The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-10-21
Chapter Is
RUTH AGAIN

T.. Chapter Is ..i.
:, Il RUTH AGAIN rrs >
THERE was another brief pause
Elsa had been growing restless
during this process oil, questions. ant
answers. It seemed to her to be
fragrant injustice that MahonJ
should be standing there so very
much alive. and with such an IN
worried air, when he hf just killed
her uncle.
He was guilty; he ought to be
made to suffer for it, and the sooner
the better.
what are you wasting time for?'
she demanded wildly. you know he
did it. Why don't you take him to
prison?"
Her vindictiveness stung Mahony
again.
"Miss Little" he Said very ear
nestly. 81 swear on my honor that !
did not kill your uncle. Won't you
try to believe me?"
1t was unlike Mahony to speak in
that fashion. He was not the kind OF
man who went about swearing
things on his honor. But he wished
desperately to convince Elsa that
he was innocent.
He did not convince her. His out
burst only seemed to her to be evil
dence of his consumnate hypoc-
risy.
"Honor!" she exclaimed scorn.
fully. What does a creature like
you know of honor? Do you think |
{ don't realize that all the things you
told the Inspector about your move
ments last night were lies? know
1t was your voice | heard In the
study last night when my uncle was
killed. know you were there and
that you killed him."
Il tell you | didn't kill him." said
Mahony vehemently.
There was nothing he could do.
He shrugged his shoulders slightly.
What was the good of going on
arguing?
Lawson turned aside and busted
himself lighting cigaret. He had
savored this last bit Of by-play with
all the enjoyment of a connoisseur
OF the theater enjoying well-acted
scene from an amusing play.
The Inspector was frowning
Slightly. AS yet he had not quite
made up his mind what he was go
ing to do. He rather thought that he
was going to detain Mahony on sus-
picion. He~ was Just about to put
these Intentions into effect when
the door of the room opened. and
! the maids voice announced:
Miss Fraser to see you. Miss"
: Ruth Fraser entered The room.
D UTH'S sudden appearance is
IN quite easily accounted for.
She awakened late that morning
after a good sleep. and her break.
fast was brought to her in bed.
While she was breakfasting, her
guardian entered her room to see
her.
Good morning. my DEAR" he said.
u just looked in to remind you that
you'd better fix up your story about
staying with an old school friend
pretty quickly. AS soon as you've
done it | must inform the police
that you have returned.
I'll do it now" said Ruth.
There was telephone by her bed.
side. and she lifted the receiver and
called a number in Sussex. The
number she rang belonged to a girl
named Anne Dowson, with whom
she had been at school. Anne was a
wild. eccentric. good-natured girl.
who lived in a tiny cottage on the
edge OF nowhere and painted land.
scapes for living.
Halo. Anne" said Ruth. Look
here. old bag. If anybody asks. can
you tell them that I've been staying
with you for the last three or four
days? Do you mind?"
"Dee-lighted. I'm Shore" replied
Anne. But If anybody does want to
ask. they'll have to do it pretty
quickly. because I'm off to Berlin
for show of pictures today. l don't
suppose you'll mind hat. though"
That's grand" said. Ruth.
"Thanks ever so much. Anne. How
are the landscapes going these
days?"
They've gone." answered Anne,
who had rather a literal mind.
They went a fortnight ago. The
show starts tomorrow"
"Oh. you're going to a show of
your own pictures. are your" said
Ruth. That's good. But what real.
ly meant was. how Is art going d?
Are you selling lots of stuff. and
making a heap of money!"
I'm hanged IL know" answered
Anne. Incidentally. 1 ian hear my
hired car stopping outside. So
must fly. Goodbye. my pet Be care
full" n "a