The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-11-24
Chapter A
STRUGGLE

STRUGGLE
a RE you threatening me?" Law
son asked in a cold. quiet tone.
do you think that is wise? have
my own ways of dealing with people
who threaten me. you know"
1t was quite the wrong thing to
say. and Lawson realized It almost
as soon as he had spoken. He ought
to have Gained Lee-Ramsden down.
treasured him. and then dealt with
him swiftly and Unexpectedly.
There was no hope OF that now.
LaWson's tone of cool contempt had
added fuel to -Ramsden's rage.
destroying any hope OF even tenn
porary reconciliation. The old mans
face became suffused with flush Of
violent rage: that little vein. which
betrayed his temper. was beating
strongly in his forehead.
Deal with me. will you" he said
thickIy. You'll deal with me, you
hound. I'll damned soon deal with
HIS eyes had become slightly
bloodshot. For a moment he gazed
round the room wildly. as II seeking
something. His glance encountered
a bronze statuette standing on a
small table. He sprang forward.
snatched it up in his right hand. and
hurled himself at Lawson.
The statuette came down In a
vicious blow aimed at Lawson S
head. and it was only Lawson's
swiftness which saved him.
He lodged quickly. sprang out Of
range. and then. as the old man
numbered after him. sprang forward
to meet him. snatching at the wrist
OF the hand that held the statuette.
For a few seconds the two men
struggled at close quarters. Lawson
trying to push the old man over and
pin him down in an armchair. the old
man striving vainly TO brain Lawson
with the statuette.
Actually the struggle should have
been quite unequal. for Lawson was
by far the younger and immeasur
ably the stronger of the two. but rage
lent the old man strength. and. try
as he could. Lawson could not mas
ter him.
A sudden spasm Of fierce i'm.
patience seized on Lawson: he felt
he must end this struggle quickly.
Shifting his grip. he released Lee
Ramsden's wrist. clutched at the
statuette. snatched it out OF the old
mans hand. and brought 1t crashing
down on his head.
That ended the struggle all right.
The old mans body suddenly went
limp: he staggered back pace. and
then fall crashing to the floor.
Lawson. breathing heavily. was left
standing in the middle of the room
: Lee Ramsden lay quite still. The
flush had faded from his face. and
his complexion had taken on a
curious grey tinge. From the left
side OF his head ran a small trickle
of blood.
. "Oh. damn!" said Lawson.
He threw the statuette down.
stepped quickly across the room.
poured out glass of brandy. and
bent over the old man. But one mo-
ment's inspection showed him that
brandy could do no good at all. Lee.
Ramsden was dead.
T AWSON rose slowly to his feet
All his impatience and anger
had left him: his mind was cool and
alert to deal With this new sitna!
ton which had arisen.
The chances were that his house
was being watched by some of Ma
hony's friends: Lee-Ramsden would
have been seen arrivine:s and 1t
would be impossible to explain Lee
Ramsden's death.
Lawson frowned. and meditatively
slipped from the glass OF brandy
which he was holding in his hand.
Lee-Ramsden's car was outside the
house: his hat and overcoat were
in the hall. He slipped his brandy
again and nodded slightly. He knew
what he was going to do.
He finished the brandy and rang
the bell for the butler. The man
entered and stood waiting: he be-
trayed no establishment whatever at
the sight of that still body lying on
the floor.
"I've got job for you." said Law
son CURLY. "Mr. Lee-Ramsden's hat
and coat are in the hall. Put them
on. and then make your way quickly