The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-09-24


The police were still keeping
them moving up and down the
road between store and wharf. The
shed was the great object of the
peoples curiosity.
@Looks like regular met
rolopus. don't it?" remarked Virgil.
Suddenly among those ap-
preaching from the right, NELL
picked out familiar figure. 1t was
David Eyster, Earnings half
crazy little trailer. There was no
mistaking the gray figure cease
lessly turning his head from side
to side. Eyster saw NELL, too, and
it was too late to slip in the store.
There was a new quality in
oysters grin which reminded
NeiIl of devils laughter. Yet the
tragic look showed in his eyes
unchanged. As Neill put it to him.
self, the devil was still in he'll, but
something had pleased him. NELL
said to Virgil:
That's a queer little customer
yonder in the gray suit"
"Quare is the word, mister. Last
night when I seen him first it give
me the creeps."
'Last night?" Neill echoed.
Sure he first come around last
night after the movies. / don't
know where he's from. Won'ti
speak"
This gave Neill fresh food for
thought. If the yacht had been
driven into Absalom's by accident,
how could Eyster have learned OF
her presence there so soon?
When Eyster came abreast of
Neill ne gave him a look of mean
ing and jerked his head slightly
in the direction of up the road.
It was clearly a summons to follow
and NELL became a little hot. To
come to heel at the beck of this
repellent little man went against
the grain, yet it was wiser not to
diSobey until he found out how
much Eyster knew.
So Neill left Virgil and strolled
up the road with a wooden face.
Just beyond the store the road
took turn to the left and,
crossing the narrow neck, turned
sharp to the right and followed
the river bank. The shanty which
served as a post Office stood on the
river corner, and Eyster waited
for Neill in its shadow. All the
other promenaders turned back
before they came to the river.
Nell Bluffs 1t 0ut
WELL, what do you want?"
w asked Neill grimly.
Just to shake your hand" said
Eyster with his crazy grin. ''You
must give me that satisfaction.
You're a fine fellow, and I'm your
friend"
Neill gave him his hand. He
couldn't trust his offers of friend
ship. And he didn't want him for
a friend anyhow. But he couldn't
quarrel with the man.
Il see you've washed your
pants" said Eyster.
SO it was you who sent me
that note"
Sure, been keeping my eye
on you"
Since when?"
Since you rowed out to the
yacht last night"
A chill struck through Neill. He
bluffed it out. you're crazy! I
haven't been on the yacht"
Friends shouldn't lie to each
other" said Eyster.
'How did you know the yacht
was here?" asked Neill.
Il told you had made my ar
arrangements"
when did you get here?"
Eyster looked out over the river.
Like child, he made out TO be
deaf when he didn't want to an
swer question.
Neill.
Il am always alone"
Il reckon you were out rowing
yourself last night"
Il have neN er been in q row.
boat" said Eyster. Il wouldn't
know how to swing an oar"
This -omehow had the ring of
truth. If it tcas true, Neill figured, :
there was another unknown factor
in the case.
Meanwhile oysters strange,
tragic eyes were fixed on his face.
i wish / had a son like you," he
said Unexpectedly. @You are nv
idea of what young fellow ought
to be-cool, hard and able. / would
do anything for you. You can de-
pend on me to the death"
This put Neill's teeth on edge.
Too melodramatic. Even if sincere,
which he doubted, the friendship
of this crazy little man would be
terribly dangerous 10 him now.
IF you want to do me a SER
vice, keep away from me, see? We
must never be seen together. No
body must know that we are &C.
quainted.
Right" said Eyster. MY idea
exactly. just this one meeting to
cement Re friendship. Then pass
as strangers. I'll 20 around by the
beach ana you return by the road.
Rely on me-"
He went down the bank with a
crazy wave Of his hand, and NELL
turned back down the road scowl-
ing. The secret which he had SIM
posed 20 be all his own was shared
BY another il seemed-and perhaps
By two 1t complicated the sitsi-
ton damnably.
tcstFsistf. 1881. o. R.5avs Fseasvl
Ranniger. Kettering and NeilI con.