The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-11-06
The Wrong Murderer
By HUGH CLEVELY

answer. sounding very thin and
faint.
1T interests me a lot. Thank you.
I'll take steps to deal with those peo-
rla. and Mahony. straight away"
Ruth sat quite still. absolutely
horror-stricken. She found It almost
impossible to believe that her guar
dian. who had pretended to be so
firmly on Mahony's side. was betray.
ing him to his enemies.
Lee-Ramsden replaced the re.
ceiver and resumed his humming.
Then, for half second. his humming
checked. Sticking out from the side
of big chair which had its back
towards him. he had seen a small
piece of blue material--the material
OF which Ruth's frock was made.
Ruth was In that chair. Obviously
she had heard every word he had
said.
He gave no indication of having
seen her. Much better let her think,
for the moment. that she had not
been spotted. Still humming. he
turned away from the desk and
walked out of the :oom.
AS he left the study his mind was
working very quickly. He knew that
Ruth's first action would be to warn
Mahony Of what sh, had overheard.
And he made up his mind that his
first action must be to prevent her
from doing so.
At the bottom of the stairs that
led down from the study he stopped
and spoke a few words to Mullins.
his butler. Then he wen: into the
drawing-room and waited for mo-
ment After that he emerged into the
hall again and called: Ruth. my
dear. are you anywhere about?"
Ruth. still in the study. heard him
call. As Lee-Ramsden had guessed,
Der one idea was to warn Mahony
of his danger. Very cautiously she
emerged from the study. walked
quietly a few PAGES along the CORR.
dor. opened and closed her bedroom
door. and called back as naturally
as she could: did you call. Uncle
Gerald?"
I EERAMSDEN. down below in
- the hall. smiled. He saw through
that little trick of opening and shut
ting the bedroom door.
"Yes. I'd like to have a little chat
with you. won't keep you long," an.
swered Lec-Ramsden.
Ruth descended the stairs and en-
tered the drawing-room. She was
possessed of a wild impotence to
get out Of the house and telephone
to Mahony.
What is it?" she said. 81 was just
going out"
81 won't keep you for more than
zen minutes. my DEAR" said Lee
Ramsden. Il want to ask your ad-
vice about re-decorating this room"
For ten minutes he talked to her
On the subject of decorations. asking
questions which she managed to an
swer somehow. When the converse.
ton was over. she slipped on a hat
and coat and left the house.
Lee-Ramsden heard the front door
close behind her. and went into the
hall.
well. Mullins?" ne asked.
81 rang up Mr.. Mahony's house."
an2wered Mullins. Il told him you
wanted to speak to him at once. most
urgently. and he was to leave the
house at once and meet you In the
Lyons tea-shop in Par: Street. He
said he'd go right away"
Excellent" said Lee-Ramsden.
When Ruth rings she'll find he's
gone. Just to make quite sure she
doesn't catch him. ring up again and
talk to the landlady for few min.
utes-it doesn't ma ter much what
you say so long as you keep the mum.
Der engaged for few minutes"
He himself put on hat and coat.
ard took taxi to the Lyons tea-shop
/: Park Street Mahony was already
there. seated at a table. Lee-Rams.
den's face wore an expression of anx.
Aous concern as he made his way TO-
wards him.
I'm afraid I've got bad news for
you-very bad news" he said.
when my butler rang you up. In.
spector Kennedy had just left my
house and was on his way to arrest
you"
Obi" said Mahony. "Why has he
suddenly made up his mind to arrest
me?"
Lee-Ramsden hesitated. as II he
sardly liked to go on.
IL fear that was Ruth's doings,"
he went IN. THE poor child is ter.
ribly sorry now for what she's
done: she was in tears when ! left
her."
What has she done?" asked Ma.
hony.
She's told Kennedy that you
fidn't see her till some time after
| the murder and she also foI6 h;r,