The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-10-13
By HUGH CLEvELY

appeared to be quite simple and
Straightforward. Lawson stated that
Elsa had been missed from the Al
bert Hall when the film stars were
due TO be introduced; that he had
made inquiries for her and learnt
that she, had last been seen being
carried toward the door by party
OF black monks; that he had rung up
Mr.. Little, and that Mr.. Little had
announced his intention Of calling
in the police.
He had then driven to Mr.. Littie's
house in his car. and had seen a
constable on the doorstep. He had
been about to Join the constable.
when be door had suddenly opened
and a man dressed In monks cos
tune had emerged and attacked him.
Taken by surprise. be had been
knocked out before he had time to
defend himself. He had recovered
consciousness to find Elsa bending
over him. He and the constable and
Elsa had entered the house. ana be
had seen Mr.. Little's body lying on
the noor of the study with a knife
near 1t. That was all be knew.
The Inspectors assistant took
down this story in q notebook. The
Inspector turned to Elsa.
sI'd like to have your story now.
Miss Little" he said.
Elsa was looking pale and ill. The
shock of her uncle's death. on top
OF the effects Of the drug which had
been given to her at the Albert Hall.
had left her dazed and hardly able
to concentrate. The contrast between
her gay Queen Of Hearts costume
and pale face and sad eyes made her
look extremely helpless and pathet-
ic. Inspector Kennedy felt very sorry
for her. But he had his duty to do.
sim afraid can't tell you much"
she answered. "a lot of monks start
ed dancing round me at the Albert
Hall. One OF them picked me up. and
then something pricked my arm and
| lost consciousness. When l came
to | was lying on a sofa in here, and
a man dressed as a monk was stand
ing by the window. Then the door.
bell rang. and turned my head and
d. land saw Uncle Vincent"
CHE blinked. A tear trickled slowly
~ down her nose and dropped down
on to the front of her dress. Crying
did not make her look ugly: it only
made her look helpless and child.
like. Inspector Kennedy felt very
sorry for her indeed
sand then, Miss Little?" he asked
alphabetically.
Ell think was going to scream.
but the monk caught hold of my
wrists and shook me and said: 'You
are not to- or something like that.
said. You've killed him. ana he
said. No. haven't Then he pIrked
up the knife and wiped it. and ran
out of the roam ran out of the
room too. to try to get help for my
uncle. and saw MIR. LA wson and the
policeman lying on the pavement"
81 suppose you've no idea who this
monk WASP" asked the Inspector
She hesitated. putting her hand
to her head as II it panied her.
mo. At least :. no don't know
who he was. But somehow his
voice did seem a bit familiar" she
answered.
"Oh! You knew the mans voice
vaguely. but can't give a name to
him." said the Inspector shrewdly.
THAT seems to suggest that it was
somebody you've met but don't know
very we'll. Think hard. Miss Little.
Try to remember. Whose voice was
it?"
There was a long pause. Elsa sat
in rather huddled position staring
at nothing. Occasionally a tear ran
down her face and trickled on to
her dress. She did not want to think.
She wanted to cry She could ina.
CINE no greater luxury than simply
being alone and crying to her hearts
content.
She wished these people wouldn't
make her think. Perhaps IL she could
think of the mans name quickly
they would leave her alone. One after
another the names of men she knew
passed through her mind, but that
voice did not seem to fit any of them.
Think of all the men you know
whose names begin with A. Then
think Of all those beginning with B.
and so on through the alphabet"
suggested the Inspector.
Again there was a pause. Adam
son. Arlington. Ainsworth, Barring.
ton. Barton. Borisoff-a host of
names passed one after the other
through Elsa's mind. Every now and
then. In the midst OF the G's or Us
she would think OF another C or e:
IL was amazing the number OF peo-
pie she knew. Lawson, Lavertree.
Lee Ramsden. Leasing Mackin-
tosh. Maddershaw =.
Her expression changed suddenly.
copyright. 1885 HWoh ClereiyI
Mahony has. tomorrow. an I'm.