The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-10-07
1CIYaylYl vs. ~
By Max SALTMARSHl


mariner Baron Stshl. Sat lie b.
did more than locate her, lie DIS
covered that she was short OF q,
cabin steward. and he got himself
signed on the job. The engineer
has orders to keep stcs n Up. and
the Ia J tells me the stateroonls are
all ready for occupation and there
are sufficient victuals fora long
ish voyage"
l whistled. planning get
away, in case things go wrong?"
| suggested. and he nodded.
Precisely" said he, ."out with
Jean-Francois aboard, we -naif get
full and 6S,e warning. The boy
has maintained contact with his
friends at Geiss's - or rather did
until last night"
He broke off to chuckle. aWhat
happened was partly my fault"
he confessed. Il sent a man along
&c make a few inquiries at the
villa. My man represented him.
self to besa travelling salesman.for
sewingsTnaehines, bat unluckily al
one period in his career he had
been an agent of the Sdrete. and
) the precious pair recognized him.
They fancied the police were on
their tracks again, and last night
they folded their tents like the
Arabs and silently stole away. so
that our dear friend Rene is now
without a domestic staff, which is.
| take II, why'he has shifted him
sell aeFoss the frontier.
"a pity, / said
4 Akrtlfr irkone way he agreed,
4bUt Eih laNosi1eF not without its
brighter side for the villa is now
ul1teiantk EDS and iweM never Sue
coed in pinning the guilt on Mr..
Rene Gkiss until we've located the
gun with which he shot poor Pat"
|s.EAs they were leaving, Hugo said,
Stay where you are until YOU. e
rested. Tomorrow I'm going to try
and find that Antourie. whatever
it may be-"
Ride In A Bus
"a LII next day followed Hugo's
- advice and dozed comfortably.
At sCppertine, Hugo telephoned.
mo one seems to have heard Of
Amourie. said he. "and I've been
over the coast with fine tooth
comb. # you take bus down at
nine thirty. I'll meet you for
drink at that big cafe in the Allees
de la Liberte."
At ten minute past nine I was
on the corner of the road hailing
passing bus. It was packed to the
brim. | climbed the little step,
wedged myself inside. and felt the
door Craze my back as it shut to.
Next minute we were of again on
a wildly zigzagging course along
the narrow road held my breath
and hung to the brass rail behind
the driver. as we swerved peril
ously round corner after corner:
and then, suddenly. something
happened.
We were cascading down a mar
row, cobbled street. when man
behind me pushed me rudely to
one side, caught the door-lever.
and threw II over, and at the same
moment ] felt an almighty shove,
like the thrust of someone's knee,
in The small of my back. We were
shooting round a house with an
angle as sharp as knife-edge. and
even as pitched forward and out
ward. | seemed to hear the crack
my head would give as II hit the
wall: but as ! fell. someone caught
me by the leather belt about my
middle and dragged me back in the
very nick OF time, and at the same
moment the bus pulled up with
screaming of brakes.
The driver thrust his head round
a couple of passengers and LET out
very pretty flood of profanity.
Where is the mailman who did
that?"
turned, for I had an even
greater curiosity to see the indi-
viduai who had so nearly pfecipi.
tated me into eternity. and found
myself staring into q vacant. dust
coiored face.
well" said bitterly. you
nearly pnlled Il of that time. Mr..
Noah Morel" and saw his eyes
travel slowly round to me. as II he
sfound II difficult to focus them.
Yor know me?' he said. That
Is. Of course. not nv real name
but II Is strange. all the same. that
you should know it,
lis gaze wandered, and he
brought II back tc my face with q
visible effort. Il am sorry this has
happened" he said vaguely. Il as
sure you II was not intentional on
EG part--I merely wished to get
Next minute he was in the road
way, Fastening. with his queer
shutting tread. up q slde-street
The driver swung the door TO and
tapped his forehead significantly.
"Imbecilel~ said he. and put down
hts foot on the gas. but as he did
so. a voice spoke from behind me.
mot an i,~sbecilel" II said, speak
ing In English. but with the gem
tie singsong OF the Levant.
| turned and saw. standing Just
behind me, one of the innurner-
able Arab carpet-sellers OF the
Riviera. dark skinned. gentle
eye, creature. in crimson fe7 and
flowing draperies. his gaudy mer-
chandise piled on one arm
Was Il YOU who pulled me
back" | asked. conscience
stricken because, in the curry os
the moment. had forgotten 10
look for the man who had uf-
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