The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-02-28

THAT was too bad" he said. as
she finished, having perhaps made
more detailed story of it t h L
seemed strictly necessary. But you
seem to have made a very good re
covery." -.
I'VE won't admit she's cured yet
We're keeping her with u.s." said
Sylvia.
The Doctors gaze went to Sylvia
Something like a very faint smile
came to his lips. but passed almost
Immediately.
81 should keep her with you as
long as possible" he said gravely
frankie was sitting between hel
host and DR.. Nicholson. Henry
Bassington-ffrench was decidedly
moody tonight. His hands twitched
he ate next to nothing. and he took
no part in the conversation.
Mrs. Nicholson. opposite. had q
difficult time with him. and turned
| to Roger with obvious relief. She
talked to him in a desultory fash
ion. but frankie noticed that heI
eyes were never long absent from
her husbands face.
DR.. Nicholson was talking about
life in the country. do you know
what a culture is. Lady Frances?
do you mean book-learning %
asked frankie. rather puzzled.
mo. no. was referring to germs
They develop. you know. in specially
prepared serum. The country. Lazy
Frances Is little like that. There
is time. and space. and infinite leis-
dre-suitable conditions. you see,
for development"
n do you mean bad things?" asked
frankie.
THAT depends. Lady Frances. on
the kind Of germ cultivated"
Idiotic conversation. thoug b
frankie. Why should it make you
feel creepy? Yet 1t did! She said
flippantly. II expect I'm developing
all sorts of dark qualities.
LIE looked at her and said calm
Il ly: "Oh. no. DONE think so,
Lady Frances. think you would
always be on the side of law and
order"
Was there faint emphasis on the
word law?
Suddenly. across the table Mrs.
Nicholson said. MY husband prides
himself on summing up character. "
DR.. Nicholson nodded his head
gently. "Quite right. MORA. Little
things interest me-" He turned to
frankie again. Il had heard of your
accident. you know. One thing about
it intrigued me very much"
"Yes?" said frankie. her heart
beating suddenly.
1.-THE doctor who was passing. The
one who brought you in here"
"Yes?"
HE must have had a curious
characterize turn his car before
going TO the rescue"
IL don't understand"
"Of course not. You were uncon-
scious. But young Reeves. the mes
senger boy. came from Staverley on
his bicycle. and no car passed him.
Yet he comes round the corner.
finds the smash. and the doctors
car pointing the same way he was
going-towards London.
"You see the point? The Doctor
did not come from the direction of
Staverley. so he must have come
the other way. down the hill. But
In that case. his car should have
been pointing toward Staverley. But
it wasn't. Therefore he must have
turned it,"
Unless he had come from Staver.
ley some time before" said frankie.
Then his car would have been
standing there as you came down
the hill Was it?"
Il don't remember" said frankie.
Il don't think So"
tc:sYou sound like a detective. Jas
per-" said Mrs. Nicholson. "And all
about nothing at ALL"
Little things interest me-" said
Nicholson. He turned to his hostess
and frankie drew breath OF relief.
= Why had he catechized her like
that? How had he found out all
about the accident? Little things
interest me-" he had said. Was that
all there was to 1t? frankie re.
membered the dark-blue Talbot and
the fact that Carstairs had been a
Canadian. II seemed to her that DR..
Nicholson was a sinister man.
She kept out of his way after din.
ner. attaching herself to the gentle,
fragile Mrs. Nicholson. She noticed
that all the time Mrs. Nicholson's
eyes still watched her husband. Was
it love. frankie wondered. or fear ?
We'll. said Roger after they had
gone. what do you think of our
DR.. Nicholson? A very forceful per-
sonality. hasn't hep"
I'm like Sylvia" said frankie.
Il don't think like him very much.
like her better"
(Copyr;SAs Ioss-;s-so. AEa,Ea cEyisfisJ