The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-01-11
Chapter "a
BLACkMAIL

EOX regarded him keenly. LAMAR
L seemed very sure Of himself.
Knew all the tricks of manners.
could dance divinely, and talk vivid
ly of far countries and big game
hunts at early dawn-that must
have intrigued Nell West. but AL
laire had never had any use for him.
"Well, let's have it." he said.
whats on your mind, Mr.. LAMAR"
The other waved hand.
This is hardly the place-may l
have the honor to call?"
Whats the matter with right
now?"
LAMAR shrugged.
Nothing. But let us go where we
won't be disturbed"
He seemed to know his way
around the house. He took Fox down
stairs to the little reception room
with the brassbound clock. They sat
down and LAMAR took cigaret
out of long silver case and then
placed the case at Fox's elbow with
a polite nod.
"Mr. Fox" he said. lighting up and
leaning back in cloud Of smoke. 81
have come across something that
might cause some unpleasantness
and notoriety If it should be pub
lished abroad"
Fox said nothing.
."You do not know of what speak
perhaps?" LAMAR queried.
mot exactly" said Fox. Begin
at the beginning"
"Ah-yes." LAMAR nodded, and
smoked for a minute in silence. Fox
wondered what nationality he was.
There was a lot of English in him
and some French and Spanish too.
Might have been somebody once
he'd been educated at an American
or English university. that was
cinch.
"Mr. Fox" he said suddenly, "did
you notice anything unusual the
night of the Legation Club Polo Ball
given under the auspices of your
Embassy"
The attache was suddenly alert.
81 don't think So" he said calmly.
Remarkable" unused LAMAR. Il
would have thought you had. Well.
Mr.. Fox, wouldn't have noticed any
thing either-except that l came out
on the yerandah late that evening to
smoke, to look at the stars, to wait
for a friend-perhaps," he smiled
lazily, land l heard Novaes. your
Embassy runner, chattering with
the carriage drivers.
"He had driven to the Rosina B
with the beautiful Senorita West.
The good Novaes was very curious
why the beautiful Sehorita wanted
to go to the docks at night. ], too,
was curious. Strange. 1 thought.
What business could bring Miss
West to the docks at Rosina b."
He nodded at Fox. Interesting,
do you not think? The ways of
women are strange. are they not?"
Fox nodded slowly. He had to pick
his way carefully here.
Strange" he agreed. well, what
about it,"
"The polo party left" LAMAR con.
tinued, rather ahead of their sched-
ule-the fear of revolution perhaps
and yet l was interested in why
a lady like Miss West should go to
the docks. There must have been
something very attractive there to
have drawn a lady of her tastes and
refinement. Perhaps l too would en-
Joy 1t. l was at loose ends. investi-
gated"
LIE PAUSED and inhaled deeply
l. Il on his cigaret. Fox sat very still.
The man reminded him of a hand
some powerful cat lazily paving
ball of yarn with sheathed claws.
"And what do you think. Mr.. Fox?
What do you think discovered?"
"a few ships, for one thing" haz-
arded Fox.
LAMAR bent forward.
This must remain a secret be-
tween u.s." he said deeply, ION your
honor as a gentleman. A man had
been shot on the docks that night.
Mr.. Fox. Shot by a woman for whom
the police were even then searching.
He fingered at deaths door for
few days and then died. The lady,
Mr.. Fox, had committed-murder!"
Something chased up and down
George Fox's spine. This was a new
one on MIN. He hadn't known Hildez
had died. He'd meant to follow the
case, but he'd been so busy at the
Embassy he hadn't had chance.
And. anyhow. getting Allaire of had
been all that mattered.
"Murder" reneated LAMAR look.