The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-11-13
Chapter S5
DECEIT WILL OUT

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Chapter 35
DECEIT WILL OUT
TERRENCE went on: "Lee-Rams.
den wouldn't believe that Ruth
had been kidnapped. He suggested
that yarn to her about staying with
a friend in the country. think he
wanted to avoid a lot of fuss and
bother with the police"
"And where is Ruth now?" asked
Elsa.
Il don't know" replied Mahony.
II saw her for d moment this morn
ing in her guardians house. and
haven't seen or heard from her
since"
While he was speaking there was
a ring at the front door-bell. They
heard the maid cross the hall and
open the front door. A mans deep
voice sounded In the hall.
''l%want to speak to inspector
Kennedy at once" 1t said.
Mahony looked startled. Elsa
went very pale. A frightened look
came into Ler eyes. and she rose
quickly from her seat. She did not
want to look at Mahony. and some.
how she could not look away from
him.
For a long moment they stared
at one another. Mahony's Devil.
dered eyes asking a question which
Elsa's eyes did not want to answer.
The maid opened the drawing-room
door. and they both looked towards
the doorway.
- i
~ Sorry to trouble you. Miss
Little. but I've got TO see Inspector
Kennedy right away on very i'm.
portant business" he said in a mat
ter-of-fact voice.
Elsa did not answer. She did not
know what to say. She found 1t i'm.
possible. in Mahony's presence. 10
admit that Inspector Kennedy was
In the house. There was an awkward
strained pause. Then another step
sounded in the hall outside. -.
What do you want. Dawkins?"
asked inspector Kennedy's voice
from the doorway.
Mahony looked at Elsa. saw her
white face and distressed air. and In
stunning shock of insight saw the
whole plot. Elsa had betrayed him
She had fooled him. She had deliber
ately encouraged him to commit
himself. knowing that Inspector
Kennedy was listening to every
word he said.
For a moment his mind fought
desperately to discover some way ID
which 1t might appear that she mad
not fooled him. that the Inspectors
presence was accidental. and not de
liberate. But 1t was no good.
The facts were quite plain. He
had been had for a mug. Well. that
was that. It couldn't be helped now
He smiled. He looked Elsa in the
face and smiled quite amiably. II
seemed to him the only thing that
he could do in the circumstances.
Something in his smile affected
Elsa strangely. She made a hesltat.
Ing half pace towards him. Her
lower lip was trembling slightly,
and her blue eyes looked very sol.
emn. She looked as if she wanted
him to comfort her.
II I'm sorry" she murmured
indistinctly. II I'm very sorry
for what I've done"
She spoke like a child confessing
to some fault. Obviously she was
sorry for what she had done. That
struck Mahony as quite unreason.
able. He bore her no particular
grudge for giving him away to the
police: that had been his own fault
for being mug enough to let her do
1t.
But that she should stand there
all sad and sorrowful. irritated him
slightly. Did she want him to forgive
her. or something like that?
"Oh. that's all right" he said In
differently. as II nothing that she
could do or feel could interest him
greatly.
He took a cigaret from a box on
o small table. Lit 1t casually. and
rose.
81 take It you were listening?''
he said to Inspector Kennedy.
The Inspector nodded.
! "Yes." he replied. well. Mahony.
II seems that you were in the room
when Mr.. Little was murdered"
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