The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-06-30
Chapter AZ
A Shot In Higgins. Room

A Shot In Higgins Room
Oct William I wheezed. ~Yen
~ for him."
Michael yelled. his voice ringing
wildly through hat empty loft. An
answering roar can't Immediately
from below, and the next instant VIII
liam's head appeared through the
trap.
Get down a few rs1ngsFs 1 usnted
-Tl-hand-her-doWn."
William was quick and efscie,.t
Slowly We lowered OR ling bundle
into his waiting arms. 1 followed him
viii Michael Gathering behind me. 1
could hear n. Farrington's excited
voice in Willnm's room, interrupted
By Gays soothing one. / saw Annie.
white and trembling. in Cooks door,
way But William was halfway down
the corridor. caught I'D with him As
he strobe into my room and laid his
burder on my bed. His large sfand
went Immediately % the Skipper's
heart and stayed there for al least 10
seconds.
Get mirror he said at length in
q hushed voice.
leapt . obey him. Without a
word he held the thing over the Skip
per's nose and E.outh. was obliged
70 hold on to Michael to prevent in
reference. And then William turned
the mirror up II was covered with
q fne mist.
his voice barked at us. open the
windows Quick"
I did-and a great many other
things IN the next half hour. until /
became violently III myself-and had
70 be taken out
William was just lowering the Skip
per's head 10 the pillow as reen-
tered the room shakily a long time
later. The glass he had handed Gay
was empty. but the patients face was
siln CHASTITY. her eyes closed. and her
breathing now painfuhy audible from
across the room / caught sight Of
Michael. Beads Of perspiration were
standing cut on his forehead His
hands we're clenched. his eyes shut.
/ went out into the hall, cropping
for 4 cigarette and trying to deafel
ny ears to the sounds from the other
room l had had enough. Even the
thought Of the approaching hour OF
reckoning failed TO move me- The
Skipper would tell her story. The po-
lice would come. And for my part
At that moment. didn't care what
she might tell them or what they
might do about it. / was through Or
50 thought.
Il must have been a good 10 min
uies before I realized that Michael
had joined me.
Got a cigarette7" he said.
The gloomy yigil had just begun.
After a long time l becam. conscious
q the scene outside the window.
The trees along the drive were stand
ing out in sharp relief. could even
see the outline OF the drive itself in
the misty gray light. Ny watch said
I've minutes If six. We were within
4 few hours Of the end.
ITS getting Light. Nike" ! said
poinliessly.
A Hollow Feeling
MICHAEL. staring fxedly out Of
vi the window. didn't stir. l put an
impulxive hand on his shoulder, half
expecting 4 to De shaken Of. Il wasn't
And 50 We stood there A hollow feel
ing in my middle and a lightneSs IN
my head spelled breakfast. but ! had
q feeling that once confronted with
food 1 would not be able to eat IL
Suddenly l wanted 10 get back into
that sick-room 70 find out-whateveF
there was to find out But didn't like
70 propose that 70 Michael and ] didn't
like % leave him alone. stl
A hand falling on my arm made
me Jump. Gay was standing there.
shes going to be all right She's
ieep finally"
Michael spun around. "Are you
sure2 Il may be hours before we can
get a doctor"
-Of course I'm sure Her breathing
Is all right now and her pulse is
good. I took II myself AIickie-" Her
voice was doing things that could
mean only a sentimental interiude. /
interrupted peevishly.
did she say anything?"
Gay glanced at me briefly She
said she was sorry to be such
damned nuisance. II anyone should
happen to ask me. I'd say we got out
Of this pretty darned lucky.