The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-10-11
~ CO Uy2
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By MAX sALTMARsH

| going to wait to be caught like 1
rat in a trap. I want money. ano
when I have got it am going, to.
night, at once. You can give Ludo.
vic your own orders and pay the
price if he fails!"
"Just minute" he broke in
smoothly. "In that case you had
better tell me where Ludovic is
now"
She stared at him blankly. "At
fAmourie, of course. Fatma gave
the message to the chauffeur"
!. He gave short, cackling laugh
"Quite, but the chauffeur unfor-
tunately lost it before it reached
US. He suspects. in fact, that il. was
stolen from him by an Arab car
pet-seller."
SOL" she said. with a sort OF
strangled scream. 1.-THE man who
saved Lumsden. and yet you doubt
that the game is lost! You're mad.
tell you-but then you were al
ways mad"
He looked at her consideringly.
his head on one side. Il am mad, am
II" he echoed. and there was some
thing so indescribably menacing
in his tone that | felt the girl be-
side me shudder. THAT is not q
very safe thing to say. But let il
pass. How much money do you
want? Ten thousand francs?"
The woman sneered in his face.
"A hundred thousand would be
more like it." she retorted. "You
can give me what money you have
in the house, and a check on your
account in. Brussels for the bal
ance." She gave a short. harsh
laugh. "And / don't think, some
how" she added, "that you will
try to stop the check, because. If
you did. might feel inclined to
talk. IheEe4are number of IN
surance companies who would be
very gladlto listen Pine"
Between TMo Fires
/ GEISS sighea. as one whose faith
Il ilIInai1 nature has been
ftidei tried. How true it is that
one should never expect gratitude
from ones inferiorsi But come
then. Henrietta. | will give you
what money I have. and for the
rest, as you so cleverly suggest
there will be check on my Brus-
sells accour1t--a check that | shall
not dare 20 stop"
The woman's eyes had never
left his face, but save for a tight
ening of the thin lips. she gave no
sign Of the effect his diatribe had
on her. Now she stood up and mo-
toned him to precede her from
the room.
I'm in a hurry" she said. "The
express leaves at midnight, and |
don't fancy you want to linger."
The cartoonist shrugged. smil-
ing gently at her. still suspi-
cious?" he said CHI dinghy. Never
fear, Henrietta. | will keep my
word"
He passed quietly from the room.
the woman following close at his
heels. and with sharp click the
light went out.
Thank Heaven they'll oct ed
out" said. Now | CO ~. ou
away" Ply
"You wouldn't be so Ere DIT
tile retorted sharply. wv ns ere.
and we know they'll both Zone
in five minutes. and the we've
all the night to look for Til gun."
II have" corrected heIFgently.
But first, young woman. I'm go
ing TO see you clear away And as
! spoke, | peered CAUTIOUSLY over
the edge of the balcony. But as |
did so. | experienced a sudden
sinking of the heart. for across the
graveled forecourt below me saw
a dim shape move. sinister,
Sinking shape that I recognized
only too well.
We're too late" | said dismal
~. There's bloke standing SEN
try down below there"
! heard her catch her breath.
who is it?"
"A fellow called Noah More" |
whispered back. lone of Geiss's
creatures. He tried to do me in last
night" But even as spoke, heard
faint, scuffiing noise against the
wall that told me. Incredibly as it
seemed. that the repulsive object
below was starting to scale the
house, even as we had done.
For an instant | hesitated. par
alysed by the sheer horror of the
situation. II seemed obvious that
yet another of the rats had come
70 salve wnar ne could before leav-
ing the sinking ship. but well |
knew that once Met'were discov-
cred. all three OF them. Cess. the
woman. and the creature even now
climbing up towards us, would
combine together against us, held
by common fear and a common
regard for their own safety.
"Quietl" I breathed, and bend
Ing. caught the bottom Of the sun
shutter and gently levered il up
ward. ! gripped the girls arm and
drew her into the dark bedroom.
| dragged her out to the land
ing. shut the door behind me, and
struck a match. looking for a key
In the lock. but there was nothing
only bolt on the inside. which
was no sort OF use to us.
Take of your sl.oesl" | whis-
pered. and obediently she slipped
Of her beach sandals. while did
the same: then we crept silently
On our bare feet down the stairs.
But even as we gained the foot of
the stairs. my heart sank. for the
door TO me right, which | knew led
10 the dining-room. opened sud-
cenly. letting a yellow beam OF
light out across the hlackness of
the hall. and I heard GeiSs's voice
$50 now you have YOUR check.
Henrietta. and If you viii come
with me. I win give you what
money ] can spare for your Jour
ney."