The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-10-23
By HUGH CLEvELY

only by hearsay," answered Lee
Ramsden. 1--WE heard my ward talk.
ing about him. She seems greatly
taken with him. So far as I'm con-
cerned. though I've never met him
personally. l must confess that I'm
little prejudiced against him. He's
friend of young Ross. you know.
and I never cared for that young
man. / believe that be doped."
Here was real information at last.
The Inspectors eyes glistened. He
leaned forward eagerly
And what makes you believe that,
sir?" he enquired.
Lee-Ramsden spread out his hands
slightly.
81 don't know. Nothing very much,
I suppose. Only I've knocked about
the world a good bit in my time. and
kept my eyes open. and there are
signs by which one can often tell a
dope addict"
THE eyes. and muscles of the
face" suggested the Inspector.
YES" agreed Lee Ramsden. And
certain habit OF boasting. remem-
Der him telling me that he and a
friend of his abroad had hit on the
easiest and quickest way of making
money ever invented He wouldn't
tell me what it was Not that | was
narficularIv iT1toroStnd
"He and a friend of his abroad"
echoed the Inspector. "He didn't
mention the friends name. | sup
poser" 3''
mo But | imagine he meant Ma.
hony. Mahony was in China at the
time. and Ross was always saying
what a fine fellow he was." an,
swered Lee.Ramsden. 5t.d. ,
The Inspector asked no more ques-
tions: he departed in very thought.
full mood. Lee-Ramsden watched him
go with smile of satisfaction. His
thoughts were disturbed by the en-
try of Mullins the butler.
Miss Ruth just rang up. sir" he
announced. 81 didn't disturb you be-
cause you were busy with the gen.
tleman. Miss Ruth is bringing a
friend. a Mr.. Mahony. to lunch"
bringing Mr.. Mahony to ,unch.
is she?" said Lee-Ramsden. That's
excellent. Mr. Mahony is
gentleman whom am particularly
anxious to meet. | shall have TO try
to think of something really bright
with which to entertain him."
4 FTER leaving the Little's house.
Ruth and Mahony got INTO
lluth's car and drove to a small
cafe in the Kings Road They found
an empty corner and sat down. Ma.
hony ordered coffee
Ruth glanced speculatively at
him.
You're angry with me. aren't
you." she said. d
"No." said Mahony.
mo. perhaps you're not" she al
mitted. "YOu don't look really angry
Just little panied and grieved and
terribly patient. | suppose you think
I'm an awful half wit
"Weli-yes. / do rather" said Ma
hOny. "You see. as an impromptu eff.
fort. that story you put up about us
at the Titles was quite a bright
effort. But what good is it going TO
do? All that stuff about me fetching
you from the cottage . the lnspec.
tor will disprove that in no time And
what are your people going to say
about it? 1t seems to me you've got
yourself into an unholy mix-up."
mo worse than the mix-up was
in when you fetched me out of
that house." she answered. And
couldn't very well stand by and see
you arrested for a murder ! knew
you hadn't committed You see,>my
guardian has told the police that /
was staying in the country with
Anne Dowson. He wouldn't believe
that I'D been kidnapped
"He wouldn't believe you'd been
kidnapped?" echoed Mahony. Then
what on earth did he think you'd
been doing?"
Ruth gave him brief account of
her interview with her guardian the
previous evening. and her arrange
ment with Anne Dowson.
That's why said all that about
you bringing me back from the cot.
tage in your car" she finished.
What else could say?"
Nothing very much" admitted
Mahony. But it's an Internally com.
plicated situation"
1t was an Internally complicated
situation. and he simply could not
imagine what was going to happen
next.
81 wonder what your guardian is
going to have to say when he finds
out what's happened" he observed.
why not come back to lunch and
meet him. and find out?" said Ruth.
AFTER all. I've told the Inspector
that we're pretty friendly: we'd bet.
ter act up to it."
"Ill come" said Mahony. Though
it's rather problematical whether l
shall stay to lunch"
fcopyrioht 1856. Hugh clevelvy
ee.Ramsden shrewdiy sums IN