The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-09-14
Chapter Eight
Murder On The Nadii


. ETURNING to the porch of the
N sprawling store, Neill sat
down at the end of the line of men
taking their ease and enjoying
their after-supper pipes. Sun
burned fishermen mostly, in gum
boots and faded drill shirts. Neil
learned that fishing was good and
that pound nets were being set out
in the bay. The trout had come
earlier than was customary.
None of this was to his purpose
and he studied the yacht. Very
smart and modern with her high
sides and stubby funnel. Some
thing under a hundred feet over
all. She carried two boats on
davits amidShips, and he noted
that one of them was gone. AS
darkness gathered it seemed odd
to him that no lights showed in the
cabins. The riding lights were up.
The man next to NELL was a
tall fisherman with white hair and
a complexion the color of beet
juice. That's a tidy little yacht
yonder," Neill remarked to him.
$50 you might say. She's the lat
est caper all right. But ugly as hell,
If you're asking me-"
'Is she owned hereaboutS?"
"Nahl We got no toys like that
down here. We're working people
New York man." He told Neill of
the accident to the yachts engine.
'Is the owner aboard?"
"Sure, he's aboard"
81 see their dinghy is ashore"
'"The crew just come in to 60 to
the movies"
Neill grinned in hard satisfac-
ton. Owner aboard; crew ashore.
The situation was working out to
his advantage.
Another man hearing them talk
ing about the yacht, took up the
tale. 1.-THE owner was in the store
telephoning awhile ago. Fine
looking, big slicker; fresh-com-
plected. But surly. Didn't have a
word to throw TO a dog"
WE'LL bOOh 1lCdA lAOIil Ai1lo- II
things were going badly with Fam
ming, so much the better.
you're right he's a surly brute, i"
said another. This was a lanky fell
low with an innocent blue eye.
Neill noticed that the others were
inclined to make a butt of him.
81 rowed out there with a mess of
trout, thinking they'd be glad to
buy some fresh fish," he said.
''But when / come alongside the
owner, he ordered me off. Get the
hell away from here he says. I
don't want any damned fish,"
"That was manners" said an
other. what did you say, Jake?"
ST says, Go to hell yourself you
long-legged so-and-sol I'm as good
a man as you, if you do own a
yacht. And if you'll come ashore.
I'll prove it,
There was a general laugh.
"All right" the speaker went
on. II told you before and l tel
you again there is some funny
business aboard that yacht, and
we ought to investigate itl'
More laughter.
AS If She Wanted Help
"IITHAT do you mean. funny
w busineSs?" asked Neill.
'Pll tell you, stranger. When !
come alongside the yacht / was
standing up in my Skiff and ! could
look right into one of the port
holes. All closed they was, warm
as it is. And on the other side of
the glass l seen a beautiful young
girl with bare arms and neck. Only
seen her a second, but she nodded
her head, and beckoned pitiful as
II she wanted help real bad"
NeillS breast was suddenly
Ightened. Janet tedS aboard the
yacht, then; he had come to the
right place. And she was not q
willing passenger, either. That re-
relieved his worst fear. He felt q
guSh Of friendliness towards the
speaker.
But he. it seemed, enjoyed nc
reputation for veracity among his
mates. They laughed him down
you're seeing things, Jake. You're
wasted fishing. You ought to be
one of these here, now, storywrit.
ers in the papers"
"Au right All right" said Jake
"Scme lay you men will learr
tkat I'm not as big a fool as you
lie to make out"
When il became really dark anC
the vessels in the harbOr were nj
longer sharply silhouetted againS
tie water, Neill got up and StrolleC
atgay. Each house along the har-
bcr front had its little pier stick
ipE eat from the shore with one
g mere small boats moored to il
AID b. had Il in mind to borrow
g. 'Ishess without asking.
- turned 20 the right because i