The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-10-18
Chapter 4s
Forest Fire
CAUGHT up with Fleuriot Just
a.

n @kAg444@ ~ WAeA = A~S-A ~ 40
: as he reached the Office.
You'd better inform your bu-
reau that Cess is wanted for one
recent murder. as well as COM
plicity in the Others" said /. perch
ing myself on the table as he
wrestled with the telephone. "He
bumped off Henrietta Adams last
night in his villa. and saw him
do IL"
He CAPPED at me like a Goldfish,
receiver n hand. "And may one
ask il you have any more of these
interesting details to communi-
cafe7" he demanded bitterly.
aLotsl" said /, grinning down at
him, and added a short resume of
the events of the night before. But
get on with your telephoning,
man." / finished. ''The news will
keep, and Henrietta, poor soul,
cant run away. but Cess can and
will"
Fifteen minutes later it was all
over. Instructions were being
flashed across the length and
breadth of France to hold the yell
low car and its occupants. We met
in the hall, four worried. dis
Eruntled men. where to look?"
asked Fleuriot, his round. red face
all creased and puckered with
anxiety. II have done what | can.
executively. / have ordered the
detention of Monsieur lie Baron
Stahl, as soon as he can be found,
and I do not think he can be far
away; my bureau is requesting the
Italian police to keep an eye on
the interesting Monsieur Vladimir
Rakovsky. and have given in
structions for the villa of the mis-
creant Cess to be watched until |
have leisure to examine the corpse
81 Mademoiselle Adams. 1t was in
the room where she lies, was it
not, that you discovered the. gun
which may have killed the la
uented O'Donnell? But what a
pity that you were not similarly
fortunate in finding the other gun
with which the poor little Monet
was shot. and the weapon which
struck down Monsieur Vennerl"
He broke off to laugh heartily. Il
make the joke. that's ALL"
! "And a very funny joke too" |
commented dryly. "but in this case
you happen to have hit the nail
on the head. The gun which killed
Eve Monet Is in the possession of
Mr.. Dunning. There are no finger
prints on 1t. but / can tell you that
The man who fired the shot is
hakovsky's chauffeur. He's dark.
medium -sized, with the first fin
ser OF his right hand missing. As
Tor the weapon that killed Venner.
It's q serviceable kind of wrench,
and you'll find it, and the old
mans wallet, under the loose tile
outside my bedroom door in the
Chateau la VAGUE"
] paused for a moment, to SAVIOR
70 the full the almost ludicrous
establishment that spread over his
face and even as ! did so. a great
light dawned upon me. sat down
htavily on the nearest chair.
Merciful heavensl" | groaned.
Why didn't think of It before?
The Club des Sans Clubs. mani
They meet in the cellars under the
chateau. Ten chance to one that's
where they've taken Ottilie."
Eleuriot gaped at me. This club.
have never heard of it." he said
dszedly. "But then. il seems to me
have heard of nothing. -" But
before he could finish his COM
plant. Hugo had grippe him by
The arm.
'sYou'll hear Of lot more be-
lore this night is through" he re-
Eorted grimly. "Come on, we're
zuing TO the chateau"
Night was falling. The sinister
noke-cloud had lifted. but 10 the
west the opal sky was flushed and
angry. we could not see the
doomed cape. but the wind that
blew strongly down upon us was
iery, and | breathed a prayer for
my living thing that might be left
n the glowing furnace that was
,nce the Esterels.
Into Custody
THE gardens were dusky and de-
= serted. and the only people
abroad besides ourselves appeared
o, be party OF half a dozen sail
,rR strolling arm-in-arm little
gay ahead Of US. | wasn't paying
much attention 20 them. but sud-
Ienly there wac a chorus of angry
Ihouts. and above the dark. clus-
cred shapes, ] saw an arm shoot
Ugh. and the hand at the end of
he arm held a glittering knife.
On q swift, ungovernahle inn
,ulse shook myself free Of Fleu-
lots grasp and sprinted towards
he shouting. milling group.
IN q couple of seconds was
lpon them and knocked down the
rnife. Instantly. they were run
ling for their lives. scattering into
he darkness, all except one.
&&0ttttGOtf sdtQ tttG NHtCE Vi
Iean-F Francois, slightly tremulous.
I thank you from tho heart. That
Enife was intended for me.
] gasped. a gasp of sheer amaze
nenk "And what the devil" said
. have you been up to-"
He smiled up at me with simple
ride. 1T was the yacht" he ex-
,lained. athe Rendezvous As
Monsieur Dunning viii have told
'ou, ] was able TO obtain a post on
,oard her as cabin steward, and
when news came that she was to
,e ready o sail Immediately. !
judged il my duty to delay her. I
waited until the engineer was on
hnre. and did a little work with
! wrench.
~And then7s said I.
Monsieur" he said simply, II
ear that they suspected me. for
hey knew ! was no sailor: but