The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-06-09
Chapter IL
Footprints

IT was quarter to nine that same
morning. just as Asey poured
himself a third cup Of coffee. that
the side gate clicked and the am
pie figure Of his cousin Syl Mayo's
wife hove in view.
Asey sighed. Jennie was a dear,
kind thing. and while few women
could equal her cooking, few also
could equal her curiosity.
He would. at least hear all the
details. Jennie was on the twenty
one telephone line. and II Jennie
was up TO par. she should have at
least twenty-one versions Of Ma
rina Lorne's murder.
my, myl" Jennie ran true to
form. MY, Asey, amt it awful
Who done II, do you know? I'd like
to ring their necks. that's what I'd
like to dor
you're the first person." Asey
remarked, who's felt the slightest
bit Of sympathy for Marina Lorne.
or the least drop Of anger toward
the Teller shat killed her"
"Marina?" Jennie shifted. I'm
not talking about Marina Lorne.
Marinal Huh. Plain Mary, that's
what she is Mary Hosannah. And
she was a-rwell, she was bad
woman. Asey. Just plain bad. De-
served what she got. Who done
it?"
Asey was puzzled. Done what.
the murder?"
Bother the murder. I'm talkin'
about them petunias out by your
Kitchen window herel Who Il lam
pied 'em down? spent all day be-
fore yesterday mornin' In the hos
sun" Jennie said, @settin' in PEI
tunias like you always have. An
now they're trampled fat as your
shoel I'd like to find the wretch
that did i'll I'd give them a good
piece OF my mind"
'eTfample2" Asey got up II
didn't know 1t. Jennie. | seen the
petunias yesterday, an thought
how fine they looked. | was goin'
to tell you how | liked 'em--lef
me take look, now, ct this. This
Is sort of interestin'."
Jennie's ire was considerably
Modified by Asey's solicitude for
the trampled plants.
Il thought myself, they looked
pretty nice" she said. Come on
here. see? OF course can get
the car when Syl comes In from
quohoggin' an drive up an get
more They was dear"
"T'll pay for The next lot Asey
said. IAN while you're up there,
you get some cut lowers for your
self. Well. well. That's tramplin'
that Is tramplin' amt it? think
yes. | think begin 10 see. Jennie,
/ was just as dummed fool last
night as ! thought | was. Some
body stood out here and watched
He figured II out. Somebody was
watching him there in the kitchen.
Pam. coming onto the bedroom
after her bath. must have peeked
down and seen the person there.
She didn't dash downstairs, or
scream out. which on the whole
was sensible OF ler. To let the per-
son know for sure that she was
there would not have been so good
/ .Asey knelt down.
shut Der Mouth
Il WISH" he said. ''that he had
I nj Inilled around--this earth
is 50 soft. you couldn't get one
good print out of the lot. But here's
--oho. He ducked az somethin =
say--l wnnderl | bet II was my
knife comm -
Jennie stared at him. ~You feel
all rightf" she asked anxiously.
I'm fine," Asey said. Zine. An
then he left An Pam wrote that
note"
pam Fryer Asey Mayo, you are
mixed 40 IN this. aren't you7s
Pam left that note for me.
Asey said. @an' then she hid. I lust
locked up the empty room. Then
she slid out probably while Carr
was here. Chances are pretty good
that she gave the watcher the slip,
see9 Because she knew about him.
an he didn't know about her. She
figured that she'd told me al she
could. an that her bein' here was
dangerous 20 me, IS well as cur
tallin' my comin's and COINS.
Without her around. I'd be q lol
freer an a lot safer. She probably
rounded out her shinkins By feelin'
that she had noihin' 10 lose. An
guess she's right | guess, Jennie.
she can look out for herself.
You mean Pam Fryefr Jennie
said shes . mighty nice girl.
Clever. too She aive The women 3
club . talk on art LAST year"