The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-09-20


the after cabin to myself, and there
was a key in the door so that /
could lock myself in. But oh,
Neill! what a terrible night
There was some kind of acct
dent in the engine room. We were
stopped for long time, and then
went on slowly. When it became
light, saw that we had run into
harbor alongside a village, but ]
didn't know where it was. Tanning
was in an ugly temper because the
accident had upset all his plans.
He told me I would have to stay
below as long as we lay in har-
bor."
How did you get word to me?"
asked NELL.
"McGee, the engineer, had to
take up part of the cabin floor to
look at the propeller shaft. He was
a decent sort of man; he looked as
if he was sorry for me. Tanning
was with him, watching. When !
learned from their talk that Nc
Gee had to go to Baltimore, wrote
your room number at the Stafford
on piece of paper. / knew you
were registered under an assumed
name, and slipped it to him when
Tanning wasn't looking"
Good trickv"
"All day / stayed below. They
brought me my meals in the sa-
loon. In the evening Tanning sent
the rest of the crew ashore to 60
to the movies. Through the port
hole / saw them rowing away.
Shortly after that Tanning came
into my cabin without knocking,
and saw that he had turned ugly.
f. He locked the door behind
him. -"
Janet began to shake pitifully.
'"That's all / can remember" she
faltered. Il must have tainted
through terror. The next thing |
knew I was out in the saloon and
you were speaking to me-"
did you have gum" asked
Neill.
"Yes, forgot that. After MCGEE
had left my cabin I found it under
the sofa. / supposed that he had
left it there for me-"
where was the gun when Fam
ming came in?"
Lying on the table in my cabin.
S. Why are you asking me these
questions about the gum" she
added nervously.
"When / broke in the door Of
your cabin Tanning was shot
dead" said NELL.
She stared at him in horror. "Oh,
my God! What are you saying? :. ;,
/ didn't shoot him, Neilll ] swear
itl1
He kissed her. He didn't believe
her. Most likely the truth was that
she had snatched up the pistol,
mad with terror. and had shot the
man without knowing what she
was doing. Anyhow, he loved her,
and what difference did it make?
In fact, he hoped that she had shot
Tanning.
Back To The Hotel
LIE could not bring himself to
L 1 question her further in her
present shaken state. He said
lightly;
Hold up a minute until mea-
sure off how much ladder we've
got. 1t was AZ feet from the rail of
the promenade deck to the water,
and figure we'll need 33 here"
Janet was as eager to drop the
subject as he was. and so it was al
lowed to lie.
When the ladder was finished,
he contrived a simple signal for
the purpose of letting her know
when to let il down to him. He
fastened the Irvine to the catch of
a wall cabinet and, leading it out
across the little deck and through
window, let it hang oversize. A
single strand of brown Irvine
would never be noticed. When it
was pulled, the door of the cabinet
few open. They laughed at the
simplicity of the gadget.
Wrapping Janet in the rug, Neill
laid her on the dusty sofa and sat
on the floor, soothing her like a
child until her eyes grew heavy
and finally closed. After kissing
her 10 make sure that she slept,
he went out on the little deck and,
stripping off his clothes, wrapped
them in the oilskin coat and tied
It securely.
Singing this bundle over his
back, he climbed out Of the VIM
dow. went down the rope ladder
and slipped into the water. Janet
could pull up the ladder when she
woke.
When NeiIl emerged from the
water, he saw a dim light couple
Of hundred yards of to his left
After dressing and hiding the eil-
skin coat in the brush. he walked
alang the beach 20 investigate. Ii
proved 10 be q night light IN the
upper window Of an old farmhouse
on the river bank. Below the bank
was a little wharf and tied TO the
wharf was a Skih with oars IN her.
Nell noted i with satisfaction.
Ihls would be convenient for the
coming night
Making a detour around the
house. he gained the driveway that
served il, and was led cut 70 the
state road az 3 point about q mile
from the village. The first faint
StreakS Of dawn were beginning
% appear IN the east when he
reached the hotel The outer door
was unlocked and he Stole up to
MS room without meeting any
body,
fEefsrtR&a 1852. ~ Es1asva Fse6ssyl