The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-07-29
Chapter %
THE CARD

4 BOUT month or 80 ago got q
"a scrawl from Burdett saying
would go and see him about some
damage to the fences on his farms,
Mrs. Reeves said. "Of course I went
He spun a long rambling yarn-as
far as | could see there wasn't any
damage at all really. but / wanted
to humor him in case he had a
grievance.
81 thought he acted a bit queeriy
then-you know what ] mean-1
suppose some men always are BIT
queer with women, and sometimes
the old ones are the worst: but 1t
wasn't too bad. and l managed not
to take any notice Of 1t.
"Then last Saturday he asked me
up there again and said it was about
some Hunt business. didn't quite
like the sound of 1t, but we can't
afford to fall out with him and so
went"
Mrs Reeves stopped and glanced
across at her husband as though
seeking help in telling the next part
OF her story. but Reeves sat looking
as black as thunder and said moth.
ing.
you went up there?" Hylton
prompted.
81 went up there and. Inspector. IT
it was horrible. didn't know men
could be quite so beastly. / got up
and fed.
when 1 got back home Pat saw
] was upset, and worried me till
told him about it all. He wanted to
go up and have it out with old Bur.
dett. but 1 wouldn't let him. He was
in towering rage and | was afraid
of what he might do. so begged him
not to go.
"He spent all Sunday smouldering
over it. and on Monday when we
were out hunting suddenly said he
couldn't stand it any longer and
went back early to go up to the
Court. The next thing we heard
about Arthur Burdett was that be
was dead. OF course it was terrible
shock to us both; we talked it over
that night when everyone had gone
and decided not to say anything
about it. -. ..-,-.-
"But when you came on the scene
Pat said he wouldn't be happy till
he had gone end told you about his
visit.
$50 on Wednesday Pat went and
told you he had been. but made
him promise not to say why. l was
so afraid it would all have to come
out at the inquest and l simply
couldn't face that. Ever since ther
] have been scared stiff lest yor
should suspect Pat of killing him
and now. thank God. you know the
whole thing"
Reeves chimed in. deliberately
holding himself in reserve anG
speaking quite reasonably.
"You may not believe it, Inspector
but that's all gospel truth. 1 admit
] wasn't very polite when l called
on you at the Hoops. and I'm sorry
but you can guess what was feel
ling like"
KINGSLEY HYLTON contemplate
IA ed his long cigar for a minute
in silence.
What were you doing at hall
past two on Monday afternoon. Mrs
ReeVes?" he asked watching the wo
man closely with his penetrating
and rather frightening eyes.
"At half past two? Hunting"
"Are you quite sure. Mrs. Reeves
that you weren't at the Luxor
Salon having your hair done?"
Eat the Luxor" Mrs. Reeves
laughed. Its quite true that | had
an appointment there for half past
two on Monday" she said. though
] don't know how you knew it"
Never mind how l know. You had
the appointment"
"Yes."
sand didn't keep it?"
"No. / went on Friday instead.
rang them up on Friday morning and
asked If they could possibly change
my appointment and give IT to some
body else, and after a bit OF bother
they said they could"
who went In your place on Mon
.day?"
81 honestly can't tell you that.
didn't worry about 1t, all wanted t.
do was to get another time for my
self"
Hylton nodded and rose from hil
chair.
81 wish you'd told me all this OF
"Wednesday, Captain Reeves" b.
said. at might have saved me a 10