The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-11-10
Chapter 80
THE POLICE

THE POLICE
~THAT's all right. Mr.. Bassett,"
said Eli. you been in my back
room smokin' my cigars. The furni.
ture van is in the back yard"
"Have it brought right up against
the back yard at once" ordered
Bassett. AN bring me big sheet"
He called up the stairs to Barney
and Chippy: Come on. you fellers.
You got to get away quick. The po
lice may want to search this 'ouse
as we'll as next door,"
Fatty's plans were simple and
efficient. Lakes bound figure.
wrapped in a big sheet, was thrust
quickly into the covered back of the
van; Barney and Chippy got in with
him.
Within minute OF the time when
the men had entered the house. the
furniture van glided away from the
back door and was lost to sight in
the traffic. Fatty sat down solemnly
in Ellis back room. lit a cigar. and
began to take a great interest in a
set of pewter tankards.
Ruth, hidden behind the curtain
in the house next door. heard the
crash as the man Barney hit went
through the window. and saw some
thing dark and heavy fall past the
window of the room in which she
was hiding.
Very cautiousl she peered
through the window to see what it
was. Lying on the pavement out
side the house was the body Of a
man. The crowd which had assem-
bled round her car was now assem-.
bling round the fallen man. and
growing in numbers every minute;
from outside the house came babel
of excited conversation.
Very softly she left the room and
peered up the stairs. She could hear
nothing. For a moment she hesi-
tated. Then. nerving herself deter.
minedly for the effort. she mounted
the stairs to the small landing. A
door was open, and she stepped for
ward and looked into the room
beyond.
What she saw made her shrink
back suddenly with a gasp of hor-
ror. On the floor were lying the fig
ures of three men. Police whistles
were blowing in the street; there
was a sound of banging on the front
door of the house. Ruth went back
on to the landing outside the room.
mr.. Bassett! Mr.. Bassett!" she
called. But there was no answer.
She was alone in the house with
the three men lying on the floor of
that room.
Swiftly she descended the stairs.
The front door was giving: in mo-
ment it would burst open. She must
not be found in that house. She went
down the steps to the basement and
crossed the kitchen to the back
door. Luck was with her; no one
was there. A few seconds later she
was walking quickly, along the
street away from the house.
DUT though she was free for the
- moment. she realized that she
was in a terrible position. The po,
lice would know she had been in
the house when that mans death
took place; her car was still outside
the front door.
II only. she thought desperately.
she could find Mahony: he would be
able to tell her what she ought to
do. Perhaps he would be at his
rooms by now. She entered a tele-
phone-box and rang up his number.
but his landlady told her he had not
yet returned.
At last she thought of a plan. A
letter written and posted TO Mahony
now would reach him by the eve
ming post. She must write to him
and tell him OF her plight. and ask
him to come and see her.
She must also find a hiding.place
where she could wait safely for him
in case he did not get ser lettertill
late that night. Her guardian owned
an unoccupied house ID the st.
Johns Wood Road. If only she could
get into that house she ought to be
pretty safe there for few hours.
That would be her best hiding-plaee.
10000 Hstflo a.