The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-08-27

mighty wrong. IneSe last WORDS
came out in musing tone, almost
as though he was talking to him
self. He gave sudden start as he
heard them uttered aloud. That's
a dangerous thing to tell you
though isn't it?" he added bitterly.
Maybe you'll want to use it
again"
what do you mean?" Kay's
voice was both hurt and indig-
nant. 81 don't understand you'll"
ooh mol Sure you don't!"
Kay WINGED at his biting irony.
IT don'tw she declared holly.
what do you mean?"
II haven't thanked you for
thinking up that clever way to get
me a delay" Ted abruptly changed
the subject. "And you haven't told
me how you got into Josh Has
tings' hands"
Kay told her story in her turn,
starting with her finding the steel
nail head, and tracing it to Josh
Hastings gauntlet.
Ted gave sharp exclamation.
'That fits in! Right along, I've
been sure that while / was lying
wounded by the water there, !
came to, and looked up to find him
bending over mel"
"And he said you were by the
wateri Kay excitedly repeated
Josh Hastings slip to her. "Tedl
Do you suppose"
81 haven't a doubt that he MUIR
dered Scrap Johnson" Ted de-
clared. ''But what can you do about
it? Or about what he did to your
Il can show him up to the whole
world" Kay asserted Tecklessly.
Ted slowly shook his head. ''You
can't do til It'll be only your word
against his, and he'll talk you
down."
"But you can witness / was
there, in the cellar of that black
smith shop!'
81 won't be here. And he could
easily point out that / have only
your word for it that he was the
one to bring you there"
Dead Girls Diary
| a SUDDEN memory of the note
1 a book she had found flashed
over Kay. Reaching in her pocket,
she drew it out. She explained to
Ted how she had found it, and also
repeated what Josh Hastings had
said in his rage about having
used that place before.
/ He said thatl" Ted's every mus
Gle tensed, and his voice vibrated
with so strong an emotion of some
sort that Kay twisted around in
surprise. ''My God! wonder"
He reached for the notebook. 1--WE
got to see this!"
He pulled his mount to halt
and swung out of the saddle. Ga
thering up some dry bits of brush
he struck a spark against a stone
with a flint he had in his pocket.
Kay slid down beside him, and
with bated breath leaned over his
shoulder as he opened the note
book and read it by the Pickering
light of the tiny blaze.
The first pages seemed to be
shopping lists and bits of unre-
lated memoranda. Then, sudden
", the writing became cramped
and uneven, the lines sometimes
crossing, as though it had been
written at random in the dark.
It was all incoherent and mean
ingless to Kay, but Ted muttered
curse as he turned the pages.
When he finally closed the book
and spoke, his voice trembled.
Proof at lastl" He turned to
Kay. This changes everything!
I'll be there for the trial. But
you've got to let me have thisl I've
got Hastings where | want him"
What is it," Kay begged. 'You
must tell nel'
1T was written by a girl he kept
prisoner there in that cellar Just
as he meant to keep you. She
knew he had committed a murder
the murder of the son of the
man / was working for. When she
finally got out, she was insane and
she committed suicide. He man.
aged TO pin it on me. at least
enough so had to clear out" He
suddenly grasped Kay's hand.
Look here! Do you want to help
me now? In spite Of what you did
before?" IIg
"Yes. yesl" In Kay's eagerness.
she overlooked the last part of his
sentence. What can dor"
Get back to Seth, and kean in,
hiding so Josh HaStSngs htoat
know where you are. I've got to
see that Marion's all right. Then,
I'll give myself up to Zeke Farley.
You keep out of sight until the
trial. Then turn up and tell your
story. VIII you do that?n
Yes, Kay promised quickly.
Then hurryw Ted glanced I'D
at the stars. "We mustn't miss
that train"
Swinging her up before him
again. he raced at full speed for
Cedar Gulch. AT the outSkirts of
the town, he pulled his mount in
and lifted Kay to the ground.
u don't dare 60 any farther" he
said. The stations at the end of
this street. You can't miss it.r He
swung into the saddle and grabbed
the reins. Wheeling his horse, he
headed for the mountains.
Remember" he called back
over his shoulder. Then without
waiting for an answer. he was OF
at hard gallop.
fcopyrtgAt. 1857, Marie De NervandI