The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-10-01
Chapter 90
A Warning


ITENNER laid wrinkled, trem-
v bling hand on my wrist. and
looked sharply about him. The
servant Amedee had retired, but
the big black dog had settled him
self with a grunt of satisfaction at
my feet, looking up at us through
sleepy. half-closed eyes.
Lock the door," he said sharp
u. NO. not that one, We fool. the.
outer one and leave the other
open. Well soon know then II
snyone's trying to overhear Us"
] did as he babe me. "And !
think. il you don't mind, sir" said
], with a vivid recollection Of the
events of the morning, well have
this side window closed. too" And
suited the action to the word.
He waited Till I had reseated my
self and then leaned forward,
lowering his tone. Young man. s
he said. before ! say WhatII have
70 say. 1 want you TO remember
that IA your friend, and | should
be sorry-very sorry indeed-H
anything should happen to you;
bat you've got to be frank with
me. Tell me. what1do you know OF
Eve Monet7" -
] stiTened. why do you want
80 know7"
Because" said he, Il know that
the police suspect you killed her"
The cards were on the table
with q vengeance, but / had to
play my own hand with circurn-
spection. Look here, sir" i am
swered. Il don't know what right
you have TO question me, but I've
nothing 10 conceal. Until that
morning on the Carlton terrace |
Rad never seen or heard of Eve
Monet in my life before. Cess
took me up the wrong way. when
] told him didn't know her from
Eve. but IL he hadn't made him
self so objectionable I'd have dis
illusioned him right away. AS 1t
was, played up TO MIN. and 1t was
then that he mentioned you and
two fellows called Stahl and RAJ
kovsky as being friends Of hers"
~Of course" l added thought
fully. @since I've discovered that
the police suspect me of her MUIR
der. I've naturally taken certain
interest in the case. and I'd like
very much to hear what you, per-
nonally, know about her. sir, and
why you think anyone should
want TO kill her."
He pondered that. "Well!" he
said at last. heres the way Of it.
] me- tbs Girl Tor the first time at
lie Touqtiet this spring. Baron
StalII introduced Us.
she went 10 Paris and called
on her there. She would walk be-
side my chair in the Bots in the
mornings she would come to my,
apartment and read TO me when
my eyes were tired. Yes"-he
sighed again, with catch OF the
breath" she had a good heart!
But when Rakovsky came to see
me one day and found her there.
he got a shock. We had. you see,
the three Of US. been engaged in q
financial transaction in which GER
tain other people had lost some
money. and he had got the idea
into his head that this girl was
spy employed by them. Il was. Of
course. nothing that we need be
ashamed of. but there It wasl He
said she was spy. and wanted
no unpleasantness. so let her &C"
Naturally" agreed. And you
never saw her again."
He shook his head. Never" he
said. "Imissed her very much, but
never saw her again, and now
khe's dead" <
1couldn't tell whether to believe
that ne had known nothing before
hahd Of the murder. bu& his next
words seemed to cohffrr4 the sup
position.
Heart Attack 8
'TxrHEN the police came here 10
w question me. after her death.
I could tell them nothing more
than have told you. but the whole
affair upset me extremely, and
that is what want 10 speak 70 you
about. / am convinced. young
man. that as long as you stay here
you win be in danger. I know these
French police--if they do not sue
coed in finding the real murderer.
they viii do their best 70 pin the
crime on some innocent person"
He paused and looked az me
keenly. but I kept my face as
blank as 4 turnip. Meaning mefs
] suggested mildly, and he nodded.
as II relieved
Exactly. would even 60 so far
as 20 say that If they cannot inn
plieate you, they would not heSi-
tate 70 arrange your death. IN such
q way as 70 suggest suicide.
whistled, for il seemed time
90 be expressing a little innocent
amaxement. Great Scott You
don't mean they'd 80 to that
1ength?n
Il do indeed" ne assured me
solemnly. "And that Is why l have
sent for you II Is essential that
you get away at once. but you
would find il difficult 20 arrange it
yourself. ! am willing TO help you.
! viii advance you money and
lend you my private car. which
will run you across the frontier
tonight. Once IN Genoa, you can
take q boat for any port you like. !"
Il see" answered slowly. @and
I'm very much obliged 20 you. Mr..
Venner. but the trouble IS. cant