The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-11-14
Chapter SO
EMPTY HOUSE

EMPTY HOUSE
NFAHONY was filed with forebod.
Ava ing. Number 51S st. Johns
Wood Road was the house where he
had left Lawson's crooks tied up.
Would Ruth be there when he and
Inspector Kennedy arrived?
In a quarter Of an hour they had
arrived, had sprung up the steps,
and found the front door slightly
open. They went in; the house was
silent.
Inspector Kennedy flashed his
electric torch in front Of him. The
first room they entered was the
drawing-room in which Mahony had
left the two bound crooks. On the
floor were pieces Of the rope which
Mahony had used to tie the two men.
The rope had been cut.
Inspector Kennedy examined It.
trowning. Sergeant Dawkins uttered
and exclamation and stopped and
picked something up from a corner.
"Halloi" he said. This looks as
though she's been here" 9.
He held out a woman's bag.
The bag was Ruth's; the contents
proved that. But neither Ruth nor
anybody else was in the house.
II wonder what's happened to
herr" said Inspector Kennedy in a
worried tone. Have you any ideas
on the subject, Mahony?"
For moment Mahony did not an.
swer. His heart was full of fear for
Ruth. So far as he could see. only
one thing could have happened to
her.
"I'm afraid she's fallen into the
hands of the dope and kidnapping
gang" he said in low voice.
Inspector Kennedy nodded.
"Have you any idea where they
could have taken herr" he asked.
"None at ALL" answered Mahony.
There was a pause. Then the In
spector asked another question.
where does Lawson come into all
this? What is the meaning of that
reference to him in her letter."
"He's the head of the dope and
kidnapping gang" answered Ma
hony briefly.
"What-Ambrose Lawson?" ex.
claimed the Inspector in an amazed
voice. Have you any proof of your
statement"
"Not a scrap" answered Mahony.
eff you accused him. he'd only laugh
In your face. But after you'd left the
house he'd make arrangements 10
have you quietly murdered. Think
this over. told Bassett was pretty
sure Lawson was the head of the
gang. l told Lee-Ramsden that I'd
told Bassett. Lee-Ramsden immedi-
ately told Lawson. Within about an
hour of Lee-Ramsden telephoning
Lawson this morning Bassett's house
was attacked by armed gunner.
Doesn't that strike you as peculiar?"
very peculiar" agreed Inspector
Kennedy dryly.
He was silent for time. thinking.
Mahony's statement surprised him.
but he was not altogether disin.
clined to believe 1t. Inspector Ken
nedy looked at Mahony very keenly.
I'm not going to keep you any
longer now. Mahony." he said In a
slow. meaning voice. 81 expect you'll
have a lot to do tonight. But I'm
letting you go on the condition thai
you report at my Office at the Yard
at ten in the morning. and tell me II
you have any news Of Miss Fraser.
Is that bargain?"
Mahony perfectly understood that
the Inspector was giving him a
chance to try to rescue Ruth. He
did not blame the Inspector for the
condition attached to that chance.
That's bargain" he said CURLY.
"Good luck to YOU" said Inspector
Kennedy.
WITH that Mahony left the house.
w When he had gone Sergeant
Dawkins spoke to Inspector Ken.
nedy.
what do you reckon he'll do. sir?"
he asked.
The Inspector shook his head.
81 don't know. Something pretty
drastic IL I'm any Judge Of character.
Ishouldn't be surprised ii somebody
gets hurt tonight"
But Lawson would probably not be
easy to catch: he would be guarded.
Mahony smiled grimiy: he had
thought Of a way OF catching him.
Elsa had played one part tonight:
now she could play another. But she
need not know she was playing IL.