The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-03-26

is?" asked Bobby.
MORA nodded. "Yes, it's a long
story"
Come inside" said Bobby.
But MORA shrank back. mo, no, !"
she said hurriedly. Lets go some
where and talk. There's something I
must tell you-before we go into the
house. Isn't there a cafe or some
place like that in the town? Some
where we could go?"
"All right" said Bobby, moving
unwillingly away from the door.
But why"
MORA stamped her foot. You'll
see when l tell you. Oh. do come!
There's not a minute to lose"
They yielded to her urgency.
About halfway down the main street
was the Orient Cafe. whose some
what grand name was not borne out
by the interior decoration. The three
of them filed in. 1t was a slack mo-
ment-half-past six.
They sat down at small table in
the corner. and Bobby ordered three
coffees.
"Now then?" he said.
wait till she's brought the cot.
fee," said MORA.
The waitress returned and list
lessly deposited three cups of tepid
coffee in front Of them.
Nov then" said Bobby again.
II hardly know where to begin,"
said MORA. 1T was in the train
going to London. Really the most
amazing coincidence. l went along
the corridor and"
She broke OF. Her seat faced the
door and she leant forward staring.
HE must have followed me-" she
said.
"Who?" cried frankie and Bobby
together.
"Bassington-ffrench," whispered
Mora.
you've seen him?"
Hes outside. l saw him. With
woman with red hair"
Mrs. Cayman." cried frankie.
She and Bobby jumped and ran to
the door. A protest came from MORA,
but neither Of them needed it. They
looked up and down the street but
Bassington-french was nowhere in
sight.
MORA joined them.
HAS he gomez" she asked. her
voice trembling. "Oh! do be careful.
He's dangerous-horribly danger
out"
He can't do anything so long as
we're all together" said Bobby.
Brace up. Moira." said frankie.
Don't be such rabbit"
well. we can't do anything for
the moment" said Bobby, leading the
way back to the table. Go on with
what you were telling US. MORA"
LIE PICKED up his cup of coffee.
L L frankie lost her balance and
fell against him. and the coffee
poured over the table.
Sorry" said frankie.
She stretched over to the adjoin.
ing table. which was laid for posi-
Bile diners. There was a cruet on it
with two glass-stoppered bottles con-
tanning oil and vinegar.
The oddity of Frankie's proceed
ings riveted Bobby's attention. She
took the vinegar bottle. emptied out
the vinegar into the slopbowl and
began to pour coffee into it from her
cup.
Have you gone batty, Frankie?"
asked Bobby. What the devil are
you doing?"
Taking a sample of this coffee
for George Arbuthnot to analyze,"
said frankie.
She turned to MORA.
THE games up. Moirai The whole
thing came to me in a fash as we
stood at the door just nowi When
| logged Bobby's elbow and made
him spill his coffee | saw your face.
You put something in our cups when
you sent us running to the door to
look for Bassington-ffrench. The
games up. Mrs. Nicholson or Tenn.
pleton or whatever you like to call
yourself!"
"Templeton?" cried Bobby.
Look at her face" cried frankie.
IF she denies it. ask her to come to
the vicarage and see if Mrs. Roberts
doesn't identify her."
Bobby did look at her. He saw that
face-that haunting. wistful face
transformed by a demoniac rage.
The beautiful mouth opened and a
stream OF foul and hideous curses
poured out She fumbled in her hand.
bag.
Bobby was still dazed. but he acted
in the nick of time 1t was his hand
that struck the pistol up.
For the first time in its history one
Of the mattresses hurried. With a
wild scream she shot out into the
street, calling: Help! Murder! Po-
licei"
fcosyiSit fosS-;5-s6. agatha CGyistisJ
frankie gets a letter. to-mor-