The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-10-19
the dark ships. t +
~ hubert FooTNER - -, 4

I y
the door the blond young man was
watching them with grin. Neil
thought: Well. I'll be damned =.
What's his game?
In the Belvedere bar Neil ran
into a crony of Barney's whom he
had been told that he would find
there. From him he learned that
Barney was accustomed, on his
way home every afternoon, to
drop in for a glass of beer at Helm
rich's, a little cafe in the Falls
road This was the essential piece
of information he had been after.
II was long way from the Bel
vedere hotel Neill took taxi, and
! the blond young man another.
Falls road proved to be a n1iscel-
laneous sort of street leading to
aristccratic Roland park. It was
lined by small stores. little frame
houses occupied by colored wash
erwomen, and so on. Heinrich's
was a neat, new saloon with ma
hogany panels in the show VIM
dow and neon beer signs. No view
of the interior could be had from
the street.
Neill went in. The blond young
man didn't follow him in, but
when the swing shutter opened,
Neil could see him lowering out
side, trying to get look in. The
place was moderately well filed.
NELL could hear that the CONVERSE
ton was all about the Tanning
case. and the death of Miss Ray
ner. He did not attempt to Join
the general group. but waited at
the far end of the bar to be served.
A Real Clue, AtLast
.HEINRICH was thS typical Ger
4 man beer-seller enveloped in
a vast white apron. Neil said to
him:
Terrible thing about the death
Of the old lady today"
"You said II. mister"
Fellow downtown told me that
IL was Edward Barney who first
introduced Prescott Tanning to
Miss Rayner."
mol" exclaimed Heinrich. why
Mr.. Barney is good customer OF
mine"
as that sol" Neill made believe
to look over the group of drink
ers. Is be here now?"
mo. he drops in afternoons
around $780,"
"Well. don't say anything about
it. Maybe there is nothing in it."
you're right"
"But it would be a funny note.
wouldn't it. if Barney and Fam
ming met right here?"
Prescott Fanning's never been
in here. mister. I've seen his photo
graph and heard him described.
He's man you wouldn't mistake.
Maybe Barney met some friend
of Fanning's here-a go-between.
sort OF"
MIR. Barney has his own friends
here every day. ] can't recollect
him talking to stranger. / don't
get many strangers way out here
Think back Il would be quite
a stunt IL you and me could turn
up something new IN this big case.
Have a beer with me-"
Heinrich drew a beer and slipped
IL thoughtfully. He was attracted
by the suggestion of publicity for
himself. and lowered his voice
confidentially. Il do mind strang-
er meeting up with Mr.. Barney in
here" said he slowly. Maybe he
was in couple of times"
did he pick up Barney here
the FIRST timer" asked Neill eager
".
mo, you could see Mr.. Barney
knew him before"
what like mani"
Heinrich shook his head heavily.
Il can't remember"
Was he big fellow?"
sNo."
"A little fellow"
Just medium like"
WAS he young mani"
No. He wasn't old neither. Just
average age"
How was he dressed?"
II didn't notice special. Just like
anybody else"
Neil. discouraged. tried another
line. what did they drink"
Heinrich's eyes frightened inn
mediately. Il can remember that,
mister. Mr.. Barney. he had his
beer as usual, but the stranger he
ordered drink that was new to
me. A rum collins he called il
Made just like an ordinary collins.
but with rum instead of gin. It's .
good drink. ! have offered IL 20
some Of my other customers and
they like It.
Now we're getting somewhere
sain NeilL There must have been
some talk about this new drink.
Can you repeat it2"
Sure. The stranger tells me
how to mix It. He mentions that
he had client who was a banana
importer, and he was able TO get
IN rum on his ships"
Here was a real clue az last.
.Good!s said Neil. He grinned and
drank OF his beer. Beer had never
tasted better to him.
IL was all Heinrich could ten
him. Don't say ANYTHING about
this, Nell warned him. sTll b.
seeing you soon He paid bis shot
and left the place.
fcstyssAS ~. - Rsassrt Fssa.zl
Neiii and the blend younx nan
have a sheefing fluei. tauarrnvs