The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-10-05

/ DeIleVe not 70 near. he drank MS
beer alone. Probably playing a
lone hand, Neill figured. Eyster
knows him, but he is in terror Of
him. Certainly it must have been
one or another of these two who
had shot Tanning.
When he had finished eating,
Neill strolled out and paused at
the desk. "Wickesy," he asked
who is the big fellow at the bar
the stoop-Shouldered MANI"
That's the guy you was asking
about this morning. Ira Buckles
is the name"
when did he conner"
Late Tuesday night"
'How did ne get to Absalom's?"
Il couldn't tell you, mister. !
just see him walk in the door" The
hotel keepers face sharpened with
curiosity. why do you ask?"
"Oh, nothing. Thought I had seen
him before somewhere. !"
As Neill made his way to the
door, Buckles happened to turn
and their eyes met. An ugly look
came into the big mans face; ha-
tired and defiance. That look said:
Well you know me and / know
youi What are you going to do
about it? And Neill had to take it.
He and Janet were in this mans
power.
He paused on the porch to think
things through. He was notso keen
to 60 to Baltimore. Still, he
thought, it's clear that Buckles
isn't afraid of me. He's not going
to run away. I'll only be gone a few
hours and l may be able to bring
back the proof ! need. He went
down the steps.
A Rich Old Lady
A T TWO o'clock Neill was de-
"a posted at the door of a hand
some modern apartment house on
Baltimore's finest street. The door
man and the elevator boy were
negroes. Neill showed them the
photographs Of Tanning, but they
shook their heads. Never had seen
such a person, they said. After all,
the photographs of a dead man do
not convey much.
Il know he was a frequent visi-
tor to somebody in this house."
said Neill. Picture a man six feet
two in height, slim and broad
shouldered, black hair and eyes,
rosy skin, very fine looking. AL
ways elegantly dressed, fond of
unusual shirts and cravats."
The two negroes glanced at each
other, grinning. Miss Rayner's
friend. " they said.
who is Miss Rayner?"
Don't you know Miss Emma
Rayner, boss? Everybody know
her. One of the richest women in
Baltimore. She real old now, and
never goes out no more" They
looked at the photographs again
That's the gentleman what come
to see her all right. but he look
different when he's dead"
Well, most of us do, said Neill.
What name did he give when he
came here?"
Didn't give no name"
Don't you have to send the
names up2"
yes sir, boss. But the first time
he come somebody brought him,
and after that we was told to show
him up whenever he come"
What other gentlemen callers
has Miss Rayner had recently?"
Nobody but her lawyer, Mr..
Osgood. and her agent. Mr.. Bar
ney."
Neill made memo. well, show
me up now" he said.
The negroes hesitated, but he
faced them down. The door Of
Miss Rayner's apartment was
opened by a neat colored maid.
do Miss Rayner know your" she
asked.
mo"
'Taint no use then. Miss Ray
ner see no gentlemen callers she
don't know"
TELL her It Is somebody from
Mr.. Prescott Tanning"
She presently returned saying:
Please to step this way, sir"
Neill was introduced to an irn-
mense living room crowded from
end 10 end with the furnishings
and gimcracks that old ladies like
TO gather around hem. Though IL
was q fine June day, all the win
dows were closed and there was a
little wood FIRE burning. At first he
thought he was alone IN the room,
but presently he distinguished a
tiny figure buried in 8 deep chair
before the FIRE. She looked about
so. but her sunken cheeks were
bravely painted and she wore an
deliberately curled auburn wig.
You come from Mr.. Fanning7"
she said eagerly. = was expecting
10 hear from him"
Neill was considerably taken
aback, because she spoke Of Fam
ming in the present tense. He was
q friend Of yourS?" he stammered.
Il know him, certainly. What
word have you brought mels
This was uncanny. How long
have you known hint" asked
Neill. sparring for time.
sOh, several months she said
impatiently. WHATS that got to
do with itg"
who introduced you TO him?p
Miss RRyner sat up. Young
man. ! don't know you. / don't pro-
pose to be cross-examined by q
stranger in my own housed Who
are you and what do you want"
fcesyirSs. 1857, - Essssrs Faet~rsl
Tsa na1kat AZ Mia eAaa NasfF H.ww