The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-10-15


gathered. 1t was all in the days
work to Penty. He told his story
without a trace of feeling.
"Eyster up to couple OF years
ago was manufacturer of straw
hats in New York state and doing
well. He had a hard life when
young and couldn't marry till he
was above As.
eHe marries girl that worked
for him in the factory. A sweet,
pretty, gentle kind of girl. She was
poor and he gives her the nice
things she never had before. For a
couple of years they was as hap
by as pair of CLAIMS at high wa
ter, though she was Is years
younger than him. Built an ele-
CANT little home and all.
Then she gets to running
around with slick, snowy kind
of guy, the usual thing. It was GO
ing on some time before Eyster
gets on to it. When the showdown
comes, she runs off with the slick
guy, leaving Eyster fiat. He went
through he'll. And that wasn't the
worst of it. because year later
she comes back to her husband
sick and ready to die. This slick
fellow, it seems, was an out-and-
out swine. Treated the girl some-
thing awful. The folks didn't know
bis name.
''He takes his wife back and gets
doctors and nurses and all. But she
dies anyhow and Eyster they says
wasn't never no good after that.
He sells his business and just buns
around. They said when the money
was spent they reckoned he would
just jump off wharf somewheres.
But his sole aim and desire was
to get square with that slick guy
before he died"
The hard-boiled grin with which
this story was told somehow gave
it a sharper edge for Neill. Taken
with what he knew already, ii was
certainly true. and his feelings to-
wards Eyster underwent change.
He and Bonniger exchanged look
and each knew what the other was
thinking.
The poor little devil! Who could
blame him for shooting the man
who had wronged him so?
Both Eliminated?
AS BONNIGER and Neill pro-
= ceeded to the Lord Baltimore
hotel, Bonniger said:
Had you heard any of this?"
NO details, but had guessed
there was something of this sort in
his life"
But If it was Eyster. where
does the girl come in?"
Nevertheless at that moment
they both felt that they were about
to solve their case, and they were
almost friends again.
In the hotel all this good feeling
was shattered. In answer to Eon-
myers question, the clerk said:
mir. Eyster checked out at nine
o'clock Tuesday morning"
NELL stared at him incredulous-
ly. Are you sure?" he demanded.
Absolutely. / said goodby to
him when he left.
''Was he tight?" asked Bonniger.
"Oh, no. Sober as a Judge"
Bonniger had left word at po-
lice headquarters that he could be
found at the Lord Baltimore and
he was now called to the phone.
NeilI waited outside the booth in
a state of blank Encouragement.
If Buckless and Eyster were both
eliminated. where was he to look
for Fanning's killer?
Bonniger said on coming out:
THE police have found the taxi
driver who took Eyster down 10
Absalom's on Tuesday morning"
$50 that lets Eyster out" said
Neill duly.
Not altogether. The taxi-driv-
er said he was sober. Why should
he lie unless he was implicated"
The man who shot Tanning was
carried down on the yacht"
That's an interesting theory.
But. after all, the crumbs Of
bread and tobacco are not concur
Sive. I'm convinced that Eyster
had something to do with it.
That didn't help NELL any. He
knew now that Eyster was inno-
cent of the killing.
While they were talking, a bell
boy came by. It was the boy that
NELL hid talked to on his first
visit 70 the Lord Baltimore. The
bow recognized him and grinned.
Hare yeh, mister2 Well. that
big guy Tanning that you was ask
ing me about he got his. didn't he?
The crazy little guy that was talk
ing 70 YOU, he beat It next dav. It
would be great note, wouldn't il,
If il was him got Fanning?p
Nell stared hard at the boy.
You've got me wrong. kid. / new
er heard Of Tanning until be was
killed.
MY mistake" he said with a
grin, and started on.
But Bonniger had overheard.
and Neils without looking al him,
knew how he was hardening.
One moment. Bonniger said 10
the boy. Give me your mama
please. may want 10 call you
later. Ny names Bonniger."
The boy. scared now. gave his
name. Il don't know nothing"
All right Beat II"
He lost no time in obeying.
Come on" said Bonniger -
Neill without looking around.
festyrixit. 1850. - EssSea Fsses~sJ
Tomarraw. Rucktess khreasan. A