The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-11-13
By HUGH CLEVELY


put In Elsa suddenly.
Everyone looked at her In sur
prise. Her face was flushed. and her
eyes were eager and pleading.
II thought he did," she went on
quickly. THAT was why l arranged
this this trap. But somehow
while was talking to him. began
to change my mind. He he
seemed to me to be telling the truth
when he said he didn't kill my uncle.
Oh. l do wish I'd never agreed to that
horrible plan Of letting you listen
to what he said"
TEARS were streaming down her
L cheeks. She turned to Mahony.
'Tm sorry. really I'm sorry" she
said piteously, Il suppose you hate
me for what I've done?"
mot at ALL" said Mahony politely
Nor did he. He merely thought she
was being stupid. like woman who
puts down a mouse-trap and ther
weeps when she catches mouse In
1t. He thought she was making
rather q lot OF unnecessary fuss.
Apart from that. he seemed to have
no feelings about her whatever.
What is 1t you want with me.
Dawkins?" asked inspector Ken.
nedy.
The sergeant had been regarding
this scene with eyes OF wonder.
Now he stepped forward with the
air OF man carrying important
news. He held out letter.
''I'd like you to look at this letter.
sir" he said. while was search.
ing Mahony's rooms this evening,
according to instructions. the post,
man delivered this for him. | opened
it. and when saw what it was about
l thought I'd better bring 1t along
to you right away"
Inspector Kennedy glanced
through the letter. and an expression
OF satisfaction crossed his face.
you were quite right. Dawkins."
he said. and then to Elsa: Well
leave you now. Miss Little"
He turned to Mahony.
"You come with US. Mahony," he
said.
Elsa stood helplessly and watched
them 60. She felt utterly miserable.
When they had gone she sank into
a chair and cried for long time.
A police car was waiting outside
the house. and the Inspector mo.
toned to Mahony to enter 1t. Ma.
hony did so.
Am | under arrest?" he asked.
Inspector Kennedy smiled. He had
a cheerful air.
wei. ron ought to be-" he said.
"And sou might be II hadn't dis
covered that you were speaking the
truth when you said you didn't know
Miss Fraser had been to Pennytields,
or where she was.
Besides. I'm hoping that II l
leave you at liberty for a bit may
find out exactly what your game is,
But ! don't propose to let you go
till we've got our hands on Miss
Fraser and heard what she has to
say, We're on our way to fetch her
now"
He handed a letter to Mahony.
perhaps you'd like to read this.
1t arrived for you this evening while
Sergeant Dawkins was searching
your ROOM"
Mahony opened the letter and
read II. 1t ran:
Dear Terence.
I'm writing this In a frantic hurry,
and 1t will probably be all mixed up.
hope you'll understand It.
After you'd left the house this
morning ! overheard my guardian
telephoning to Lawson telling him
everything you'd said. | tried to tele-
phone to you. but couldn't get you.
so l went off in my car to see Bassett.
man let me into the house. and
while ! was in Il there was an awful
fight upstairs, and when l went up to
see what was happening found a
man had been killed. ! got out Of the
house by the back door just as the
police were coming in at the front.
but | left my car outside the front
door
don't know what to do, ana 4
want to see you. l am sending you
this letter, and shall be waiting for
you tonight in an empty house at
number SIS st. Johns Wood Road.
Please come and see me as soon a.
you can.
Ruth.
'lt will be interesting to hear Misc
Fraser's story" said Inspector Ken.
nedy.
YES" agreed Mahony absent
mindedly.
Mahony wasn't exactly communi.
cative at any time. and certainly he
was less so than usual now. The fact
was. he could not get the considera.
ton Of his own stupidity out Of his
mind.
He had been deceived beautifully
by Lee-Ramsden. And when Lee.
Ramsden had betrayed him. the old
man had compounded the trick By
leading him to doubt the loyalty Of
Ruth. Now. partly because OF Ma,
hony's fatal error. Ruth was In dan.
ger. More danger than Inspector
Kennedy suspected.
Copyright. 1885. Hugh ClerelyI
Mahony and Kennedy strike q