The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-12-09
Chapter Nine
Discomposed

Discomposed
ELIZABETH looked startled at
II sight Of me.
"Why, Katherinel II saw the
car, but didn't didn't expect
you.
She was as nearly discomposed
as had ever seen her; and more
than that, she seemed grieved, as
If something very dear had been
snatched from her--something she
could never have again.
/ don't think have ever felt so
low down and contemplate. !
knew she could not have heard me.
When / asked the telephone opera
Tor If there had been an eleven
o'clock call ! had spoken softly,
and Elizabeth had evidently just
come in. But in her presence the
thoughts I had been reluctantly
entertaining seemed monstrous:
There was something clean and
honorable in the very air that sur
rounded her.
rushed into speech.
81 was looking for you. Some
thing dreadful has happened.
The natural color faded from
her cheeks and she reached hand
behind her to the open door, as If
for support. But she did not speak
until / had finished And then ]
saw there was Kind of death in
her eyes. saseesSa
ave must CO." she said in a
strangled voice and led the way
from the house.
I wanted to ask her where she
had been and why she had come
back; but ! could not find words.
She had drawn about herself, like
q cloak. an austere reserve that !
did not know how to penetrate.
Her car was parked behind
Charles at the curb. While we
stood for a moment undecided on
the sidewalk beside them, a big
government ambulance rolled
hurriedly by on its way to the
hospital. Doc Moore's car was
following it closely.
I'm going to the hospital" said
Elizabeth suddenly. Maybe
maybe she isn't dead. :"
I thought there was a prayer IN
the words.
She looked at her empty hands.
my keys" she murmured and
ran back into the house.
II seemed to me she was gone
for q long time. had started after
her, vaguely uneasy, when she
came out, her hands still empty.
Where can they bef ! always
put them on the card tray"
Perhaps they're still in the
car"
mo. I make a point of taking
them out. Why. so they are. That's
odd"
The starter .whirred.
"Tllgo back to the club, ! said
hurriedly. I could not face the
thought of the hospital. And
Charlie had been alone long
enough.
If Elizabeth answered me I did
not hear her. Her little car jumped
backward. halted, leaped ahead
with the double-jointed action of
q Jack rabbit and bounded away
toward the hospital.
Elizabeth was methodical, as !
knew from my own observation.
At least twice that day / had seen
her carefully put those car keys
on the silver tray provided for
calling cards Just inside the door
Of the front hall. Tonight, ] was
positive. she did not have them
when / saw her in the doorway.
What, then. had upset her, be-
fore she saw me. before | told her
Of the shooting? What had made
her forget the little ritual Of the
car keys?
I turned the roadster and drove
back slowly. very slowly. breath
ing the clean air that a little
breeze was beginning to stir,
thinking deserminedly of nothing
but the painfully sweet memories
invoked by once more driving
Charles car with only the stars
above me.
Z Heard The Shot
ENTERED as hAe left. by the
i side door. The 1ibfafy was still
in semidarkness. but Charlie was
gone. Ny heart sank at the dis
covery. had expected him to
sleep for hours. Where had he
gone7 And what was to do now?
As ! came in ! had seen that
most Of the party were grouped
together on the veranda. drawn
there. no doubt. by the arrival.
earlier, Of the ambulance: and
held there by an obscure desire
20 keep as Tar as possible from the
scene OF the crime.
But Mrs. Flo yer was alone on
the dance floor, walking slowly
along. head bent above her harem
veil like a submissive houri fol-
lowing her master.
I watched her in a sort OF fas.
eination until she looked up and
saw me.
-rm looking for clues" she said
seriously. like child explaining
q game. "Clues are very iTnpor-
tant. you know. They're what tell
you who did the murder. Come
help me look. There's no telling
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