fat, disreputable-lo looking rascal.
spoke.
10. Barney" he said. "Wot the
ell you dOin' over ere? thought you
was lyin' low in Joe WaltOn's dess
'ouse over the other side OF the
river"
II was So" answered the Irish.
man. But 1 was given the tip where
Mr.. Brown was to be found tonight,
and l slipped across the water to see
II could get me money"