The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-06-27

4 "
Mrs. Carr'lI be downstairs. I've
got to 60 an make sure your fa-
Their an them fellers didn't meet
up with my biffer-"
"Okay." Pam said with her
mouth full
It occurred to Asey as he ran
down the stairs to the Kitchen that
he had not, in his relief at finding
the girl, asked a single thing about
the question uppermost in his
mind. He still didn't know where
that lump Of ambergris wasl
We've got around two dozen
for you," Mrs. Carr said with a
touch of quiet pride. "All natives.
and for all ] know. all of impec-
cable Mayfiower ancestry"
"A triumph" Asey said. "of or
ganization. Thanks Wen see If we
CAM get somewheres."
At two o'clock that morning.
they gave up the search. Not a sim
gle trace of Aaron Frye or of the
two troopers could be found in the
woods or the vicinity,
AN that" Asey said YEARLY.
after dismissing his searching par
ty. "is that"
Cummings agreed. What are
you going to do now? What-say.
here's Hanson in his car. Maybe
he's got some news"
Hanson regarded them sleepily
through glazed eyes. 'News?" he
said. 'The towns in order. if that's
what you mean"
But Frye. and your two men,
they're still missing" the doctor
said. "Missing!"
Don't shout. ! believe you,"
Hanson said.
Wake up for a second, Asey
said. Have you seen Shorty an
O'Malley up town? They're still
inissin'. I'm beginnin' to believe
they must have Joined your crowd
IN the village"
'"They didn't" Hanson yawned
widely.
- A Complete Mess
100 GRAB some sleep, Hanson.
~ You need it. There's a ham.
mock on the front porch. Tumble
into it. You can sleep and be on
guard duty at the same time. I'll
look after things here. I've got
Lorne and Carr to help"
That's white of YOU" Hanson
said. Il mean it. Usually ] can
take three or four days without
claora Hfa+ f1asS y.aot, ". a. q. frxxVv& rot
me-"
Asey led him to the hammock.
Before Cummings finished drap-
ing a blanket over him. Hanson
was dead to the world.
'I'll get another blanket" Cum
mings said. "And look. what about
Roddy?"
He could menace me-" Asey
said. "more'n ] could menace him,
at this point. If there was another
hammock, I'd flip into it myself"
In the kitchen of the Octagon
House, Mrs. Carr was bustling
around with coffee and sand
witches.
"You have choice" she said.
"of ham with mustard or ham
without mustard. Last week saw
an ad of the perfect hostess serv-
ing midnight snack, and she had
thirty-four different kinds Of
cheese and sixteen varieties OF
cold cuts. BY those standards. this
is a low-class party. But it's food.
Peg, get the butter"
Il forgot about you." Asey
spoke to Peggy Boone. want
Cummings to take you homer"
She can't 60 home" Mrs. Carr
said. She's going to stay and take
the bedroom next to mine. I shall
feel safer. Did you know that my
bedroom has Is sides?"
1t was long after three o'clock
before Asey got the household
Strengthened out, with Mrs. Carr
and Peggy Boone upstairs. Tim on
the front porch beside the snoring
Hanson. and Jack Lorne in the Gel
lar.
I'm talin' the back porch,
Asey said. "and it seems to be that
between US, we'd ought to discour-
age any further prowlin' or FIRM
or bashin'.n
He had just settled himself in
straight backed chair--he didn't
dare sit in anything comfortable
for fear of following Hanson's ex-
ample-when Mrs. Carr tiptoed
out.
I s.You've found out about Tim,
she said. "and u.s."
"Yes," Asey said. you've both
lhad a tough time"
And you're really not going 10
arrest hinl-oh, bless youl" she
ssid. Hes all I've got. and / know
! get simply maudlin about him.
but"
Il know"
But I don't think you do. Asey.
He didn't kill her. nor did /. But
you'll never know how much |
yearned to-oh. Emma's followed
mel | thought she was asleep in
her baSket-grah herr
Asey, with the cat purring in his
arms. steered Mrs. Carr up TO her
room. Nov" he said gently. "you
20 10 sleepls
Gratitude was all very well in
its way. and he liked the Carr fam.
lily and its cat. but right now ne
was too exhausted 70 cope with
them. singiy or otherwise.
A more complete mess. he
thought as he resumed his seat on
the porch. a more peculiar mess.
ne had never seen.
fcssrs,sas. Isss eAaese slwse4 fsusst
When viii Asey find eat ahaut tie
amAcrxriSs Continued tomerrsw.
pie. D. B. Clark. L. A. Bosarge