The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-12-27
Chapter %
Conflicting Stories

Conflicting Stories
TT WAS not necessary to specu-
1 late who was on the telephone.
The voice carried easily across the
room, and I gathered that the
speaker was annoyed.
He had been trying to get hold OF
someone-anyone-for two hours
were they all murdered there al
Fort Ravens? And when he asked
for the Service Club that blank
ETY. BANKED operator had the
blankety-blanked nerve to tell
him he was keeping the line open
for an important call from Omaha.
II had cost him at least dollar to
convince the fool that he was the
important call from Omaha and
that a certain laundering OK could
prepare to go back to his troop be-
ginning tomorrow. And tell him
was Elizabeth there. and was she
all right?
Il was her father. / listened to
Adam reassure him, answer queS-
:ions, supply the reluctant infor-
nation that there had been q new
murder.
I heard the howl of rage. Of In
credulity, of blasphemy wit h
which this was greeted. Presently
Adam laid down the instrument
gently, strobe to the door with a
rather weak grin for me and sum-
moned Elizabeth.
The voice on the wire was quiet
er now. She said, Eyes Father. No.
Father" in soothing dutiful ac-
cents. Then, "All right, dear, don't
worry. Major Drew Is doing splen-
didly and I'm not in the slightest
danger. Kay and Annie and / are
all together. :. Yes, dear, we'll be
looking for you"
She replaced the telephone, ex-
planned inadequately, Hes flying
back as soon as it's light and bring
Ing q Federal Bureau man with
him. He-I think he has an idea
there's q homicidal maniac al
large. He wants us to 60 home and
bolt all the doors; and he's given
orders for guard around the
house" She smiled family.
mot bad idea" said Adam, but
Isensed that his pride was touched.
Before you 60, however. I'd like
TO ask you a few questions--and
Annie. too. If you don't mind"
She did not mind. naturally
anything at all she could do to
help. But she was afraid she knew
nothing-nothing at all. She had
been at home when Anne was shot.
Adam seized on that. Had she
seen anyone while she was at
home?
mo. No one at ALL" she an
swered with an air of calm sur
prise as If to ask, should she have?
II sat in the library for a while,
waiting fol the call--which did not
come, by the way" She had gone
upstairs for a minute, then down
the back stairs to the kitchen,
where she had drink Of water
and a sandwich.
aAnnie had left some ~ I'm
afraid dancing always makes me
hungry"
"You didn't leave the house
them" Adam asked casually.
mo. ] thought the-the call
might still come through"
For no apparent reason she
blushed deeply, then grew rather
pale. She turned to me with q
forced smile. "Then / heard Kath-
crime drive up and came out pres
emily to see who it vas. She-she
told me about Anne"
Then you drove right to the
hospital?"
sYes. I had to wait. Finally Bar
ney joined me, then Annie" She
sounded like q dutiful child recit-
ing rather dull lesson. II don't
know how long we sat there--it
seemed like hours. ="
Panic In Her Eyes
"THEN. when you came back to
! the club, you went at once to
the kitchen?"
swell. practically at once. Ev-
eryone seemed so peaked and
drawn and sort Of lost: and Bar
ney came out of the library looking
as IL he would fly apart. | thought
perhaps If he had something 10 do
--he wouldn't 60 back to quar-
tiers"
"And when did Annie arrive?"
while the lights were out. re-
member she frightened me for a
moment. ! had Just lighted the
candles and they weren't burning
very brightly. She began to seold
me--she always does-for being
there alone in the dark. wasn't
really alone--Barney was just out
In the corridor-but ! was glad 10
see her"
Suddenly Adam put on his most
persuasive manner. lie reminded
har that she was annonr Friends