The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-03-24
Chapter Al
ROSE CHUDLEIGH

ROSE CHUDLEIGH
4 WAITRESS had just approach
= ed, bearing toast.
"Do you know who that is?"
frankie asked.
The waitress regarded the photo
graph. NOW I've seen the gentle
man-it's the gentleman who had
Tudor Cottage. Mr.. Templeton.
They've gone away now-some-
where abroad. l believe"
what sort of man was he?"
az really couldn't say. They didn't
come down here very often-just
week-ends now and then. Nobody
saw much of him. Mrs. Templeton
was very nice lady. But they
hadn't had Tudor Cottage very long
only about six months-when a
very rich gentleman died and left
Mrs. Templeton all his money. and
they went to live abroad. They
never sold Tudor Cottage. though.
/ think they sometimes lend it to
people for week-endsg But | don't
suppose with all thatomoney they'll
ever come back here and live in it
themselves" ~ ,aft
"They had a cook called Rose
Chudleigh. didn't they?" asked
frankie.
But the girl seemed uninterested
in cooks. Being left a fortune by a
rich gentleman was what really
stirred her Imagination. In answer
to Frankie's question she replied
that she couldn't say. she was sure
and withdrew carrying an empty
toast-rack.
That's all plain sailing" said
frankie. 1.-THE Caymans have given
up coming here, but they keep the
place on for the convenience of the
gang"
They agreed to divide the labor
as Bobby had suggested. frankie
went off in the Bentley. having
smartened herself up by few local
purchases. and Bobby went off in
quest Of Albert Mere. gardener.
They met at lunch time.
"Well?" demanded Bobby.
frankie shook her head. "For
gery's out of the question" She
spoke in a dispirited voice. 81 spent
a long time with Mr.. Elford-he's
rather an old dear. He'd got wind
Of some Of our doings last night
and was wild to hear few details
l don't suppose they get much ex
element down here. Anyway. soor
got him eating out of my hand.
"Then / discussed the Savage
sase-pretended I'd met some of the
Savage relations and that they'd
limited at forgery. At that my old
dear bristled up-absolutely out Of
the question! 1t wasn't a question
of letters or anything like that.
''He saw Mr.. Savage himself, and
Mr.. Savage insisted on the Wills be
ing drawn up then and there. Mr.
Elford wanted to go away and dc
it properly-you know how they dc
sheets and sheets all about
nothing"
81 don't know" said Bobby. "Pve
never made any wills"
81 have-two. The second was
this morning. l had to have some
excuse for seeing a lawyer"
Whom did you leave your money
to-"
"You."
THAT was a bit thoughtless
wasn't it? If Roger Bassington
french succeeded in humping you
off should probably be hanged for
it,"
Il NEVER thought OF that" said
L frankie. well, as I was say.
Ing. Mr.. Savage was so nervous and
wrought up that Mr.. Elford wrote
out the will then and there. and the
servant and the gardener came and
witnessed it, and Mr.. Elford took it
away with him for safe keeping"
THAT does seem to knock out
forgery" agreed Bobby.
Il know. You can't have forgery
when you've actually seen the man
sign his name. As to the other bust.
ness-murder. it's going to be hard
to find out anything about that now.
The doctor who was called in has
died since. The man we saw last
night is new man. He's been here
only about two months"
1--WE seem to have rather an I'M
fortunate number of Deaths" said
Bobby.
why, who else is dead?"
ALBERT Mere"
do you think they've all been
put out Of the way?"
That seems rather wholesale.
We might give Albert Mere the
benefit Of the doubt-he was seven
ty-two. poor old man."