The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-08-04

down, boys, ne groWIed. the
( words smacking more of a COM
mand than of an invitation. Wen
be here quite some spell an
reckon we might as well be COM
! Portable. Be al least four hours til
daylight an ! make it nearer FIVE.
! For moment 1t seemed to An
! krOm that Tr0ne was about to ex-
! plode. Veins sWelled in his neck
and forehead before he got him
self in hand Then he said vibrant.
| y: It's been a long time since a
/ Ratclt1rd gave an order on the
Rafter T. Stead o making your
I authority felt you'b be doing
more good if you went after that
/ killer
My OF man didn't bring me
up 70 trail skunks in the dark"
Ratchford's lazy draWl chucked
back. HIS eyes were on the old
man. Besides, amt at all sure
IT'LL be WastIn time if We sit
around here for a spell
Lee Trone looked up from the
sofa. What do YOU mcan2'
TO my notion the killer of that
StrutherS dude is IN this room. "
he said and his lips frightened up
formIdaDly.
A startled light flashed into
Tr0no's ewes that mado Anlzros7
wonder. He saw the rancher's hodv
. brace itself rs tor = blow Tronr's
voice was a bit unsteady he
checks looked little grav IN
this room" he said mechanically
IN this ROOM"
"Yo2h 49," tho enoriG.s Inns
drooold. 4,;,,+ ,o,.,.,
''0
Antagonism
~
N ne silcnce following Ratc1-
FORD S portcntous words some
one breath came rasplngly. To
AnkrOm the temperature seemed
to have dropped Vis.5ly in the last
halt second. TINS cold silence
cooked his muscles. set his teeth
on edge. The air seemed 10 be
Tightening up, tr4ng!ing these
people VINO stood about like so
mary carVcn statues. Across the
stiffness stole the ON, vibrant pur-
ring OF an auto'noblle motor.
Louder and louder It grew, then
suddenly ceased Ia the yard out
SIDE to the squeal OF brakes. Ora
vel crunchcd, bOof-heclS thudded
across the Veranda and a man
stepped through the open door.
II was CIaydeII, and his smiling
bps grew stlit as his eyes took IN
the scene before him. His glance
darted to the sheriff.
What's wrong, RatChfOrd?"
There was antagOniSm in the
shcrlffs eyes. THE Strutners dude
got IN the way Of blue whistler"
ne said softly. "Claydcll, let's see
your gun.
A flush snapped into the bronze
Of Claydell's cheeks. "Ratchford,"
he said. you have a nasty mind
one Of the nastiest it has ever
been my misfortune to encounter.
Just what's the reason for that de
mand?"
"A mans been murdered here
an I'm IN the process of checking
up. Ratchford'S words were mea-
sured. Murder IS a nasty thing,
CIaydell, an it won't surprise me
if it takes a nasty mind to solve
1t. Let's see that gun
Why. you damned fool - !
wasn't even here,
Can you prove it?"
Ankrom saw that Claydell's lips
were about to tr a m re a sharp
retOrt, then abruptly clamped
down tight. This man" Ankrom
thought. rs more dangerous than
RatchfOrd. He's gent that knows
when to talk an when to keep his
mouth shut He looked at the
rancher more carefully. He looked
at Trone, too, and for the first
time r. allied that Lees father had
been drinking There was that
bleary look about the eyes, and
the hand that Trone had propped
against the wall was shaking.
Ankrom glanced toward the
sofa and saw that Betty was sitting
up; that Lee was eyelng the sher-
I'll with hostility. He looked again
at katcAtord; Ratchford S eyes
were on Claydell.
Can you prove you wasn't
here
4 m not so sure that | can"
Claydell finally SAID. I've been
driving for several hours. I've
been to FL PaSo since l saw you
thus afternoon
Ratchtord cut IN, Can you
prove tb0t2 Who did you talk
with"
None Of YOUR damned buSi-
ness. ClaydCu tossed the words
:. III take that gun then, mister.
YOU can nave II back ~ non cot