The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-10-12
Chapter Seven
MURDER

"ShS6n
MR.. LITTLE left the room. Law.
son waited. His dark eyes were
glowing, aud his fists were tightly
clenched. Ali his muscles were taut
with suspense. From inside the
study he heard the front door open.
Mahony's voice sounded in the hall.
"rve brought Miss little home.
She's unconscious. But don't think
there's much wrong with her."
Lawson's tensed muscles relaxed.
Now he knew the worst In the hall
he heard Mr.. Little's voice. hoarse
and indignant
What does this mean? What have
You beer doing to Aer? Elsa! -. /.
Elsa! What's the matter with
her? Has she been burt?"
Through the slightly open door.
way Lawson could see a. blacky
CARRIED monk in the hail. with Elsa
in his arms. So that was what Ma
hony had done-pretended to be one
OF his own men. In that case he had
probably carried out this business
single-handed. And If SO. there was
hone for him yet.
He glanced around him quickly.
Hanging over the mantelpiece was a
small, sharp-pointed. ornamental
dagger. He picked it up and
crouched against the wall Of the
room. Just inside the doorway.
Mahony saw the light in the study
ami made for the study door.
"She was kidnapped by your
friend Lawson" be said grimly. u
managed to get her away from his
toughs. Now for heavens sale stop
suuawking; gull yourself together
and try to be useful
He thrust open the "tudy door
with his foot, entered the room, and
crossed to small sofa. He did mot
see Lawson crouched against the
wall. Mr.. Little entered almost i'm
mediately behind him.
"Lawson!" he exclaimed in an in.
credulous tome. Lawson! I don't be-
Eeye. 80
His voice died away abruptly In a
choking gurgle as Lawson's knife
slid neatly into his Ia, k below the
shoulder blade. piercing to the heart.
Et3
|NIAHONY heard Mr.. Little gasp as
4tA he was laying Elsa down on the
sofa. He turned quickly. just in time
/ to see the back of a tall figure van
ishing through the doorway. The
door slammed to as Mr.. Little. al.
ready dead. subsidei in a heap on
the floor.
+ Mahony stepped quickly forward
ar bent over Mr. Little. The hilt OF
the knife sticking Out of his back
made clear what had Happened. The
front door OF the house slammed.
from outsice came the sound of a
car engine accelerating. The sound
faded.
Mahony withdrew tie knife from
Mr.. Little's back. found some brandy.
and tried to revive him. But couple
OF minutes effort showed him that
1t was useless. and he abandoned
the attempt and pauseU to. consider,
what his next move should be.
Again the front docr.ben rang,
Shrilly. >sSsss y
"Oh. damn!" said Mahony. and
went to the window and looked out.
On the front doorstep stood a
policeman. @sEvYRn
From the sofa came a long, shudI
dering sigh. Elsa moved slightly:
she stretched out her arms In the
manner OF one awaking from sleep
and opened her eyes wide. The
sound OF a movement from Mahony
caused her to look in his direction
AS yet she had no; fully recovered
from the effect OF the drug: she had
q Sazed. sleepy look. Her blue eyes.
wide open, stared at Mahony's
masked. cowled figure with a bewil-
dered question in them She hardly
seemed to know where she was. or
how she got there.
The front door-ben rang again.
insistently. Elsa lookeu away from
Eahony towards he door. Her
glance encountered the still, CHASTITY
form Of Der uncle Tying stretched
out near the door. The knife.
bloodied up to the hllt. was by him
on the carpet
She shrank back: her eyes opened
wider: her hand went to her mouth
in an instructive gesture OF horror