The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-12-31
THE ARMY POST MURDERS
Rv VIRGINIA Hnna01 :

shot. But how much chance was
there for such a shot to find its
mark-a moving target, a moving
car?
There was Adams theory, too,
that the shot had not found its
mark-that it had been intended
for Barney. -.
Adam was going over it again
with the man, looking for loop
holes Was the car window down
next to the curb?
The sentry couldn't be sure
about that, but he thought so. He
was looking more and more UNI
happy. ss
| Adam said understandingly, II
won't mention this unless i have
to-" On the verge of dismissing the
man, he put another question at
random.
"You didn't notice anything else
that struck you as out of the way?"
There was something. You could
see him remembering, turning it
over in his mind, wondering if it
was worth telling.
well, sir, now you mention it.
It was just a silly thing-it was
| about that balloon.
He might not have paused there,
but the hat got away from him
and rolled over in front of the
open door. A little red in the face,
he retrieved it.
"What balloon?" Adam asked
sharply, his voice louder with sud-
den excitement.
"Why, sir, there was a bal
| loon"
It wasn't the end of a sentence,
or even of phrase. The voice cut
off in mid-fiight, like an inter-
rupted radio program. Only, in
| stead of the familiar click Of the
switch, there was an ominous, dull
crack. like the shell of a hickory
nut crushed by a stone.
| A stone! There was stone
round, smooth, as big as an orange.
Itsbounced at my feet an instant
before the country boy pitched on
his face.
Don't Touch It
lT MISUNDERSTANDING. I stoop-
~ ed to pick it up.
Adam cried, Don't touch It'll"
and was gone through the open
door, calling something in loud,
official voice. And presently !
heard heavy feet pounding nearer
and quick sharp voices of men.
/ forced myself to kneel down
and touch the outflung hand. I
tried to find the pulse, and once
l thought l felt it fluttering; but
/ couldn't be sure, for my own
veins were hammering loudly.
There was blood on the back Of
his head where the stone had
struck. ! remembered the sicken-
ing sound of the impact and real
lied that the skull was fractured.
Even if he were still alive he would
/ lie for days, perhaps weeks in q
coma. INA
rose and ,retreated from him
until ! could feel the solid. reas-
surfing wall at my back.
Adam came in, flushed, painting.
| savage loQking, ,..,.,...,.-.....
Got away, he explained Brief
ly. He dropped to his knees, loos-
ened the collar of the khaki shirt
and swung across the hall to tele-
phone. He put in several calls.
pausing once to bawl for; Charlie.
/ heard quick steps along the
upper hall, was aware of him lean
ing over the railing. but did not
glance up. =. !. s.srsea ,'
Get into Nelson's rooms" Adam
called, sand stay with him until
you're relieved. @And once more
he was barking into the telephone.
/ heard Charles faint, startled
whistle. Then he was gone. A door
opened just overhead and light
switch clicked.
Adam turned from the tele-
phone, sauntered past me, scam
ming the floor. The round stone was
lying against the bottom step. He
rolled it over with his foot, bent
down, uttered little exclamation
of surprise.
"Look here, Kay--see what this
stepped to his side, sank down
on the stairs and scrutinized it.
why, it's been whitewaShed.
II must have come from the bor-
der of some flower bed.
Eyes. unuuestionablY. They're
around all the buildings. But that
wasn't what l meant. It's been
white--but it's mottled now. What
do you make of that?"
One side of the stone was
smudged with black.
Looks as if it had been in the
fire." ventured.
Adam did not respond. There
was faraway, speculative CLEAN
in his eyes.
adam, you'd better come up
here"
Charles voice was queer. and
his face above the stair well looked
scared.
Something's the matter with
Barney. He's on the floor by the
window and I can't make him
wake up. :"
Adam swore. "All right-get
down here and keep an eye on this
one. The ambulance is on the way.
And tell Doc I'm up here"
He was taking the steps two at
a time. He leaned over the railing
with final admonition.
"And don't let anybody touch
that stone"
fcopyvssAt. 1883. vireiafa HansOnl