The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-11-03
By HUGH CLEVELY

81 didn't lie," answered Ruth. HE
was with me last night. He brought
me back in his car"
"He wasn't with you at twelve
o'clock. when my uncle was killed"
stated Elsa quietly. 81 know he
wasn't. recognized his voice."
Ruth looked up. Her eyes opened
wider. For a long second she did
not answer. Then she looked up at
Elsa, and her eyes were very clear
and bright.
Il know Terence Mshony did not
kill your uncle. Elsa" she said
steadily. For one thing. he's not
the kind OF man to stab anybody in
the back. For another. he loves you
too much to do anything which
would cause you unhappiness. You
think I'm silly to believe in Terence.
but I'd believe In him IL everyone
else in the world was against him.
] think you're silly to rust Ambrose
Lawson. / think that Ambrose Law.
son killed your uncle"
This sudden accusation against
Lawson was not based on any &C.
tual knowledge which she pos.
sessed. But she had sensed the bit
ter hostility between Lawson and
Terence In Elsa's house that morn.
ing. had guessed that Lawson was
somehow the villain of the piece.
Really, Ruth" Elsa expostulated.
81 never heard anything so ridicu.
lous. Mr.. Lawson was great friend
of my. uncle. You oughtn't to say
things like that"
But Ruth also was indignant.
Ambrose Lawson isn't a friend or
anyone. except himself" she an.
swered hotly. He's the kind OF man
who'd stab anybody in the back IL it
suited his plans and he thought he
could put the blame on somebody
else"
YOU'RE talking wildly. you know.
i Ruth" Elsa said in reasonable
tone. Lots of people know who Mr..
Lawson is. and like him. but what
do you know about this man Maho-
ny? How do you know he isn't Just q
clever scoundrel making use Of you
for his own ends?"
Her reasonable tone did not sue.
coed in calming Ruth.
Lots Of people know who Mr..
Lawson is and don't like him." she
countered promptly. You weren't
so terribly keen on him yourself q
week or two ago. Terence Mahony is
quite different. II you must pry into
my affairs. | don't mind telling you
that I'd only seen him once before I
met him at your house this morning.
But that once was quite enough to
show me what kind Of man he was.
He's straight and decent: he proved
that; and I'll 90 on believing 10 what.
ever you or anybody else may say
about him."
you only met him once before
that meeting in my house this morn
ing" echoed Elsa In q tone Of as
constituent. "But -"
Ruth perceived that in her indig.
nation she had said too much. She
didn't propose to run the risk of
saying any more.
"I'm not going to argue about him,
anyway" she put in decisively, and
went to the door.
You can come down again, Uncle
Gerald" she called up the stairs.
We've finished discussing private
matters"
That finished the conversation be-
tween the two girls. and shortly after
Elsa went home.
Elsa did not know what to do. At
last. though it was getting pretty
late. she went to the telephone and
rang up Ambrose Lawson.
AS it happened. when she rang up,
Lawson was eagerly expecting a tele-
phone call from the East End TO tell
him what had happened in Jamaica
Street When the telephone-bell rang
in his roohAe rns6 aad vent eagerly
to the receiver.
- sHallOi Is chat yOpS LaEer he
"It'sElsa Little" SAID a voice from
the other end Of the wire.
"Oh." said LAwson,in D disp,eased
voice. He was annoyed with himself
for having jumped too quickly TO the
conclusion that IT must be Lake. and
mentioning Lakes name. He was
also wondering impatiently what the
devil had happened to Lake.
whats the trouble, Elsa?" he
asked.
His voice sounded more friendly
now. But he hoped she'd be quick and
say what she had to say. and get OF
the line. He did not want Lake to
find his number engaged when he
rang up.
Tits nothing much" said Elsa.
1--WE just been round to see Ruth
to talk to her about that man Maho
ny. She seems to be completely I'm.
der his influence. I wish we could do
something to get her away from
him."
Copyright. 1885. Bseh clereIyJ
Lawson waits. tomorrow, for a