The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-10-03
s9u Chapter 80
Murder Alright,

HUGO, Dunning and Ada were
l = waiting for me in the court
yard of the chalet. All three OF
them wore an air of anxious ex-
pectancy. and as ! sank gratefully
into a chair Dunning said: 1T has
occurred to me that. if we don't
succeed in averting the trouble,
Ottilie and Mr.. Wills would be
mighty glad of some quiet place to
retire to, until the fuss blows over;
or even" he hesitated- sin a
certain eventuality Ottilie might
come alone; and Miss Ada has
kindly said she'll be prepared for
them at any hour of the day and
night"
His words were like cold water
on my spirits. Until then, ] don't
think / had seriously epvlsagep
the possibility of failure, but now,
as I saw how gravely he viewed
our chances, | knew for the first
time what fear was. s,l..
Look here, DunningSno1 said,
"isn't il about time that we did
what any ordinary person would
have done in the first place and
went to the police with what infor-
nation we have?"
He sucked rehectively at his big
cigar. "And just what" he asked
mildly, "can we offer them in the
way of concrete facts?"
/ was silent for moment and
the more I thought, the more fully
did realize that there was moth
ing. literally nothing. that we
could produce as documented fact.
Isuppose that my chagrin showed
on my face, for the big man leaned
forward heavily and patted my
shoulder.
"Son." said he, "don't you think
I've been worrying over that DIFF
ficulty since the first minute got
here? Mr. Wills is being guarded,
as well as the local police know
how. against the average accidents
that could befall an American citi-
zen In foreign country. But If we
ask them to keep an eye on Cess
or Stahl or Venner, we can give
no proof Of what we believe"
He dropped back, like man
suddenly tired, and drained his
glass. and as Hugo refflled it. he
turned to me again. There's an
other point that is doubtless in
your mind-why we haven't told
Mr.. Wills himself of mis- niece's
death. and the rest of the game
that's going on. Well. that's i ques-
ton that's given me lot more
sleepless nights. but I've the same
answer for both queries. You've
heard what Ottilie says of her
uncle: you can guess the kind of
man he Is. and | tell you this. If
once he knew what had happened
TO Melanie. he wouldn't rest until
he had found her murderer. He'd
remove any chance we have Of
helping him. and he wouldn't save
/ sighed. 'You're damnably
right" I said, IF could only get
my hands round Geiss's neck.
Dunning nodded grimly. "And
don't mind admitting that quiet
bit OF assassination is solution
that has often presented itself to
me. though it's not so easy az il
sounds but meantime what we
want Is the major evidence"
And that ISL"
The gum" said he. THE second
gun-the gun that killed poor Pat.
II that could be foundAon his
premises-Pd have a good enough
case to 60 TO Paris with. OF cold se
It's possible mes disposed OF 81
ibng ago. but there's a factor III
Ql5r favor-the mans colossal
vanity. firmly believe he doesn't
credit there's a single living thing
with the brains to see through him,
and on that assumption there's
just chance he's still got the gun.
Rakovsky
THERE fell heavy silence that
4 Hugo finally broke. "And to
think" said he, shat we were in
that damned villa this afternoonl
II we'd only tied up the fellow and
searched the place."
And got into a nasty bit OF
trouble II you'd found nothing
commenced the American. mo.
no. Mr.. Stern. we'll never win out
on those methods. Son" - he
turned 10 me-sI am anxious TO
hear your news. but first I'll re-
eapltulate what I've been telling
Miss Ada and her brother here.
That was . useful bit Of ooservl-
ton Of yours, ewhen you sighted
that slngnlarIy unpleasant lady,
Miss Adams. going of for her joy.
ride. Mr.. Stern passed on the in.
telligenee 10 me, and I set my men
on the trail Of the car Il belongs,
and ] don't fancy you'll be sur
priSed 20 hear L. 20 a gentleman
named Vladimir Rakovsky, who
tnhabils small villa in q hamlet
named San Lorenzo. From now
on Il win be my pleasure and
privilege TO see that he does not
stir q foot outside Il without /
know where he's heading"
/ whistlecl. Then il was he I
saw with herg" said I, with a sud-
den and not too pleasant recollec-
ton Of the pale face and prominent
eyes ] had glimpSed for an instant
4hFsnsFs4h fhn exstrs ass sse eka -.