The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-06-02


Hope wanted to be entertained, he
had, he said, no objection. Dirk
knew that they would go. Later,
alone with Rupert, he brought up
the subject of the car.
Hope probably knows nothing
about driving in New York. I'll find
the right chauffeur, if you like"
Rupert was glad to be relieved.
He agreed that Hope was safer with
a chauffeur.
its the formality he wants." Dirk
thought. $50 much the better"
By Saturday Dirk, who had had
no difficulty in tracing the green
taxicab finally found it's driver at
home. He and another lad drove the
cab for man in Harlem.
The day driver had been easy
enough to find, but the night driver
appeared never to take time for
sleep. Dirk caught him, however. a
toughened bachelor with no mem.
DRY for dates or places. Dirk. who
had discovered this lack by obscure
processes learned at the bar, finally
said:
Suppose told you that last Mon
day morning at exactly three o'clock
you wrecked my car, parked in Loo
kett Street in Brooklyn. I'll say you
didn't know it, since you were going
so fast, but here's your number"
Three o'clock was the moment
when Dirk. detained by a red light,
had seen the green cab vanish in
the direction of East River. But the
driver could be forced into no en-
tightening alibi.
well, suppose you told me-" he
remarked. I'D say see the cab-owner,
or the bonding company"
Dirk replaced the notation of hour
and number in his pocket. Since
you recall the accident :" he OBJ
served.
Il don't recall no accident. 1 run
this cab all over Long Island, New
Joisy. If l remembered things I'd go
nuts. You see the bonding company"
Dirk said that he would, and left,
calling himself a sorry detective.
Had he reused the mans suspicious?
He could not tell. Certainly the man
had increased his own. 1t had been
no casual taxi that Hope had sig
nailed.
D UPERT had bought fashionable
N tOwn-car that morning, and Dirk
went from the cab-driver's house to
call on Genevieve, his one-time nurse.
Genevieve had married moderately
successful plumber. A widow now,
she lived in the Bronx with her son
Martin, steady, clean-eyed lad of
twenty-one.
Martin and Dirk had played to-
gether as children and often in the
last two years Dirk had ridden out
of his way to turn in at the garage
where Martin worked and have the
boy look at his gas or change a tire. :
1t was Martin he had in mind when
he promised Rupert to find the right
chauffeur.
Martin could hardly believe his
luck at the prospect of work in Mis-
ter Dirk's family. Dirk knew his
love and loyalty, and while Rupert
might find some fault with his youth,
Dirk knew, too, that Martins skill
with car, his good sense and habits,
and perhaps most of all, the appear
ance of his fine young figure in the
JOris livery would have their effect.
When Genevieve had gone out he
gave Martin a brief version of the
situation. Mrs. Joris, without her
knowledge. was to be guarded and
protected. Martin, also without her
knowledge, was to make careful note
of what places she visited, or whom
she took into the car. These were
to be reported to Dirk. Mr.. Rupert
Joris was in no way concerned.
You are doing this for me. And
you are to keep absolutely quiet.
You are also Mrs. Joris's chauffeur,
and at her command. You will be
paid for both jobs"
Martin said that he understood,
and believed that he did. 1t was, he
considered, like the job OF a friend
of his. chauffeur and guard to a
child whose wealthy father had re-
ceived threats from kidnappers. Mis-
ter Dirk had no doubt got wind of
some such conspiracy against his
sister-in-law.
You can depend on me. Mister
Dirk"
Martin. Dirk felt, was enough for
the daytime, but, chauffeur at her
command, or not, nothing was to
prevent Hope from making noe
turnal excursions in a taxi, if she
felt so inclined. He therefore sta
toned two detectives near the Joris
gates at night.
Dirk knew that Hope had not been
out at night since Monday, except
in Rupert's company. He had him.
self kept watch. Now he could sleep.
| (Copyrfsh.. 1885. Margaret Ball RoSston)
Hope passes, tomorrow, through
! a difficult situation.