The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-03-18

IduhiS anu LII NiCuOlSOu lS-
NAMED behind after the other peo-
pie departed. the Coroner having
shaken hands with Sylvia and ut
tered a few words of sympathy.
81 think there are some letters for
you. frankie DEAR" said Sylvia.
"You won't mind if leave you now
and go and lie down. It's all been
so awful"
frankie turned to Roger. Roger.
Bobby's disappeared"
"Disappeared?"
frankie explained in a few rapid
words.
81 don't like the sound of it," said
Roger slowly.
Frankie's heart sank. You don't
Think"
"Oh! it may be all right, but
Sh, here comes Nicholson"
The Doctor entered the room with
his noiseless tread. He was rubbing
his hands together and smiling.
THAT went off very WE'LL" he
said. VERY well indeed. DR.. David
son was most tactful and consider
ate. We may consider ourselves
very lucky to have had him as our
local Coroner"
"a good stage performance. in
fact" said frankie in a hard voice.
Nicholson looked at her in sur
prise.
81 know what Lady Frances is
feeling" said Roger. 81 feel the
same. My brother was murdered.
DR.. Nicholson"
He did not see. as frankie did,
the startled expression that sprang
into the Doctors eyes.
II mean what | say" said Roger.
interrupting Nicholson as he was
about to reply. 1.-THE criminal
brutes who induced my brother to
become, a slave to that drug MUIR
dered him just as truly as if they
had struck him down."
His angry eyes looked straight in
to the Doctors.
Il mean to get even with them"
he said.
DR.. Nicholson shook his head sad
ly.
Il cannot say / disagree with
you," he said.
IDEAS were whirling through
L Frankie's head one idea in
particular.
at can't be-" she was saying to
herself. THAT would be too mon.
strous. And yet-his whole alibi de
ponds on her word. But in that
case"
She reused herself to find Nichol-
son speaking to her.
you came down by car, Lady
Frances? No accident this timer"
frankie felt she simply hated that
smile.
NO." she said. 81 think it's a
pity to go in too much for accidents
don't you?"
She wondered whether she had
imagined it. or whether his eyelids
really flickered for a moment.
Perhaps your chauffeur drove
you this timer"
"My chauffeur" said frankie.
has disappeared. de was last seen
heading for the Grange"
Nicholson raised his eyebrows.
Really? Have I-some attraction
in the kitchen?"
lat any rate that is where he was
last seen." said Frantic.
"You sound quite dramatic" said
Nicholson. Possibly you are pay.
ing too much attention to local COS.
sip"
He paused. His voice altered
slightly in tone. Il have even had
story brought to my ears that my
wife and your chauffeur had been
seen talking together down by the
river"
rs that it?" thought frankie. rs
he going to pretend that his wife
has run off with my chauffeur"
Aloud she said. Hawkins is quite
above the average chauffeur"
so it seems" said Nicholson. He
turned to Roger 81 must be going.
Believe me. all my sympathies are
with you and Mrs. Bassington.
french"
Roger went out into the hall with
him. frankie followed. On the hall
table were a couple of letters ad.
dressed to her. One was a bill. The
other was in Bobby's handwriting.
Nicholson and Roger were on the
doorstep.
She tore it open.
Dear frankie. lwrote Bobbyl
I'm on the trail at last. Follow
me as sc On as possible to Chipping
Somerton. You'd better come by
train and not by car The Bentley
too noticeable. The trains aren't
too good. hut you can get there all
right. You're to come to q house
called Tudor Cottage III explain to
you just exactly how to find it.
Don't ask the way, Here followed
some minute directions. Have you
got that clear? Don't tell anyone.
This was heavily underlined.l
Bobby.
frankie crushed the letter ex.
citedly in the palm Of her hand.
(Cotrrishs I055-ss-so. 1Faska CEyistisI
frankie fdhts dASnaraKatv o.