The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-10-19
Chapter SO
Three Shadows

NELL thought back over his
1 y conversation with Miss Ray
ner as far as he could remember it.
Who had introduced Tanning I'd
Miss Rayner? Her estate agent,
Barney. Neill had never given a
second thought to Barney, because
Miss Rayner had made it clear that
Barney was not implicated in the
plot. However, Barney might be
the cats paw. Miss Rayner had
spoken of him a little slightingly,
suggesting that Barney was one
whom she didn't tell anything
to-"
II was worth looking into, and
Neill got busy.
Barney might be implicated, and
anyhow the murder and the trag-
edy that had followed on it that
day would make him cautious.
NELL resolved to find out some
thing about the man before going
70 him. But first he wanted to have
a look at him. He got his Office ad-
dress out Of the telephone book.
NELL expected to be followed
when he left the hotel and SO he
was. Instead of taking a taxi, he
walked through the streets in or
der to get a line on his trailers.
Neil was an experienced trailer
himself, and also adept in fooling
frailers. At first he could only spot
two Of them, one on each side Of
the street behind. From their ap-
pearance, he judged them to be
Baltimore city detectives. They
didn't look very bright.
After he had gone a few blocks
he discovered that there was q
fiird man Interested IN his move
ments. He was Of an entirely dif-
ferent type from the other two
and had no connection with them.
He was watching them as well as
NeilL This was puzzling surprise.
Who but Bonniger could possibly
know of his trip to town?
The third man was young,
strongly built, yet had an I'M
healthy look, his face being ashy
pale and his eyes red-rimmed. He
wore spectacles. He had straw
coiored hair that looked almost as
II It had been peroxided, and a
heavy blond mustache. Altogether
a queer-looking guy. Suddenly it
came TO Neill that he had seen the
fellow that morning, when in
town with Bonniger. Making a
regular business Of following him,
il seemed. How could he have
known that NELL was going to re-
turn2
Edward Barney, the estate agent,
maintained a small Office in an
old building on a side street off
Charles. When Neill opened the
door, a black-haired man with pro-
tuberant eyes distorted by thick
lenses arose to meet him. That was
al that Neill wanted. He immedi-
ately backed out muttering some
thing about making a mistake. Il
was Googly to the lfel
Losing Two TraiIers
THEREAFTER for several hours
1 Neill, according to the methods
he had learned in the department,
went about town picking up little
scraps Of information about Ed
ward Barney. and piecing them to-
gether.
Barney, It appeared, led an ex-
emplary life. Lived with his wife
and two children in a neat little
house on the edge of Roland park.
Mrs. Barney wore the trousers, il
was said, and, she being an ardent
prohibitionist, Barney was forced
20 indulge his taste for an occa-
sional glass away from home.
NeiIl led his trailers back and
forth around town, out to Roland
park and back again. AS yet he had
no object in trying to shake them.
He wanted his movements report
ed 10 Bonniger. When he went into
Millers for his supper they sat at
other tables in the place. The two
detectives were entirely unaware
Of the peroxided young man, but
he was on 70 them.
After supper Neil entered the
Belvedere hotel One detective fol-
lowed him ia he other remaining
outside. The blond young man was
not visible az The moment. Neill
evaded the detective By making q
quick turn through the corridors
and coming back to another open-
ing into the lobby, watched. partly
to see what the man
would do. The detective was stand-
ing IN the lobby looking around for
NeilL He started towards the door
way where Neill was concealed. At
that moment the blond young man
came IN from the street. He over
took the detective and Neill heard
him ask:
Say, are you trailing a tall
young man in gray suit9s
The detective answered: what
Is il 70 your"
Nothing at al. only I was CON-
.ng up Charles street Just now and
saw you following him."
wen. what about it,"
Il just wanted to tell you that
saw him come out Of the barber
shop entrance on Charles street 4
minute ago. He hoped a taxi.
Here's the number for you"
Much obliged" said the detec-
live. hastily Neill. looking out.
saw him beat Il out Of the door. He