The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-10-09

tenances of pantry.
NELL stepped off his perch and,
pulling the dumbWaiter higher,
helped Janet out of her cramped
position inside. He cautiously
/ pushed out a swing door for an
inch or two and found himself
looking into the restaurant on the
boat deck with its tall windows
all around. A glass door looking
astern stood open and outside it
showed the silhouette Of an armed
man. He yawned aud bly, and
stretched himself, pistol in hand.
NELL placed one of his boots
between door and frame so that
he could continue to watch the
man. Neil and Janet sat down on
the floor. leaning together without
saying anything, and long time
paSsed-or so it seemed. Suddenly
the dumbwaiter gave a shake and
a rattle and disappeared snartly
from view. Janet almost jumped
out of her skin, and NELL swal-
lowed a laugh.
ITS all right" he said. They're
searching the pantry now. They're
only making sure that we're not
hiding in the shaft"
The noise attracted the atten-
ton of the man on deck and he
turned to listen. Neil softly with
drew his boot from the door and
pulled Janet away. They heard
| the man coming. The pantry was
lL-shaped. They retreated around
the corner of the wall, andtcrept
under a serving table. The man
came in. His mind was on the
dumbWaiter. Sticking his head in
the shaft, he called:
Hello. down there!"
From deep below a voice an
swered: "Hellol"
did you just pull this thing
DOWN"
Sure"
That's all right then. All quiet
up here
He went out on deck and NELL
and Janet relaxed. Neil flung an
arm around her to steady her
trembling.
Back TO The Royal Suite
a FTER about a quarter of an
= hour, Neill said: 1.-The search
must have passed beyond the pam
try by now. Let's go!"
While Janet watched the man
out on deck, he very softly pulled
up the dumbwaiter. They got in it
as before. and he let it down inch
by inch until it bumped softly on
its table in the E deek pantry. All
was dark and still below.
Crossing the saloon, they lis
tened at the bottom of the main
stairway. Faint sounds Of the
search on d deck came down. Bon
myers signal was given and his
party assembled to G deck. After
long time they heard the signal
again. and the search moved up
another flight. Having recovered
the bucket. the rope ladder, the
ball of Irvine, ETC., Neill and Janet
crept up the stairway and stole
back through a corridor to the
royal suite.
Home at lastl" said Neill.
They bolted the doors and en-
ioyed a brief let-down.
They presently went out on the
veranda. Neil pulled down the
heavy window Git opened from the
top) and they stood beside it, lis
tening. Soon they heard the search
party come out on the boat deck.
Bonniger's final signal was given:
and they heard the whole party
descending the ladders.
They have gone" he said.
"Oh. Neilll" faltered Janet.
what now?"
Il must go back and join them"
How can you get out Of this
ship If the door at the top of the
engine room shaft is fastened?"
That's easy. I'll climb out on
the promenade through one of the
windows on B deck. You can come
with me and close it after I'm
out. That is. if you're not afraid
to come back alone"
i won't be afraid" said Janet.
mot after what we have already
been through. How will you
get back without being Scent"
I'll climb out on the starboard
side of this vessel. I'll make sure
that no one is watching from above
before ! Try to Jump across. Once
on the Montmorenci. I'm safe"
They set out Remember the
signal when I come back tomor-
row night Nell said as he kissed
her at the window on b deck.
He took plenty of time to make
the return journey. taking care TO
spot each guard on the boat deck.
b fore exposing himself. The
search party was now inside the
Columbia. He slid down the rope
TO the crib that held the vessels
apart and dropped into his skiff.
He put on his boots and 10 minutes
later was tying his skin TO the
platform at the foot Of the ladder.
As he ran up. the policeman'S head
stuck out over the rail.
So you're back. he said.
Anything doing while ! was
gomez" asked Nell.
There was an alarm raised
over on the Abraham Lincoln that
somebody had been seen. but they
didn't find anybody. They're in
the Columbia now.
'I'li watch the middle gangway
until they come back on deck
said Nell Have a cigarettegp
Thanks
/ lSs9sssEsh. 1871 - RsRssa FsAt.seI
The yacht b mysterlansiy rAn-
sacked from stem 90 stern. Monday.