The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-10-26
Chapter 80
sob
FALSE AT HEART

AFTER coffee had been served.
Lee-Ramsden took Mahony UP
to the study for a cigar. leaving
Ruth in the drawing-room. There
Lee-Ramsden's manner changed, be-
came altogether serious.
This is a nasty business. Ma.
hOny. a very nasty business" he
said. Il may seem rather casual
about it. but hate my ward being
mixed up in it. You were a friend of
young Ross. weren't you?"
YES" admitted Mahony.
And Ross pretended to be a
friend of Lawson. Actually he hated
INUNDATED and feared him. | don't
go about with my eyes shut. and I've
noticed the way Ross looked at Law.
son when he thought nobody was
watching him."
1t was absolute lies. of course; he
had noticed nothing of the kind; but
he spoke very convincingly. Mahony
was conscious of a new respect for
the old man.
"a charming fellow. Lawson.
continued Lee-Ramsden. $50 hand
some and cultured. And also. II I'm
any Judge of men. one of the most
unprincipled blackguards in crea-
ton. He seems to have been bob
bling up a good deal in this matter
last night and this morning. doesn't
he?"
He paused.
wont you tell me the whole
story?" he asked. iii help you If
can. My ward is a very good rea-
son why | should help you. | might
easily be useful; I'm not altogether
without brains. and even influence"
Again it was superbIy acted: the
old man appeared quite sincere. Ma
hony was quite won over. He told
Lee-Ramsden the whole story. At
the end OF the story Lee-Ramsden's
face was very stern.
s"Those fellows must be crushed"
he said. Utterly stamped out. Hang
ing's a damned sight too good for
them. I'm with you. Mahony. to the
last inch" =
He held out his hand. MahOny
took II. 1t was then that. for the first
time. Mahony noticed the curious
shape of Lee-Ramsden's hands.
/ a FTER Mahony had gone. Lee
, u Ramsden laughed. There was
still an air of amusement about him
when Mullins entered later in the
afternoon with his tea.
What did you think of young Ma
hOny. MuIlins?' he asked.
- fCig VI ulndig yOuuS man, IL
may say so. sir" replied Mullins.
Lee-Ramsden shook his head.
ION the contrary. Mullins. a very
extraordinary young man." said Lee
Ramsden. HE has both brains and
CUTS. like him. And that's a great
pity. because I'm afraid he's going
TO die young. Do you know what he
told me-"
mo sir" said Mullins.
He old ME" said Lee-Ramsden
In a shocked tone. that the foul
gang who kidnapped Miss Ruth
meant TO make her drug addict. so
that when they released her. she
and incidentally her money. would
still be entirely under their control
Isn't that dreadful?"
"Er =. yes. sir" said Mullins. He
hardly seemed to know how to an
swer.
Lee-Ramsden laughed.
Don't be a hypOcrite. Mullins:
the only dreadful part OF the scheme
from our point of view is that i; did
not succeed" he said genially
what will be really dreadful will
be If lose control of Ruth's money
when she's twenty-one. But | don't
intend to. Mullins: don't intend to. "
FTER leaving Lee Ramsdens
house. Mahony took the Under
ground to Noting Hill Gate Station
aud began to walk back to his lodg-
ings. About ten yards from the sta
ton entrance a man hurrying along
the pavement bumped into him
somewhat roughly.
Sorry" said the man.
He paused for a moment, looking
at Mahony curiously.
I Isn't your name Mahony?" he
asked Terence Mahony?"