The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-08-06

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will you? How'd we miss it be-
fore?h
Bending swiftly over Ted, Mar
ion whispered with compelling
intensity, Don't make sound!sIt
is the one thing ask, in exchange
for saving your ifel"
After one wondering look at her,
Ted feebly pressed her hand in
acquiescence. and together they
waited in breathleSS silence, lis
tening to the oncoming footsteps
crashing through the brush.
Say, that's old Ten Strikes
hangout! Didn't you ever run
across it," A second voice an
Swered the first. His shanty
there's been deserted a dozen
years or more. Ever since the old
boy kicked out"
Wed better have a look at it,
the first voice doomed. "Gaynor
might"
Marion felt the hand in hers jerk
spasmodically.
saw, what's the use?" the other
voice broke in, impatiently. Were
just wasting valuable time. If that
guy had been able to get as far as
this after humping Scrap Johnson
off, he could have made a real
getaway. And believe me, he
wouldn't have lost any time doing
i'll Besides, that Shanty looks just
the way it did the last time / saw
it, couple of years ago."
Just the same, I'm going to
have look, the first one insisted
stubbornly.
"Suit yourself. I'll be going on.
After you finish looking over de-
serted real estate perhaps you'll
catch up and help me track down
the murderer"
Marion bit her lips and involun-
tarily gripped Ted's hand, as she
studied his bewildered expression.
Then she turned her eyes fearfully
toward the door.
A heavy tread tramped up the
two steps, and the outside door
was showed open. Holding her
breath, Marion braced herself for
the next moment, when the in
truder would step across the space
that divided the two doors, and
push open the inner one.
She could feel him peering in
the small darkened space, and
hear him stamp an experimental
foot on the rotted flooring. Then,
to her immense relief, he sprang
back and shouted to his compan-
ion:
'Hil Wait secl I'm coming!"
Marion could scarcely believe
that she was hearing his retreating
footsteps. For full second longer,
the dread tension held her. The
sight Of Ted's white face and closed
eyelidS, as he slumped back on the
pillow, galvanized her to action,
and she reached for some cold wa
ter to revive him.
Marion Believes In Ted
THE distant footsteps, crashing
1 through the brush, had COM
pletely died away, when Ted final
" opened his eyes again, TO find
Marion gazing at him with solemn
intensity.
Is your name Gaynor7" she
Ted nodded. 'Yes, it is. But I'm
as much in the dark about this
murder talk as you are. You be-
lieve that, don't your" His eyes
closed again with exhaustion.
Yes, ] do believe il" Marion
answered, with conviction. Il can
tell by looking at you that you are
no murderer. And from what you
said when you were delirious, /
gathered that you'd been shot be-
fore you had chance to aim, and
your shot had gone wild"
That's just the way il was"
Ted nodded. II don't remember
anything after that. I can't sepa-
rate delirium from reality. could
nave sworn that / saw Josh Has
tings bending over me once, but
that must have been plain night
mare. But where any murder
comes in" He suddenly raised
himself on his elbow and demand
ed. "Why didn't you let me find out
what in hell they meant by this
talk Of murder?"
Marion gently pushed him back.
HUSH You mustn't get exictedl
Whatever they meant, you're bet
ter of right where you are, until
you're stronger"
But your" Ted fixed his eyes on
her: Why are you here. in hid
Marion hesitated a moment, and
a slow color came into her cheeks.
That's q long story" she said
finally. "I'll tell it to you later. !
have to stay here without anyone
knowing of my whereabouts, I'M
til my father comes back She
paused a moment, then added,
Not even the man I'm engaged to
knows where / am"
For a long moment the two
CARED at each other, then Ted
YEARLY closed his eyes.
II don't make head or tail Of II,
he murmured, in q weak voice.
but / know you're square. And ]
know owe my life 10 you. So any
thing you say goes.
For a moment, he sank back in
half Stupor, then suddenly sat up
violently, and exclaimed. sBut
look herel I've got 10 COL Nv
mother and sister are waiting!
And Kay" he fell back on the
pillow in dead faint before Mar
ion could catch hold Of him.
tcspsrseAt. 1857. kerts ~ Es~ssssl