The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-07-30
Chapter "a
CIGARET CASE

THE constable closed his book
IL with a snap; such levity did not
commend itself to him. "I'm afraid
you'll be earring more about this,
Mr.. Fanshawe." he said.
II don't doubt It," Charles Fan.
shave answered bitterly as he en-.
gagged low gear.
"Can you beat it?" Fanshawe
asked as they moved away again.
Wouldn't that burn you up? Well.
that's flyer up the spout anyway
Here's the put ] was telling you
about where the barmaid is, sup
pose it's her night IF as well. Let's
stop and have one. shall WEI"
Hylton had not the heart to urge
the hurry he was l. and they duly
climbed out of the car on the cob
bled approach in front of the Inn.
"Come on. Cut-throat Cuthbert."
Fanshawe called out boisterously to
the tramp. you may as well drown
your sorrows with the rest Of US"
The figure in the back of the car
needed no second invitation and
within half minute they were all
three standing in the bar.
Here, let me do this" Hylton
begged. but young Fanshawe
wouldn't hear of 1t. He slapped
down half crown or the counter
and ordered three pints of beer in
tankards. Fanshawe drained his IN
two workmanlike gulps and said.
swell. suppose we better be getting
along. How much further are you
coming. Desperate Dick?"
"This ere II do me thank zee. sill"
the tramp said.
IL expect you're every sort of ras-
cal unhanged." Fanshawe said. "but
] suppose you'll want something
for supper. Drin'- yourself to death
on this"
The tramp took the proffered two
shillings in surprise. In a curious
way the gift seemed to affect him
quite strongly.
"My names ALT Durley." he said.
"and | reckon you two gennelmen
are gennelmen. Treated me prop
erly you ave. And no ones ever
done me good turn and not got 1t
back" He laughed. "That rozzer
didn't half throw is weight about.
did e? But e didn't know every.
thing. any road. e didn't know as
I'd taken this. for a start"
Mr.. Durley fished about in his
voluminous clothing and produced
small black" overed book. which
he threw on the counter.
'My God. the constable's note.
book" Fanshawe cried in incredu.
lous delight. How the hell did you
get that. Tired Tim?"
! "We aren't all as soft as we look"
Mr.. Durley replied graphically.
Kingsley Hylton. though amused.
was a trifle thoughtful.
Problem Of the week: how in con
science can an Inspector Of Police
allow constable notebook to be
stolen and say or do nothing about
it?
WHEN Mr.. Durley had explored
W his various garments to pro-
duce the notebook Hylton's quick
eye had spotted the shining top of
something he hardly expected to
see in tramp's waistcoat pocket.
mice cigaret Ease you've got
there" he said.
MIR. Durley obligingly produced
the case for further inspection.
''Not too bad. is it?" he said. worth
shilling or two III be hound. What
1t wants is twentv cigarets inside
1t to make it look better He opened
the case to show Its lamentable
emptiness and Hylton gave a start
Engraved on the inside OF the case
in the replica of a fiamboyant femi.
nine hand were the words
Dale Shipley
from r. 1882.
How did you come by that?" he
asked at length. Mr.. Durley re-
stored the case to one of his many
pockets and gave wink. Some
times things 'appen very fortunate
in this world" he remarked.
Drink up your beer and come
on" Fanshawe urged. cor l shall
be late"
"Half q minute" Hylton said
speaking quietly so as not to at
tract the attention of the barmaid
81 didn't want to parade the fact
but I'm afraid I've got to now. I
am q Detectiv, inspector from
Scotland Yard. Here's my card"
Stupefied silence followed this
somewhat staggerin: revelation