The Key West citizen., 1938-12-29

young bachelors quarters TO pes
fancy had pictured nothing Like
this. The windows were bare; so
was the floor. There were chairs
mahogany, massive, battered, with
shovel-shaped seat cushions that
had been scooped out by years OF
squirming spires and never been
reversed. A table Uttered with
magazines and spilling onto the
floor replaced the well-filled book
case of my imagination. There
was mantelpiece whose sole uSa
was obviously for the reception
of forgotten cigarettes and emp
tied glasses. There were nurner.
Gus ash trays, mostly on the floor
and all overfowing.
Through an open door ! could
see a tossed and tumbled quarter
master bed and Charles back as
he stuffed something hurriedly
Then Charlie was occupying
the doorway Of his bedroom, ex-
planning stiffiy that he had not
expected company and trying by
his manner to counteract the im-
preston given by his red face.
He was not looking his best. He
had slept in his clothes. The tawny
hair, whose engaging effect of un-
ruIiness was one Of the things you
remembered about him, now
looked definitely wild. His eyes
were bloodshot, and the hand
which held a nonchalant cigarette
trembled perceptibly.
His eyes avoided mine but
cleaned redly at Adam for mo.
ment.
Too Soft
"yLIHATS the idea Of keeping
w me here under guard?" he
demandedly coldly. "If you're ac-
cusing me Of murder let's see you
do i through proper channels,
Keep your shirt on" Adam ad-
vised mildly. "It's my impression
that you were confined by your
own - er - indispoSition. You
shouldn't have tanked up so iber-
ally if you wanted to stay on deck
all evening-you ought to know
your weakness by now."
Charlie was going to be one OF
those choleric old men. ! had q
distinct momentary picture Of
him bulging on both sides Of a
Sam Browne belt. raging purple
faced against the New Army,
against pacifsts, against Congress,
against the present rate Of pay. -.
He was insisting angrily that
he had been on his feet for hours
but had been forbidden to leave
his quarters by Captain Flower.
saw him then, in the corner
behind the door. correctly stand
ing, thumb between the pages
of magazine-a little, desiccated
husk of a man with tired, patient
mouth and extremely alert, intel
ligent dark eyes. He was looking
at his wife-an intimate. UNDER
standing look that was res ssuring,
pleased. mildly complacent.
"You thought of that, did you?'
she asked him brightly. 81 thought
you might"
Conversation paused to grope
for footing. Charles jaw sagged.
Barney was standing in the hall
doorway, leaning against the cas-
ing, looking from face to face with
a stupid sort of perplexity as If
they were speaking foreign lam
guage. Someone ought to put him
to bed. thought.
Adam suggested that, since the
orders had come from Captain
Flower. that gentleman was the
one to explain them.
Captain Flower looked family
surprised. as II there were moth
ing to explain,
Seemed obvious" he mur-
INJURED. " listened around
everyone thinking Charlie shot
her. I know the boy-in my troop.
Hotheaded but too soft good bet
for the killer, though, and Charlie
over here alone. Murder often
made to look like suicide, you
know. :" He paused, glanced
at his wife. nodded.
SO you came up here. What
time was that?" Adam prompted
Twelve - twelve-thirty. Don't
know exactly. Il was early. He
was sound asleep"
Long before Ethel Curtis was
killed. | felt as il ! had been hold
ing my breath for hours and only
now dared to let 1t 60. I beamed
upon the little man with admira-
tion and gratitude. but he was not
aware of me.
"And you've been here ever
since?"
Ever since"
"And Charlie hasn't been out of
these rooms7"
'Not once" said Captain Flower
grimly. 1--WE kept my eye on
him"
A most affable, engaging grin
spread over Adams face. He ad-
dressed Charlie.
young man. you ought 10 get
down on your prayer bones and
beg the captain to kick you. Very
much against your win, ] Judge,
he's done YOU neat service. Mat
ter OF fact" he added genially.
-" nav have saved your worth
49, ~~rk "
ss'.."a,saa, 1888. vRpinso RonsonJ