The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-11-24
By HUGH CLEvELY

anybody's watching. | want them to
think it's Lee-Ramsden driving
away.
go on driving about until you're
quite certain you're not being fol-
lowed. and then abandon the car In
quiet place. and bring the hat and
overcoat back here in a parcel"
Every good. SIR" replied the man.
and left the room.
That was that. thought Lawson:
il Lee-Ramsden had been seen enter
ing his house. he would also be seen
driving away from it. So far as the
body was concerned. that could re-
main in the house for the time being
till a convenient opportunity &C.
Cured to dispose of 1t.
In a corner of the room stood q
big cupboard containing unimport-
ant books and papers. Lawson
cleared them out. piled them In an
other corner Of the room. thrust the
body into the cupboard and locked
the cupboard door.
EATTY BASSETT was very wor-
l. ried. Things were happening
which he did not understand in the
slightest. He sat frowning. staring
at the fireplace. and occasionally
drinking beer from large tankard.
Barney Flynn. who was with him.
noticed his preoccupied air.
whats the trouble with you. this
evening. Fatty?" he inquired.
Fatty shook his head. Ordinarily
he was not communicative person.
but on this occasion he felt the need
to confide in someone.
Its the gunner" he answered.
I'm thinkin' he's gone orr is rocker.
But you know wot 'e's like: it's no
use arguin' with i'm
-And what's he after doin' now?"
asked the Irishman.
les made an appointment to
meet Miss Little in a lonely house
in Chaplain in an hours time. E
told me ITSELF e reckerned there
was a trap in it-that that Bloke
Lawson was layin' for i'm with some
dirty scheme. An 'e's CORN of on is
own. and when | asks wot ! was to
do abart guardin' i'm. or setting an
ambush to catch Mr.. Ruddy Law.
son. e says. do nothin.'
whats that yere sayin'? You
mean he's gone off to that house
where he expects to find trap. an
there's nobody from our side gone
with him at all?"
That's what ! mean." answered
Fatty grimly. Il tried to talk it out
of i'm. but e wouldn't listen. Don't
worry about me. Fatty. e says.
know wot I'm up to. an orr e went"
sand you let him go like that. all
by HIMSELF" said voice just behind
them.
Ruth Fraser had Just entered the
room and was standing. pale and in.
dignant. looking at the two men.
"You let Terence go of. by. him.
self. knowing he was going into a
trap?" she repeated.
Fatty had an uncomfortable air.
He fidgeted uneasily in his seat.
There was no stoppin' 'im," he
protested. "'E told me particularly
e didn't want any of my blokes
mixed up in this. an e didn't want
to be follered. | tried to argue with
i'm. but it was no good"
TELL me exactly what happened
the whole story" said Ruth i'm.
periously.
Fatty hesitated. He looked more
uncomfortable than ever. 1t seemed
that he did not know what to say.
well, Miss :. it's bit awkward
like. because e particularly told me
| wasn't to say nothing abart it to
you" he blurted out.
"Oh. did he." said Ruth. Then
you can just forget that. You've al.
ready told me something about it.
and you're going to tell me the rest.
He's gone to meet Elsa Little, think
l heard you say"
Her expression was set and de-
termined: It was evident that she
meant to learn all Fatty knew. Had
she been a man. Fatty would have
had no hesitation in telling her to
go straight to hell.
But he was unaccustomed to deal
ing with young society women: he
did not know how to begin to argue
with her. Also. In a way. he sym.
pathised with her. He did not ap-
prove of Mahony CHANGING his life
in order to see a beautiful young
film star who was probably setting a
trap for him.
Not that he disliked Elsa: he had
admired her immensely in 1.-THE 81.
lent Stranger" But he disapproved
OF Mahony getting mixed up with
film actresses when he could have
real woman for the asking.
"Orl right" he said in a resigned
tone. But there'll be ell to pay
when e finds out I've told yer. This
was low It was"
copyright 1885. BuoA ClepelyJ