The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-01-21

IKE IL
"Ah. then. Mr.. West would be
wise."
"And the third" said Willett un-
emotionally. sis to beat hell out OF
the blackmailer every time you see
his face"
LaMarr's black eyes swept him
swiftly.
THAT" he murmured, II think
have shown you would not be so
WISE"
Fox felt that absurd little thrill he
had felt several times before when
Terry Willett prepared to act He'd
swung the lamp Of reason before:
be tried it again.
Get to the point. Terry" he
urged. "Tell him what you know"
Sure" said Willett. LAMAR.
right now. the first way Is out. No
police. And so is the second, because
you haven't any story that would
hurt anybody. Allaire vent to those
docks because | took her there. She
shot a man In self-defense to protect
me. But that man didn't die. He lived.
So there's your mysterious murder
gone up in smoke. You haven't any
facts. LAMAR. and your bluff is be-
ing called.
$50" he said thoughtfully. there
goes the second way of dealing with
blackmailer, sneaky breed like
kidnaper."
iT A MARR'S face was inscrutable.
Il There was a tightening of his
mouth. but that was all.
III Mr.. West chooses to believe
you. that is his affair."" he said
smoothly. 81 know | don't"
"You don't have to believe me.
You knew Hildez wasn't killed. but
you took a chance on nobody else
knowing 1t. and nobody Is going to
pay you nickel for that fake yarn
of yours.
Now get out of here. LAMAR
while your skin is still safe. And If
there's any further trouble from you
I'll beat you into something Gravity
and shapeless and half blind. Maybe
I'll do it now. l don't like you.
LAMAR"
"a strong arm man, perhaps?"
LAMAR said lazily. but his eyes on
Willett were deadly and alert.
NO." said Terry. lust somebody
who always tries to finish what he
starts. | started the job of covering
that girl and I'm going to finish It
You're not dealing with these two
gentlemen here. You're dealing with
me-and I've been called a rough
neck. Well, all right, that's what /
am. A roughneck."
LAMAR then pulled his master
stroke. He turned coolly to Ray
West.
"You are liberty to believe this
man, of course" he said. But | do
not regard his word as any proof.
mentioned thirty thousand dollars
before. believe. Mr.. West, the sum
Is now-forty thousand. or the story
is released. You may take your own
chance"
Ray West was helpless in situa-
lions of this kind. He looked at Fox.
The attache was indecisive also.
That Terry knew what had happened
on the docks he was sure. but how
could he know anything of Hildez'
final fate?
That death angle gave the story
spice. and Ray West seemed to be
uncertain also as to how far to string
along with Terry Willett. He might
be blufing. himself. LAMAR pressed
his advantage.
"ln five minutes" he said calmly.
Il will take my leave with your an
sTer. Consider quickly then"
His effrontery touched of Willett.
"Oh. hell" he said suddenly. why
argue with the snake?"
He was around the corner OF the
desk. moving fast. coming for La
Mari.
'Terry!" shouted Fox. Hes
armed"
LaMarr leaped TO his feet like a
cat His revolver appeared in his
hand. but he didn't get a chance to
level it. He struck with it instead.
clubbing WilIett across the forehead
and ripping wide cash.
But that didn't stop Terry Willett.
He was on top of LAMAR. The lighter
was in action. the merciless. hard
listed fighter of the engineering
camps and free-for-alls on docks at
midnight.
A furious. slashing man who
ripped into LAMAR with the venom
of a striking panther. A human be-
ing going after another human be-
ing.
Ray West watched, his face white.
And Fox. intercollegiate boxer that
he was. champion of three-round
boxing matches in college gymna.
Sums with referees and hand-5hakes
and points scored on little white
cards. looked upon a fight that car
ried punishment and fury and saw.
age strength.
Copyright. 1885. By David GdrthI