The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-06-26

oence against them. Any Of them
could have both shot and druReed her
anq subsequently done away with the
skipper. who might have witnessed
me latter crime. But Il the NiIIers
were guilty. how could explain the
pen@Flor OF Michael and his aunt?
SAT there for long time, frown-
ing az that paper. Even Il the Skin
per had been telling the truth. what
o. Mlcnnkiz Whist had he and Jude
talked about2 WY had the Skipper
neen 50 anxious to keep that pair
apart ] couldn't seem 10 get any
where. 80
michael, IN the doorway. put an
end to my speculations.
4 recited the case against Higgins
70 n Harrington myself. Michael
RACED. stormed and threatened to tear
me limb from limb. He would. be
shouted. believe Higgins IN Oppose
ton 70 Saint Peter. But II. Earring
ton took il silently. almost colby. as
Il she had seen expecting il and was
IA. measure relieved.
You were quite right, James, she
said. cutting short Michaers TRADE.
u seems unfortunate. but We must
take no more chances
Ny sympathies, / am afraid. were
entirely with Michael. The logical
ming Tor me 70 do was to present my
case against William, but I hesitated
to tell that story to Harrington. An
opinion once lodged in her head had
a tendency to stay there. and II 1
were wrong two innocent people
would be iobless when the whole
business was over. Higgins was safe
and quiet. Since Gay was taking
NJ Farrington's view Of the case, let
il 90 at that.
AT her own request, we left n. Far
rington to sleep. She seemed really
much better and announced her in
tention OF joining US downstairs a
little later. Gay wanted 10 stay with
her, but she wouldn't hear Of It.
Pretty much involved in our own
thoughts. we made a weary trek
down the stairs. In the lower hall, I
grabbed an old jacket Of Miehael's
and slipped out onto the terrace.
The Imprint OF His Body
1T WAS a beautiful night starry,
4 crisp and clear. The salt air felt
good Leaning against a pillar. I
closed my eyes and listened to the
steady roar Of the surf. stayed there
until the uproar IN my head had
cleared bit
Then. lighting a cigarette. strolIed
aimlessly in the direction Of the bluff
with some vague idea Of watching the
effect Of the spray on the rocks be-
low. As luck would have it. roamed
uncnnsciously over the exact ground
that | had traversed so frantically
that morning. found myself pulling
up with a jerk at the scene Of Nor
man Farrington's death The ground
was packed and trampled from the
impress Of many feet The marks Of
our skidding as we tugged on the
rope glistened iciiy in the starlight
Wordsworthian reflections on Ma
ture deserted me. leaned over and
looked down. Somewhat marred by
the imprint Of Higgins feet, but sti1l
clearly defined in the sand below was
the shape 81 poor old Farrington's
body. Apparently il had landed hard
without sliding or rolling. At almost
any other point on the whole bluff. a
heavy weight going over the edge
would have rolled and slid to the
beach below. Slid
II the Skipper had gone over the
edge. the extent Of the bluffs OUT
ward slope would make it necessary
for her 70 have struck sand And II
she had struck sand. the mark would
stin be there The rain had stopped
long before she disappeared. and the
sand was too wet to be much dis
turned by the wind Il would be inn
possible for anyone to jump clear OF
the bluff into the water. even at high
tide. There was no moon and / was
without light, but my eyes already
accustomed to the darkness. had seen
the mark Of Norman Farrington's
body without any trouble. l raced
along the top Of that bluff. my eyes
glued to the sand far below me.
When finally halted on the rocks
beside the stable. knew beyond the
shadow Of a doubt that the Skipper
had not gone over that bluff into the
water. She might. Of course. have
fallen from the rocks either where ]
stood or where Michael had fallen
across By the boathouse. We had al
ready examined that possibility. with
no result
turned modify back toward the
house. That night couldn't end too
soon for me. I tried to look at my
vatch. but my matches were gone.
Striding rapidly along. I wondered
what Gay and Mike were doing. Il
would be pretty terrible IL the Hig-
gins issue precipitated another row.
The hall was still vacant. and the
sound Of voices rumbled in the living
room. Peeling of the jacket, ] made
hastily in that direction. and just as
my hand touched the knob. Gays
voice came through the closed door,
Then would you mind telling ma
why you were searching your fathers
pockets a while ago. and what you
wanted with the key you took out OF
them
/ flung open the living room door
In the silence.
well, Mixer" l said.