The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-11-27
. The Wrong Murderer

By HUGH CLEvELY

rather interfered with. However.
those small mistakes can easily be
rectified tonight And l don't think
our friend Mahony will be in posi-.
ton to trouble me much longer"
He stood there. a picture of tri.
umphant malice. smiling at the two
girls. Elsa drew away from him.
staring at him with utter horror in
her eyes.
at =. it was you who killed my
uncle?" she gasped in an unbeliev.
ing tone.
Lawson laughed. He was enjoy.
ing this situation. savouring every
second Of 1t.
st was l." he admitted boast
fully. "And as Miss Fraser has re-
marked, 1 have every intention Of
killing Mahony tonight. This place
is entirely surrounded by my men.
and Mahony is coming out here
alone. I'm really afraid that there's
nothing you can do about 1t"
There was a pause during which
nobody spoke. Then footsteps were
heard approaching the front door.
Mahony was arriving to keep his
appointment.
There was a tense. dramatic mo-
ment of waiting as the footsteps
crossed the hall. The door OF the
room opened and Mahony appeared
in the doorway. Then Lawson spoke
quickly, D..
Come in" he said. But don't
start, any funny business. because
if you do it will be rather unfortu-
nate, for these two girls"
| He got that out quickly. because
the last thing he wanted was fight
between Mahony and himself In that
room. Mahony. however. showed no
inclination to fight. His hand was
in the side pocket Of his coat. but
that was merely q precaution. II
Lawson started anything. be did not
want to be taken by surprise.
LIE advanced quite calmly and
L L casually into the room; his ex'
preston was serene aud upper.
turbed.
Sorry I'm a bit late" he said to
Elsa. and then to Ruth: Halo
Ruth, what are you doing here? l
didn't know you'd been invited to
the party"
81 wasn't invited. found out you
were coming and so l came too"
answered Ruth.
She paused. She couldn't under
stand his manner at all He had be-
trayed no surprise at seeing Law.
son there.
"Terence-don't you understand
that it's a trap?" she burs: out.
They've got the place surrounded
by men. and they want to kill you"
"Oh yes. l knew It was trap all
right. That was why came" an
swered Mahony.
sit wasn't a trap-not really" put
in Elsa desperately. 81 didn't
mean it to be a trap. | wanted to
help you. He :. he tricked me"
That's all right. Miss Little"
said Mahony. You thought it was
all part Of a film In which you were
playing the leading part. but you
didn't realize that Lawson was the
director. Is that rightly"
Smiling. he TUNED towards Law
son.
We'll. and what now?" he asked.
whats in the big scene for to
night?"
Lawson also was puzzled by Ma
hony's manner. 1t made him feel
uneasy. He did not understand how
Mahony could be so cool and IN
perturbed. Didn't the fellow realize
his danger? Or was be trying to
bluff his way out of IT?
THE big scene on the programme
for tonight is that you get what's
coming to you" be snarled. you're
finished. Mahony-finished: I've got
you where want you at last This
place is entirely surrounded by my
'nfeE . adAiss gou to submit quietly.
II anything happens to me. or IL
any, OF my men get hurt. these two
girls will pay for it: every blow you
strike will be a blow struck at
thsra" ola
Mahony listened with an air Of
polite interest He took out his
cigaret.case and Lit a cigaret casu-
ally.
You're clever fellow lawson"
he remarked dispassionately. ALSO.
unfortunately. you're about the big.
gest swine unhung. And hanging.
really. would be much too good for
you. Which is rather a pity. because
| have an idea that hanging within
the precincts OF some gaol is most
likely TO be your end"
Whatever nv end is going to be.
you won't live to see It." retorted
Lawson viciously. "Fve wasted
enough time talking to you. Now
I'm going to show you what hap
pens to people like you when they
come up against me-"
Copyright. 1856. Hugh clereiy)