The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-10-01

Thanks" NELL placed himself
so that he could watch the bot
tom of the stairs. Nobody came
down while ne sat there. But there
was the back stairway.
"Good God!" said Bonniger.
when he got a look in his face.
What have you been up against?"
Neill seized on the first lie that
offered itself. He recollected
roWdy resort. Il dropped into Kin
ney's for drink last night and got
into a little mix-up."
Bonniger frowned. 'This is a To-
cal option county. Kinney has no
right to sell hard liquor. I'll speak
to the sergeant"
'sDon't do it." said Neill quick
ly. You'll only get me in wrong
with the bunch. Let's stick to the
big case"
Bonniger shrugged. tive been
on the telephone half the night.
They've given me private wire
into Longcope's Office"
ANY news of the grip"
plenty"
Neill looked up startled.
mo reliable news" said Bon
niger. 81 mean she's been reported
from all over the state: from Sill
chester across the bay: from Low
err Blenheim 80 miles up the river:
from Baltimore and even from as
far west as Frederick"
She must be pretty spry."
"Sure. if it was all true, but such
reports always spring up in a sem
sational case. They are started by
people trying to horn in on it. The
worst Of it is. they've all got to be
run down. The state police are do
ing it.
Neill, bent on diverting his mind
from the facts. said: "She must
have got clear of this vicinity or
else she's dead"
Nothing in it." said Bonniger
coolly. 'In my opinion she's very
much alive, and not a thousand
miles away from here. either"
Neill looked at him. but the
calm face gave nothing away.
What was the rerort from Sill
CHESTER" Neill asked.
"A fisherman in the Cherry river
says that he saw a skiff rowing in
from the bay at 6 o'clock on We'd
nesday with a woman sitting in
the stern wearing black wrap
of some kind and a man rowing"
NELL helped the false clue along
as well as he could. "The mouth
of the Cherry river is IS miles
from here. That would make it
about right if there was a strong
pair Of arms at the oars"
Bonniger was not impressed.
Sure. but if the fisherman wanted
to lie he could have worked that
out from what he read in the
newspapers Yesterday"
Dope On Tanning
4 RE you going to investigator"
"A why should /? My job is
here I've got a good bit of dope
on Tanning since l saw YOU"
Whats that?"
81 sent a photograph, measure
ments and fingerprints up to New
York, and they have found him in
their rogues' gallery. His right
name is Lester Patchin, but he has
used a string of aliases. Gilt-edge
swindler: get-rick-quick artist and
so on. Has served a term in Massa-
chusetts. Lately, police say, he has
dropped out of sight.
what was he doing in Balti-
more?"
That / can't tell you yet"
Well, he wasn't there for his
health"
Il believe you"
Whats the program for today?"
I'm going out to the yacht to
look things over"
want me to come along?" sug-
gested Neill offhandedly 1.-TWO
pair of eyes are better than one"
Sure. glad to have you'll"
Il suppose you haven't identi-
fed the girl YETI"
Not a clue!" said Bonniger.
That's the biggest mystery of all. "
Nell felt more like breakfast.
When they had finished, Bon
niger went away to the store to
receive a report. Wickes was in
the hotel Office counting the pre-
vious days takings. and NELL lin
gered under pretense of lighting
his pipe.
'Who you got in room 1872 he
asked. 81
Wickes glanced at the registen
Guy called Ira Buckles took that
room Tuesday night. ] put in a
couple of other guys last night.
Don't know their names"
What like guy is this Buck
less2"
Deed. / couldn't tell you, mis-
ter. got such a crowdl"
Neil went on TO the store porch
20 wait for Bonniger. Horace Ket-
tering came along with cheerful
greeting.
Morning Wheatleyl"
Morning, Mr.. Kettering."
Look. Wheatley. my son was
called up to town last night by
the sickness Of his wife. ! hate to
20 fishing alone. Won't you Join
me. today?"
Thanks a lot" said Nell. Ger
tainly is kind Of you. But this darn
murder case is so interesting ]
can't tear myself away"
ketterlng laughed. ''Oh wen, IL
you prefer murder TO fishing, !
can't do anything for you. Another
day. I hope.
(csfyrtfst. 1852. y EslssTf Fsstssrl