The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-11-03
Chapter 26
THE HAT

DETECTIVE Sergeant wishart
~ had been in charge of the police
raid in Jamaica Row. Late that
night he returned to Scotland Yard
to make his report. There he met
Inspector Kennedy, just preparing
TO go home.
ANY luck?" asked the Inspector.
"Well-yes and no." replied Ser.
geant Wishart. "The tip was all
right. sir: the man barney Flynn
was in the house. bur he got away.
There was another man with him.
and he got away too. 1t was too dark
to identify him. We found evidence
of a struggle in the room they'd
been in. and we found these"
He produced the packet of dope
which Mahony had seen in the desk.
And he produced a hat.
Inspector Kennedy inspected the
hat critically. Inside it. 1t had the
makers name: Nicholson and Co..
Shanghai" and the initials at. NJ"
dope and this hat. wouldn't call
that doing so badly even IL Flynn
did get away" remarked the Inspee.
tor cheerfully. $50
He paused.
81 wonder what that man Mahony
was doing in that house in Jamaica
Row." he added.
a BOUT the time when Mahony
was first interviewing Lake,
alias Nilsson. in the street near Not
ting Hill Gate. Elsa Little was sit
ting in the dra wing-room of her
house in Chelsea. rhe police had
finished their investigations In the
house and left; Lawson had also
just left. and the house was quiet.
Elsa was thinking.
She was conscious of sense Of
gratitude to Ambrose Lawson. He
had shielded her as much as pos.
sible from the unwe;come atten-
tons of the public: he had inter-
viewed policemen. directed every
thing in the household. and had In
every way been kindness and
thoughtfulness itself.
She was also conscious OF an In
tense hatred of Mahony. and the
very fact that she had instinctively
liked him when she had first met
him made her all the more bitter
against him now. There was no
doubt whatever in her mind that II
had been his voice she had heard
in the room when her uncle was
murdered.
But Ruth. her best friend. had lied;
she had made a false statement. pro-
duced a false alibi. in order [, shield
Mahony. That worried Elsa a good
deal Ii seemed to her that Ruth
could only have liked to shield Ma
hOny because she was in love with
him. and she hated the thought that
her friend could be in love with a
man like Mahony.
Acting on a sudden impulse, she
put on her hat and coat and went
round to Lee-Ramsden's house. She
was shown into the dIawing-room
where Ruth and Lee-Ramsden were
sitting. Lee-Ramsden greeted her
with his usual kindly courtesy.
Come in. Elsa my dear. I'm very
glad to see you. don't suppose an
old mans sympathy means very
much TO you. but If there's anything
I can do TO help you in this terrible
business. you know you have only 10,
ask" he said.
Thank you very much. Mr.. Lee
Ramsden." answered Elsa. *
She hesitated. for she was triie
nervous.
Il came to talk to Ruth about +. =.
about something" she went on.
Lee-Ramsden knew very well
what she had come to talk to Ruth
about But he gave no sign of know
inr.
Perhaps you'd like to talk to her
alone" he suggested. I'll go and
smoke cigar in my study"
He left the room. Elsa went and
stood by the mantelpiece. looking
down at Ruth.
Ruth" she said gently. 81 think
you know what I've Tome to say"
"Yes." agreed Ruth. And 1t won't
be any good saying it. Elsa. You've
come &c talk to me about Terence
Mahony. haven't you?"
Yes" answered Elsa. Ruth, are
you in love with that MANI"
That question was entirely unex
pected. Ruth did not know how to
answer.
My dear Elsa. hardly know
him." she said. evading the CUES.
tion.