The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-06-24

We Lock Up Higgins

We Lock Up Higgins
A SOUND from the stair railing
- grated on our ears. spinning US
eli about simultaneously. Higgins.
fniiy dressed. stood on the landing.
staring down a as How long he had
been there. we had no way.of know
ing q Is one thing 70 confront mur-
dcruus dends In tabloid headlines,
bgi il IS quite another 70 stand face
20 face with one in the form OF an old
family servant whom you have
known Tor q good part Of your life.
Ms lips were dry as slipped the key
ease iaie ny pocket
Hello. Higgins" l said. -Come on
down We we're Just talking about
you
TIE silence got under my skin.
waited for the man 10 answer. for
Cook 90 explode. for Annie TO scream
Nothing happened For space Of
fuiig IS seconds we stood there while
the old man studied our faces.
Were you. sir? l can't seem 10
sleep and thought I would make
myself q pot OF coffee"
lie came down the stairs slowly. as
deliberately a. he had ever descend
81 them in his life. Habit Is certainly
. powerful factor. II ever had want
81 % collar q man. Higgins was that
mnn. Ard yeti couldn't
said casually. Sure. Make enough
for the rest Of US ! guess We can
stand "a
No one spoke We sat there and
watched him measure out coffee,
pour IN water. and set the pot on the
stove. He turned from the operation.
smiling.
I'm glad its nearly over. Mr.. jim
ME. There viii be a boat here BY
morning. see If there isn't"
could do nothing but murmur,
~Yex"
tie vas guilty. | was sure Of It. But
sitting there looking al him couldn't
see myself telling him so. / cleared
my throat
Higgins. I said. you've lied to me
On every single question I've asked
you-havsnt your"
For one fraction Of a second the
eyes turned toward me were the sick,
tired eyes Of a very old man. In the
neat instant they we're yelled and
calculating.
vHha, gives you that impression.
arr
stood up. you were seen out Of
your room on The night when Miss
BlinShop was killed. You were seen
going into your room fully dressed
Just before Mr.. Michael called you
and reappearing as II you had been
asleep a moment later. You own the
Gals sun IN the house. You were seen
coming down The stairs Immediately
before We discovered the injured cat,
when you sw0re that rot had been in
TIE next room You were on hand
When Miss Harrington was wounded
You even tried 10 get my fngerprints
on The revolver William and / are
gong 70 lock you in your room You
viii Be Kept there until the police
arrive
Those strange eyes never once left
my face. cot even after ! had COM
ple.ed my distasteful task.
Making A Mistake?
a.. JIMMIE he said very quiet
VI ". you've known me for a
lcng time. Dc you believe what you
are saying7"
I'm sorry. Higgins Yes"
a Ehcst Of a smile crossed his face
= see he said. DO you object 20
ny having my coffee before you lock
me up7"
Dent take no chances with hiuz.
cautioned William
And 50 We sat there waiting for
that coffee. waiting 20 Be served by a
maj whom we intended. to deliver
into the hands Of the LAW to lose his
lie ! was too busy with my own feel
lass TO notice particularly what went
81 III that room Once or twice the
clumsy shutting Of Cooks feet pene-
trat-d my consciousness. but that was
all doubt il any coffee on the face
Ct The earth ever took as long 70 boil
q that did
AZ last Higgins moved 70 the closet
and set out Eve GUYS and saucerS-
Goa stood grimly over him while be
poured. her mind rurSaing. imagine.
& an the varieties Of poison that
eouid be dropped into those. cups. My
otsn mind was too full Of all the other
eaps Higgins had handed me-ot all
tte decent little favors he had done
AZ choked trying to drink the stuff.
Higgins drank his calmly and set the
eap down.
I'm quite ready. Mr.. Wells" he
sid
But wasn't Suddenly. strangely.