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

0HAAS Oub' NC dshcuS stepping
inside.
Eyes, Annie's out"
Didn't you hunt today%
They were both in the drawing
room now and suddenly she laid a
quick hand on his shoulder and said
Dale. what about that note, what
did that mean"
II had to go up to Town on
some business. 1 thought 1 was in
bit Of hole, but as it turned out
l wasn't. You can forget that note,
Nancy"
THERE was something about his
= answer and the manner of it that
was unsatisfactory to her. She
frightened her grip on his shoulder
and made him face her.
Dale" she said slowly, "for
Gods sake tell me the truth. Did
writing that note have anything to
do with-Arthur Burdett?"
with Arthur Burdett? how the
hell should it?"
"You didn't run away because, be.
cause you killed him."
You must be going batty, Nancy.
l had no more to do with killing
Arthur Burdett than the man in the
moon"
She had to believe him, and yet
she was still not quite satisfied.
"The Inspector thinks you did it
he's after you-'''.,.......
after me?" .
Eyes, for heavens sake Dale don't
play the fool about this, if you had
anything to do with it you're in dam
ger. now. here" - ''''~.
Look here Nancy" he said sober
ly II swear I had no more to do with
killing Arthur Burdett than your
grey hunter had; and what's more,
nobody can possibly tie me up in it
in any way. What's the matter?"
Nancy had subsidized into a chair
and was shaking with silent laugh.
ter-laughter. though Dale couldn't
know it, which was the outcome of
six hours Of nervous tension.
What the deuce is the game.
Nancy?" he asked irritably. sis it
some sort of joke, or something"
Nancy ended up her spasm some.
where between a sob and a hysteri-
cal hiccup.
"Yes--in a way it is," she said.
IF you sit here I'll go and get the
tea"
Dale grunted.
When Nancy left the drawing
room it was not the preparations
for tea that claimed her attention.
The fact Of Dale's return and above
all his manner had convinced her
that he was speaking the truth. She
had made a colossal bloomer. and
being in many ways simple. direct
person 1t seemed to her that the best
thing was to go and put It right as
far as she could straight away. Ac.
cordingly she went straight upstairs.
I'm afraid I've made rather a
mistake Mr.. Hylton," were her first
words as she unlocked the strong
room door.
"You have. believe me-" was
Hylton's cold reply. The Inspector
was bored to the verge OF despera.
ton, chattering with cold and raven.
ouslyi hungry. : =
II should think you have made a
mistake. young lady," he said vi
ciously. "as soon as ever can get In
touch with White you'll be arrested
for being an accessory after the
fact"
yes, I daresay. By the way Mr..
Shipley's downstairs, thought you'd
like to know"
Hylton stared at this extraordi.
nary woman.
What do you mean. he's down.
stairs?" he asked suspiciously,
What's the game, now?"
"Mr. Hylton I'm frightfully sorry.
can't expect yodlto believe that, of
course. but really am. You'll never
realize why had TOTO keep you
here, but that doesn't matter. What
does matter is that Dale Shipley's
here and. Inspector. he didn't do II. /"
Didn't he?" Hylton asked grimly,
well give him a chance to tell us
all about that at the station. Where
is he?"
Nancy was overcome with a food
OF misgivings as she silently led the
way back to the drawing room.
Just q minute" Hylton said
quietly, 81 think I'll go first" He
plucked Nancy by the arm and she
stood on one side to let him pass.
He turned the handle and pushed
the door open but did not imme.
diately go in. He had allowed him.
self to be made a fool of once that
day and did not propose to repeat
the experiment.
However the only thing that hap
pened when the door swung inwards
was that an aggrieved voice called
out in q typically Dale Shipley.ish
manner. What about that tea,
Nancy?"
(cetyrisIt. 1885. Es.rs~es ". KsyaslU