The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-03-18
Chapter SO
BLOW IN THE DARK

BLOW IN THE DARK
IN ANOTHER minute Bobby was
swarming up the tree. All went
well and he was just stretching out
his hand to take a grip of the win
dow ledge when an ominous crack
came from the branch he was on,
and the next minute the bough had
snapped and Bobby was pitchforked
head-first into a clump of hydrangea
bushes below, which fortunately
broke his fall.
The window of Nicholson's study
was farther along on the same side
of the house. Bobby heard an ex.
clamation in the Doctors voice. and
the window was flung up. Bobby.
recovering from the first shock of
his fall, bolted across dark patch
of shadow into the pathway leading
to the little door. He went short
way along it, then dived into the
bushes. .f4 ~Dte
He heard the sound of voices and
saw lights moving near the trampled
and broken hydrangeas. Bobby kept
still and held his breath. They might
come along the path. II so. finding
the door open. they would probably
conclude thatstfes Intruder had es.
capped that way and would not
prosecute the search further.
However. the minutes passed. and
nobody came. Presently Bobby
heard Nicholson's voice raised In a
question. He did not hear the words
but he heard an answer given in
a hoarse. rather uneducated voice.
"All present and correct. sir. I'VE
been the rounds"
The sounds gradually died down.
the lights disappeared. Everyone
seemed to have returned to the
house.
Very cautiously Bobby came out
of his hiding place. He emerged onto
the path listening. All was still. He
took a step or two towards the
house.
And then out of the darkness,
something struck him on the back
Of the neck. He fell forward -. into
darkness.
ON FRIDAY morning the green
~ Bentley drew up outside the
Station Hotel at Ambledever.
frankie had wired Bobby that she
would be required to give evidence
at the inquest on Henry Bassington-
french and would call in at Amble-
dever on the way down from Lon,
don. She had had no reply.
"Mr. Parker. miss?" said the
clerk. 81 don't think there's any
gentleman of that name stopping
here. but I'll see."
He returned few minutes later.
Come here Wednesday evening,
miss. Left his bag and said he
mightn't be in till late. His bags
still here but he hasn't been back
to fetch it."
frankie felt suddenly rather sick.
She clutched at table for support.
Feeling bad. miss?" the man in
CURED.
frankie shook her head. Its all
right" she managed to say. He
didn't leave any message?"
There's a telegram come for
him." he said. That's all"
Its all right" she said. and
getting into the Bentley she drove
away. & 81
Why had Bobby not returned to
the Station Hotel? There could be
only two reasons. Either he was on
the trail-and that trail had taken
him away somewhere; or else-or
else something had gone wrong.
She was being an IdidtTimagin,
ing things. OF course Bobby was all
right. He was on the trail-that was
all-on the trail.
But why. asked another voice.
hadn't he sent her a word of reas-
surance?
The inquest passed like a dream.
Roger was there. and Sylvia-look'
ing quite beautiful in her widows
weeds.
The proceedings were very tact
fully conducted. The BaSsington-
trenches were popular locally and
everything was done to spare the
feelings OF the window and the
brother of the dead man. The thing
seemed over in no time. and the
verdict was given as Suicide while
CT unsound mind" The "sympa
thetic" verdict, as Mr.. Spragge had
called it.
The two events connected them
selves in Frankie's mind. Two sui.
cides while of unsound mind" Was