The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-08-13
Chapter So
SUICIDE

. ABOUT this ere business or
Monday night. mister" ALT Dur.
ley said to Hylton at the Moreches.
ter station. What I told you about
meeting the young councilman who
'ad the cigaret case was gospel, I'll
swear to that in the box. It's about
when e left 1 thought ought to tell
you of, like"
What happened them"
well mister after the young gen.
nelman 'ad gone l thought to myself.
ALT Durley where's yer supper" and
seeing I was near the big 'ouse up
the lane. thought I'd go up and see
II there was anything doing"
See il you could steal anything"
the Superintendent put in. Go on"
Durley blinked his eyes virtuously
at t. interruption.
ITO see IL there was anything do
ing. 'Corse knew the oil boy was
pretty close and all that, but I'd
thought no arm in 'aving a look
round. so up went. There's a kind
OF a back drive runs up to the 'ouse
from the lane and was just about
turning in there when card some
one acoming down it. drew back a
bit into the shadow and in about 'alf
a minute along comes the SER
geant-"
"The wf1at?" Hylton asked.
"The police sergeant from Ender.
ton. the same one as you took me to
see last night"
Hylton looked from Durley to the
Superintendent. You're talking
through your hat Durley, you must
have made a mistake"
mot likely. saw i'm as plain as
plain. I've seen Sergeant White
about on the roads fifty times and l
reckergnized him."
mot many minutes after the arr
hour"
What half hour?"
Seven. mister, was in Enderton
before eight"
Hylton stared at the tramp with
a worried expression on his face
he was recalling wildly that unex-
planned moment in the police cot
tage when Alice White had plucked
him by the arm.
You're spinning yarn Durley."
he said suddenly. whats at the back
of it? What have you got against
Sergeant White?"
Honest to Gawd mister it's the
truth. 1 haven't got a thing against
the Sergeant. 'e's never 'ad me up
or anything. All know is the truth
and that is Sergeant White come
down the back drive there as near
after 'arf past seven Monday night
as doesn't matter"
"Um. Surprising we pretend to be.
lieve you for minute. what did you
do them"
Mister" ALT Durley said with
great earnestness. 81 beat it straight
to the Oops at Enderton-I was
there before eight. can prove it."
s why are you suddenly telling us
this yarn Durley?" Hylton asked.
why one tale last night and an.
other now?"
Because I've beeL thinking Mis-
ter. and I'm not quite a fool yet. First
thing says to myself when I card
the old boy had been kiboshed was
you old your tongue ALI Durley:
them as don't speak can't get into
trouble says. All right. Then
comes yesterday. me asking for a
lift innocent-like and coping all this
packet of trouble.
81 was fair put about can tell you.
especially when you ran me into
Sergeant Whites 'ouse. told the
tale as thought best at the moment
leaving out about going any nearer
the big ouse than the end Of the lane.
But last night in the cell lad time
to think a bit more. and though,
suppose the Sergeant saw me same
time as seen inn.
my Gawd, that put me in a sweat,
/ don't mind telling you Mister.
could see meself Angling next. So
this afternoon I decided I might as
well tell the extra bit. and that's
Gawd's own Gospel truth mister If
It's on me death-bed."
aCEND him back to the cells Su'
~ per-" Hyiton sa. after a long
pause. and when Mr.. ALI Durley had
been duly disposed OF the two police
officers faced each other.
= well. what do you make OF it?'
the Superintendent asked.
Hylton shook his head. Il honestly
don't know what to make OF it He
must be lying of course. but why?"
"Why should he go to all this
trouble to Lief"
Dammit all that's Just what I'm
askiurD