The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-06-21
MURD r
o. IME BlUEE : 81 81

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Higgins door for the faint sound Of
MS breathing. Cooks door was stiu
chned. but was taking no chances.
pushed Il open and satisfied myself
pat she had not returned to her room.
Then. feeling my way carefully, ]
Started down the back stairs.
me humble Of voices was lower
and more indistinct. could no longer
distinguish one from the other. let
alone any Of the words. Slowly crept
down until the turn Of the landing
brought me within fun view Of the
kitchen. where ! halted, open
mouthed.
William stood at the end Of the
kitchen table, leaning over talking ex-
clteuly 70 Annie. who was sitting be-
side him. Beyond them in a capacious
rocking chair. her eyes glittering and
ner large hands elenched tightly IN
her lap. sat Cook. She was not talk
Ing. but she was listening spelIbound
to the other two.
is Il proof enough7" / was obliged
TO exert every ounce Of balance I
could command to avoid falling over
me oanisters IN my eagerness 70 hear
Annie's whisper. IF we was TO fall
through with this. he could make il
awful hot for US. There amt many
Jobs. Bill You'd oughta know that"
William brought his fist down on
the table expressively but without
sound The guys like Us IS the ones
that'H get blamed Il took me three
years to learn that And here's another
thing. We got enough evidence on
Higgins to send him to the chair to-
morrowl"
You're In A Tight Spot
A 7 this moment leaned TOO heavily
e \ t5o1t1e rsiiinH q. 5ssuft very
loud squeak, but William spun around.
] tried 70 astten myself against the
val. but had been discovered.
! stuck my hands into my pockets
and smblcd down the stairs.
WAT I'd IKE to know. William
! said. SIS what you Just said. Some
hing about evidence against Higgins.
wasn't it,"
With ridiculous pretense Of calm.
I seated myself on the table. my back
% tie massive figure Of Cook IF
you1l take my tip. William you'll get
the whole story of your chest. What
do you know about Higgins7"
He was gripping the table as II he
meant 20 smash Il 20 pieces
What makes you think know any
shing.~
-You do" 4 strove 70 keep my voice
level You're full OF surprises. What.
for example. 10 you know about Hig-
gins that would send him to the
chair2~
pitied the fellow. His eyes we're
bIoodshot and his face was drawn.
you can't prove said nothing. You
can't prove nothing. ] amt going 70
talk
took a long shot in the dark AS
matter Of fact. William" / said. y
can prove several interesting things
about you And IT 50 happens that my
evidence Is very fine evidence indeed.
And Il won't do you any good TO dis
pose Of me In order to get hold Of IT."
Cook. really believe. would have
throttied me az that point. If Williams
arm had not sent her hurting back
into her chair He drew a long breath.
-All right" he said family. What
are you going 70 do7"
showed q chair at him with my
foot ~Sit down" said. @and tell me
about IL It's all bound % come out
anyway"
he sat heavily. Annie was beginning
10 cry.
Il been three years in the pen" His
voice was slow and dazed. Il was driv-
ing Tor the Blinshops and a ring was
pinched- They pinned It on me. The
old man felt sorry for me and got me
a lob here with Miss Barbara. amt
done a thing-but it's gonna look bad
he was mumbIing as If in his sleep
and his voice was weary. hopeless and
sick.
did anyone but Miss Barbars
know about this-anyone IN the house.
] mean?-
He shook his head drearily. Miss
Judith knew"
Judel Il tcas going 70 look badi And
yet. IL the Skipper had known all
about his record he would have had
no reason for-I leaned toward him
~You know better Than l do thai
you're in a tight spot Your only way
cut Is q 6nd the guilty man"
Cooks rosr rs time brought ms
. nv feet
Damn YOU she beloved. Damn
you for a lying deyili eLe7ve him
alones~ MANN
-SuppOse you finish the story. VII
LAM l said. IA a4f
Hs blaziag eyes snapped from
cook's face TO mine. For an instant ]
thought would be obliged to fight my
way out. but only for an instant. VIII
liam's eyes fen and he sank back into
his chair.
-Ail right. ther.- his words were
barely audible. Cook knew it-and
my wife"
An entirely new train Of thought
was popping int my head
by that you mean Ann e!
~Yes."
The silence in the kitchen was un-
broken. Annie had ceased TO sniffie.
I was doing some rapid thinking
fcopyf0ht. 1852. Esther TyieTl
Iget william to talk about Higgins,