The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-09-22
Chapter IS
Blood On Your Knee

Blood On Your knec
a TALL gaunt old man in de-
"A cent Sunday bla ok S came
down the companionway behind
Neill and pushed through with an
air of authority. He had a thin
gray beard that waved with every
movement and an expression OF
grim piety. He looked like pic
ture out of an old book. This was
Mr.. Button Billings, justice of
the peace. Neil breathed little
easier. No special danger here.
AS a matter of fact, as soon as
Mr.. Billings entered the after
cabin a conflict of authority arose.
Whats this? What's this?" he
wanted to know. why didn't you
wait for me?"
Virgil looked at him with mix
ture of respect and evaporation.
He tossed his badly chewed cigar
through the portfolio and stuck a
fresh one in his mouth. eve are
just looking into the evidence, Mr..
Billings"
THAT is my job"
Virgil let him have his way. Mr..
Billings stood in the middle of the
cabin stroking his shaven upper
lip, looking down at the body,
looking all around. He froWned at
the stricken steward on the sofa.
did he do it?" he asked Virgil.
The man jumped up with cry.
mo, sir! No! It was me who found
him! He was stiff and cold then.
He. )"
Mr.. Billings silenced him with
a wave of the hand. "All in good
time. Well sit on him first"
THAT: not the way they do il,
Virgil burst out. "They collect the
evidence first. and then hold the
inquest"
ats nothing to me what's done
in other places" said Mr.. Billings.
"We have our own ways. Always
when a body is found we sit on it
Immediately"
1--WE don't know who he is yet"
said Virgil. "He called himself
Barrett, but there's no proof of it. I"
"Well, if we don't now who he
is, then he's an unknown person"
said Mr.. Billings crushingly.
They'll call us hicks in the
paper %muttered Virgil
The old man ignored the re-
mark. This place is too small to
hold it here" ne said. Wen carry
him ashore"
The evidence is here"
What evidence?"
1.-THE gun: the bullet that was
shot out of it; the smashed door,"
Il will swear N a jury from
among those present, and they can
view the evidence"
I'VE ought to take steps to catch
the murderer first.
Mr.. Billings fiattened him with
a gesture. Eve will proceed in due
order, Virgil"
A jury was duly sworn in--Mr
Billings had testament in his tail
pocket-and with difficulty steered
around the little cabin. Twelve
solemn faced fishermen and
clerks, they took their response
bilities seriously. Mr.. Billings then
requested them to carry the body
up on deck and to lay it in one of
the skiffs alongside.
The Jury's Verdict
VIRGIL, desperately rolling the
' cigar between his teeth. made
another plea for delay. Anyhow.
wait till Mark Bonniger comes.
Mr.. Billings drew himself up.
Whats Mark Bonniger got to do
with it?"
II have requested him to take
charge of the case3s
Mark BonnigeV Is not an of
ficerl' Rtks
Hes a student and a traveller"
said Virgil. HE knows how these
things are done"
"You have gone beyond your
self in this matter, Virgil" said
Mr.. Billings severely. We all re-
Spect you as a citizen, but you hold
no Office. ] am the representative
Of the law in this district"
Virgil flung up his hands. The
cigar tossed like a ship at sea.
Neil was well pleased TO see the
body carried ashore. The ofiicious
Mr.. Button Billings was doing all
he could to make the finding Of
the killer more difficult.
A freight she'd on Longcope's
wharf was designated as the place
20 hold an inquest. The solemn
jury and the witnesses disap-
peared inside and closed the door.
While he waited, Neill circulated
unobtruSively among the crowd.
watching and listening for any
thing that might threaten danger.
He was startled when he acefaen-
tally caught sight Of his own
strained face in the mirror OF a
slot machine.
An hour later the verdict was
announced: Man unknown sho&