The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-10-31
The Wrong Murderer

By HUGH CLEvELY

,ssssssesesssssssssssssss
have taken II On a: all. What with
burglar alarms and electric wires,
it's lucky was to get out with
me whole skin. At that | was rec.
ognized: the cops was after ne
the very next morning."
THAT was tough" said Mahony
alphabetically. when did all this
happen"
at would be five days ago to-
day." answered Barney. "And never
sign or a smell of me fifty guild
have | seen, though wrote In and
asked for it. All I got was a type
written note saying there was no
money for me. Then, tonight. I got
the tip that Mr.. Brown would be
there. and it was you"
Obviously. II Ross had been Mr..
Brown. he had not been at the house
when the Irishman first called for
his money because he was In hos
pital. AS he saw things. Mahony
reckoned that Ross, desperate. had
employed one of LaUson's own
crooks to rob Lawson's house and
get that book. But why had he
wanted the book? That book would
be worth getting hold of.
"And you think that Mr.. Brown
was annoyed with you because you
failed to get the book. and 80 he
refused to pay you and then squealed
on you" said Mahony.
He shook his head.
"It wasn't Mr.. Brown who
squealed on you." he said. at was
your chief. the Big Boss himself.
He was annoyed with you for try.
ing. to, rob his house, and so he
meant to get you put away"
THE Big Boss!"
ALI the men In tia room stared
at him. Mahony stood there quite
calm and sure of himself.
"Yes. the Big Boss" he repeated.
HE and the man you call Mr..
Brown had a quarrel. and Mr..
Brown sent you to rob his house.
The Big Boss is Ambrose lawson"
"The ell e is. Are your sure OF
that. mater" asked the fat man In
credulously.
OF course I'm sure" answered
~ Mahony. That's why he is out
to get me. because l know who he
is. figure that he had me sent to
that house on a fools errand, and
then tipped Barney OF that I'd be
there. and the police that Barney
would be there. hoping that Barney
and I would start numbering one
another and the police would arrive
in the middle Of 1t.
HE wanted them to catch Bar
ney. and find me. apparently quite
at home in a room with dope and
other things in 1t. He's already tried
to frame me for a murder I didn't
commit He doesn't like people
i.asszs-, 49, hS rs.-Z--g- =
"Gawd! :" exclaimed one OF the
men in a frightened voice. Then
ell be arter US. now we knows who
e is"
"He certainly WILL" agreed Ma
hony cheerfully. He'll be out to
scupper the whole lot of you. ex-
cept our friend Lake. who may be
in his confidence. But I don't sup
pose he'll be too pleased with Lake
after the mess he's made OF things
this evening""
He paused.
After all. though. 1t won't be
like fighting against someone you
don't know and can't get at" he
went on. Now you know who he Is
you can fight back at him."
The fat man stared at Mahony.
Il reckon you told US who he is,
Mister. so that we should have to
fight back at him whether we
wanted to or not" he remarked.
Maybe l did," agreed Mahony
coolly. I'm out to fight Lawson
from start to finish. and | mean to
beat him: but can do with a few
tough guys like you on my side.
Who would you rather have as
your Chief anyway. dirty squealer
fike Lawson who plots and plans In
aisly, way and let's other people do
the dirty work. or me?"
r".Sure,I I'm wild yez." cried the
Irishman. "a man that can lay Inc
on tbs fat of me back with a blow
OF his fist is the chief for me, and
to hell wild Lawson"
Mahony's next move was a piece
of clever bluff. He gave nobody the
opportunity to argue whether he
was going to be their Chief or not
He took it completely for granted,
and asserted his authority straight
away.
I'm lead you. and help you to fight
Lawson. but | want you to under
stand this-l mean to be obeyed."
he said sternly. You fellows don't
have to argue with me: you Just
have to do what you're told. Or
else you'll strike such q heap OF
trouble you'll wish you were safe in
Jail. Is that clear?"
The fat man nodded.
(CopYTioht 1855 guoh ClerefvI