The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-12-12

notes and began iotting down
names.
The musicians. You and I. The
Wheelers, I suppose, can be elirmi-
nated - he spoke regretfully-
'sand those others sent home. Doc
Moore told me that he was dancing
with Mrs. Flower: difficult to see
how she could have done the shoot
ing without his knowledge"
PUT question mark after her
name" I suggested. She's so easy
to suspect.
"AH right. Barney, Of course,
couldn't have done it--there were
no powder burns. Think of anyone
else?"
Elizabeth was at home." said
lvaliantly.
Il suppose Annie will check
that"
! did not answer, and he added
her name to the growing list.
Who's left?" asked when we
had thought for a few minutes.
Adam began a new list. Mrs.
Orpington. Charlie Spencer. The
Shaws. Captain Flower--and Mrs.
| Flower question mark"
Ishivered. "Not many
He showed the notes away from
him in sudden disgust.
Not unless you add the rest OF
the garrison, the enlisted person.
mel and any passing stranger who
felt Like taking pot shot at the
nations pampered pets. There's
not enough to 60 on. We haven't
found the weapon. Everyone in the
club was searching for il even be-
fore the ambulance arrived that
was while you were gone. Some-
body had one, of course, but what
became OF it? Anyone on an army
post has access to firearms; every
officer has a service automatic"
.Abominable'
VOU don't know the caliber?'
! I'm waiting to hear from
thought he was going to say
more than that, but he stopped
and ! did not press him. A heavy
dread was dragging at me. Six
aameS--and one Of them Charles.
How bout questioning the
Shaws--one at q timer" Isuggested
finally. They seemed to know
Anne better than anyone"
Good idea. I'd like to know
why Mrs. Shaw was running Anne
down the past week or two. You've
seen Shaw. Does he impress you
as the type to attract Anne? It's
hard for a man to tell what women
like. Would his wife be jealous Of
him?"
Shed be jealous Of anything
that belonged to her. But she
doesn't need to worry about him.
Anne probably enjoyed teasing
her.
Adam nodded. "About what /
thought" He moved toward the
door. / ground out my cigarette
and slipped behind the curtains
again.
Mrs. Shaw might have been any
age from twenty-five to thirty
Ave, and her only claim to distinc-
ton was a thin, high rjdged nose
that narrowed her face and drew
together her pale eyes. She sailed
in regally, wearing q Beaux Arts
costume cut on EIzabethan lines
that suited her almost cruelty. In
looks she was not unlike the pic
lures you see Of the Virgin Queen.
She perched on the edge of a
chair = the pointed bodice must
have been painfully homeland
indicated that she would grant
Adam an audience.
There followed an exhibition OF
Adams celebrated charm. He posi-
lively lowered over the woman
inserted q durable pillow behind
her rigid spine. proffered her Gig
arettes and, when she refused, con-
sidefatHly doused his own; perched
on the table beside her chair and
bent on her a gaze of such solici-
tous sympathy that ! looked for
the very stays OF her bodice to UNI
bend.
II know how you feel, Mary"
he said in q low, regretful voice.
You were Anne's best friend. She
was devoted TO you. And I know
you want to do everything in your
power to punish whoever did this
this dreadful thing"
He waited considerably while
she turned away and dabbed at
eyes which could see were per-
fectly dry.
Accountable, "she breathed dra-
matically. "One can scarcely be-
lieve it. A lovable, charming girl
like Anne. Who could be so brutal,
500 beastly7"
She paused, as If sensing the in
of the vocabulary advo-
Gated by her expensive boarding
school. Suddenly she laid her hand
In 3 pleading gesture on his knee.
Cant you do something. Adam?
You must learn the truth"
II TOLL learn the truths"
For q moment Adams face hard.
ened with ruthless determination:
then he lifted her hand, pressed il
with the precisely suitable degree
Of warmth and gave il back &c her.
That's why ] want your help"
he added more quietly.
Anything =" she murmured.
Adam leaned closer. II there had
been any question Of his sincerity
during the preliminary skirmish
there was none now.
feseaars,Ae ,aaa we~~snxn Exn~snt