The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-08-10
Chapter SO
HYLTON

HYLToN
TOR Gods sake, Jimmy" the wo-
L man shouted, "act sensibly. It's
got to be give and take between us
now. If you forget about this I'll
forget anything 1 know about Mon
day night and"
The man stopped her with snarl.
"Do you think I'd let you inter
fere with my life now?" he said. He
stood up and the scraping Of his
chair legs on the stone floor was
the only sound in that small room
until the woman broke the silence
with a little sob of fear and called
out,
PUT that knife down. If you come
a step towards me I'll scream. /
swear 1 will"
James Whites hand closed more
tightly round the knife handle, you
won't scream for long," he assured
her and he began to move.
He was stopped by an urgent
knocking on the back door and a
cheerful voice calling out, Halo, /
say-anybody there?"
White stopped and was amazed to
find himself trembling suddenly;
then after long reluctant look at
the terrified woman, he very care.
fully placed the bread knife on the
table md crossing the room opened
the door.
Good evening, Inspector" he said
woodenly.
NANCY FEATHERSTONE did not
L leave her house all day long.
No tradesmen called (she had put
them all off by telephone); her
groom would not be back until six.
and Annie not until after eight; she
was completely alone with her
thoughts-and her prisoner in the
old strong room upstairs.
Her thoughts were not particular
ly pleasant ones. She was a million
miles from regretting her amazing
action OF the morning. but more
sober reflection was making her
realize that she could not keep the
game up for many more hours.
At four o'clock she walked into
the kitchen to set about making her
self some tea. and she had hardly
put the kettle on when she was
startled by the ringing of the front
door bell. A caller? 1t was possible.
though she could not think OF any.
one. except the Rector. who would
be at all likely to call.
She thought at first of simply
lying doggo and of letting whoever
1t might be get tired of ringing and
go away: but on second thoughts
she decided it might be unwise to
do that.
The bell sounded again, somewhat
impatiently. and she. left the kitch.
en- and made her way to the front
door turning over In her mind va.
rious methods of getting rid Of the
Rev. Mr.. Steeble.
She opened the front door and
stood in amazement. Dale Shipley,
aggressively cheerful. stood on the
doorstep,
Halo Nancy" he cried breezily.
II just looked round to say I can
manage tonight after all, II It still
suits you"
Complete silence followed, and
even to Dale's egocentric eye 1t be-
came evident that something was
amiss.
whats up?" he asked. "You look
scared out of your wits"
Nancy found her tongue. "In Gods
name what have you come back
for?" she said In a whisper. They're
after you"
Shipley looked at her as though
he thought she was mad.
who's after me?" he asked at
last.
1.-THE police-the Inspector"
'The Inspector chap. what on
earth for?"
For Arthur Burdett. For murder
ing him."
Dale Shipley stared at her In
comic establishment, then he put
back his head and laughed loud and
long: he was feeling in high good
humor and this totally unexpected
jest was a rare titbit to end up
the day with.
well he's making damn fool Of
himself" he said. still laughing. "be-
cause l didn't murder Arthur Bur.
dett any more than you did"
Il" she took a deep breath. a.
I Thought you might have"
"of course might. and 80 might
anybody else in the village II It
comes to that. But why pick on me?
can't imagine what gets hold Of
you women sometimes. Anyway. I'm