The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-08-03
Chapter q
NEW STORY

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A GREAT deal OF business was
4 done in Fenton's Stores on Sat
urday. The busy time had hardly
started yet, and Hylton was the
only customer in the shop. John
Fenton's eyes took an uneasy look
when he saw who had come in.
Anything can do for you. sir?"
he asked.
II want a word with you, Mr.. Fen.
ton, in the back room will be best,
won't it?"
"Just as you like sir"
Hylton followed the storekeeper
into the small living room at the
back so perfect in the unhygienic
hideousness of its SNUG Victorian
ism that one felt it could have been
matched only by i deliberately. and
rather cruelty. designed stage set.
Mrs. Fenton in?" he asked.
John Fenton hesitated. If ever a
mans expression pleaded for life
not to badger him any further his
did at that moment. well, sir, !
suppose she's somewhere round at
the back" he said at length.
ASK her to step in. would you?"
Fenton went to the door. poked
his head into the passage and called
Mother"
Mary Fenton was busy in the
kitchen.
Coming john" she called in the
very words and tone with which she
had answered him for thirty years.
The rustic of her black dress could
be heard in the passage. and she
entered the living room. Her eyes
went at once to the Inspector and
all the color drained from her face.
John Fenton crossed over to her
and he took her hand. patting 1t
kindly. Now. Mother. don't take
on" he begged. This gentleman
wants to ask us few questions
expect"
81 do. though l hadn't said so"
Hylton smiled.
Mary Fenton sank into one of
the worn. red-plush chairs and
nodded.
What was it you were wanting
to know sir?" John asked.
"Not a great deal. Did Mrs. Fen
ton have her hair done in the Luxor
Saloon in Morechester on last Mon.
day afternoon?"
ayes | did sir" Mary answered.
Good. And did you have an ap.
pointment card to remind you of the
time you were to go there?"
ooh yes. they always give you
that when you book the time"
Hylton produced his notebook.
SIS this the card?"
where are my glasses. John
dear?" John knew where her glass.
es were, he should have done If
habit counts for anything. Mary put
them on with fingers that could not
help trembling and John heartened
her with his hand on one shoulder
That's BETTER" Mary said, in.
specting the appointment card once
more. yes. suppose this is it; it
says Monday at $3.50. doesn't it,"
"Now Mrs. Fenton. that card was
found outside one of the windows at
Enderton Court - how did it get
there?"
"Oh."
MARY FENTON grasped Johns
AfA comforting hand with her own:
when she spoke it was in a con.
trolled and purposeful voice.
"Mr. Burdett was a hard man,
sir. He never thought of anything
but money"
Hylton nodded. Go on"
"John. you tell the gentleman
about the shop and ALL"
The Inspector listened to the his
tory of Fenton's Stores-a dream of
thirty years duration. a story of five
minutes telling.
THAT was how it stood. sir. Mr..
Burdett wouldn't listen to anything
but the money: and 1t wasn't as
Though he needed 1t all that badly.
! told him It meant the end OF Fen.
tons Stores il he let the Coastal
tpeople rent next door. and he didn't
care If 1t did"
That's what I couldn't stand"
Mary broke in. when I saw MIN
that Monday in the Square |
thought: 1t isn't right Of God to let
things be like that oh I felt awful
about it."
"My dear. my DEAR"
sits all right now. John. can
tell the gentleman everything now.
I feel better about itl all. Well sir.
Y thought about the thing an day
Monday. And after bit began 10