The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-06-15

ASey asked.
No, he's sort of an indestructI-
BILE man. He's Just bruised, but his
doctor wants him to stay for a
couple of days, and rest. He's got
a bad heart. Won't you see him?v
Sure, for 2 minute, Asey said
But don't know the man.
THAT won't matter. He knows
you, and he's so eager to talk with
someone.
Mr.. Jennings, a burly six footeI
who seemed far too big for his
bed, smiled at Asey and extended
his hand.
BOY" he said feelingIY, IAN
glad to see human facet"
Asey laughed. Il hear you're
sort of mar 3oned an deserted"
"Oh. lots of folks phoned, but
as soon as they find oui I'm all
right. and just being kept in cold
storage, they send their regards
and say they'll drop over when /
get back home. You can't blame
EN-. There hasn't been so much
money loose in town for years
My boy-he's 15-he's had trouble
this summer, selling little wooden
windmills for dime apiece. To-
day, he and his friend got the idea
of making little octagon houses out
of two by fouPs, and painting EN-
up, and they're getting a dollar
apiece for just as many as they
can make. Think of i'll If only the
dontor-but | suppose he's right
/ wouldn't keep quiet, if got out.
I'd be out hawking with the rest.
Say, what do you think about this
murder?"
There's more to it than meets
the eye" Asey said. "if that's what
you mean"
Sure there is" Jennings agreed
after ] heard about it, ! went up
town. was going to rout out the
other selectmen, and have EN-
send for you. But they told me you
was away, and then that fool
crashed his plane, and landed
over here. But you know what |
think-and what everyone else in
town thinks? We think its some
one that was sore about being pic
tured in that mural thing You
don't know how mad people in
Quanomet are about thatl"
Red Lead Paint
by degrees" Asey said. I'm
- gatherin' that there's been
considerable indignation. But the
point is, is there any one person
that's madden than any ether2 And
why should Marina be killed. and
not Lorne. who painted the pic
ture?"
''Oh, Marina put him up to it, I"
Jennings said. "Lorne's fool. The
only way that fellow can think is
with a paint brush in his hand.
and then he isn't too bright. Every
one knows she put him up to paint
ing in the faces. He -ouldn't have
thought of ii by himself
Then you think it's a local per-
son, who knew enough to figger
that Marina was to blame2"
II do" Jennings said emphati-
cally. "And | thought right off the
bat about Aaron Frye. He's in the
mural. Father Time, or something
81 don't know. But he's had more
than that from that daughter az
his in the past So has Pam. The
way | figure, If they haven't killed
Marina before, that picture
wouldn't move EN- to kill her now
Then-you'll laugh at this. But
thought of Nettie.
is she In the paintin'?" Asey
asked. Il seen 1t, but got to
laughin' so. had to go out before
took in mole than the maia
panel"
@The other panels are the ones
with Quanomet faces" Jennings
said. "Nettie's IN old bag cutting
fish"
"A fish wife. huh? Well, that's
apt, Asey said.
"Uh-huh. And beside her are
two pickle lines. She's had a jar
of pickle lines in that window of
her store for years. Then decided
il couldn't be Nettie. because the
time they said she left Octagon
House and the time Pam found her
sister. they didn't hitch up And
besides, | had a better idea. And
you'll think I'm crazy. for sure.
thought of Roddy Strut"
Is he in the mural. tool"
HE sure is. With two girls on
his lap, and his face-well, it's
Roddy all right" Jennings said
bitterly. Anyway, las night when
he crawled out of that plane. he
was laughing like Il was a big
joke. hate him anyway, but that
made me sore, with Brigham lying
there. / limped over. and lousy as
! felt. ! kicked him square in the
seat of his pants. Knocked him
down. too. And while he was down.
| give him a couple more kicks :"
That" Asey said approvingly
"was the proper gesture
And YOU know what | noticed
when I kicked him? A couple OF
streaks on his pants. | thought
they were blood at first, but later
seen they weren't. They were
red lead paint. And I'm a plumber
by trade. And yesterday morning
| spent up to Lornes', fixing up
that pump, and painting then
water tanks with red lead. And
the old water tank that | painted
the biz one, that's out in the garage
where Marina was killed. See what
meant"
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