The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-08-05
Chapter 20
PRISONER

PRISONER
THE door proved difficult to open,
= but Hylton called out cheer
fully. 81 say. Miss Featherstone-"
"Yes?"
"Give the door a push, would you7
It's got stuck or something"
mo, 1t isn't stuck-Pve locked
it."
Fifteen seconds of silence fol
lowed this remarkable declaration.
"You've-er-locked it?" Hylton
asked at length.
"Yes. The keys in the lock now
on the outside. here"
"Are you playing some sort of a
game, Miss Featherstone?" Hyltor
asked. whats all this about, and
where is Dale Shipley?"
81 haven't any idea where he is"
a voice explained alphabetically
'and that's why / had to do it. II
was the only way | could think OF
to stop you telephoning, and all
that"
1t isn't pleasant for any man to
realize that someone has made an
utter and complete fool Of him. and
1t says a good deal for Kingsley
Hylton that he didn't fly into q
temper.
Look here, Miss Featherstone,""
he said, 81 do beg of you to be sen
sible. You must know that you are
acting in very foolish way and one
that will get you intU trouble, seri
Gus trouble"
| "Oh yes. I realize all that, thank
you"
"Well please have the sense to
end it now. and I'll not say anything
about it."
"It's very sporting offer. but
couldn't possibly think of It"
! I'm sure you don't realize"
"Oh do truly-please don't wor
~ yourself about that"
For Gods sake. woman. have the
sense to unlock that door and put
an end to this damned idiocy. You
can't know what you're letting your
self in for"
"Yes ! do-accessory after the
fact. isn't ftp"
Hylton didn't answer acces
sorry after the fact what facti
he wondered how much she knew
=. Shipley had told her. of course
and bolted. and she had Matched ul
this plot to help him. =.
| And a days delay in getting out
his description and warning all the
ports might easily mean losing him
A sudden access of impotent tenn
per made him rattle the door handle
vigorously.
Miss Featherstone."
ayes"
"In the name of the Law ask yol
to open this door at once and lei
me out"
A pause: then Inspector Hylton,
will you please listen to me for q
minute?"
Eyes. Of course, what Is it?"
I'm frightfully sorry that you are
going to be Inconvenience, but I'm
not going to open that door for quite
a time yet"
you're not?"
mo. OF course you can shout II
you want to; but | honestly don't
think it will be much good: you see
I'm all alone in the house until ten
o'clock tonight and I'm going down
now to send the groom off on an all
day trip. I'm only telling you all
this to save you firing yourself out
unnecessarily"
Hylton was finding himself rather
stumped for suitable conversation.
After bit he said. miss Feather.
stone. why are you acting in this
absolutely insane way?"
1t is ut easy for an atmosphere
OF dramatic intensity to be estab.
lished between two people separated
by half an inch OF solid oak, but
tsomehow 1t sprang up between
those two at that moment.
DO you think want to? Because
4 had to. He must have a chance, !
couldn't let you get him like that
Hike pack Of hounds"
THAT was the last time Hyltou
= was to hear Nancy Feather.
stones voice for several hours.
When he realized that she was no
longer outside the door he first Of
all examined his material surround.
Hngs. The room he was In had origi.
nally been designed as q sort OF
primitive strong room In the old
days when farmers knew nothing
or banks; subsequently It had been
used as an apple store and a linen