The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-10-05
CHAPTER 80 n =
Many Curious Facts

Mr.. Venner and / spoke Of
" London" I told the examin-
ing magistrate. "He was a very
homesick man."
The juge Construction pursed hi:
lips, looking at me sharply from
under lowered brows. startlingly
like a cat about to pounce. "And
no incident occurred during this
interesting conversations" he in
quired. Nothing that struck you
as out Of the ordinary? You en-
tered this room, you sat and con-
versed. you took your leave?"
A warning bell rang in my brain
Something-I couldn't tell what
whispered that lot depended on
my answer to that question. that
some carefully laid trap was about
10 be sprung if / didn't watch my
step. They were all cycling me,
silent. wary. expectant, and hesi-
tated. racking my Brains; and
then. as ! looked from one to the
ether. I caught the eye of the
Stout. cheerful-looking fellow on
the commissioners right. Fleuriot,
the man from Marseille. and saw
him give slight. reassuring nod
q nod that said: Garry on. I'm
on your side"
I did a minutes quick thinking.
There was something he wanted to
say, but obviously he could have
no knowledge of what / had dis
cussed with Venner. And then.
suddenly. guessed.
There was one incident" said,
speaking slowly and picking my
words. "Mr. Venner had q heart
attack just before | left think
speaking of London had been a
tribe agltating, and | understand
his heart was weak. He asked me
10 get him some drops from the
table beside his bed. and Just after
had brought them. he thought he
heard a sound on the balcony OUT
side his bedroom window and told
me TO 90 and have a look"
you actually went out on the
balcony?" said NJ. Fleuriot en-
couragingly.
sYes." ! answered. II had a good
look at the balcony, but there was
no one there"
That proves nothing except
that he Is clever" the JUICE re-
marked. and then to me: "Now we
ccme to the rest of the evening.
You say you spent il with Monsieur
Sterng You have other witnesses.
supposed"
Naturally" | retorted. Miss
Ada Stern. and Mr.. Dunning. an
American friend"
And after dinner you came
back to the hotel? At what timer"
At i've minutes to ten." | said.
But the hotel gates were already
shut ] had already decided that.
IS Tar as my use of the key went.
there must be no attempt at con-
cealment.
The jiige raised his eyebrows.
The gate was locked; then how
did you get in. pray?"
AOh," said | airily. II had a key.
got II from the late chdsseur. two
days ago--the housekeeper will
tell you all about that--and 1t got
lost but il turned up again. Here
Il is" | threw it on the table.
He glanced at it indifferently
Then" he said gently. you have
no witness as to what time you
came INF"
DO you want one2" I asked
dryIy.
Il want more from you than
Bat. Mr.. Lumsden," he retorted.
want an explanation for many
curious facts. First, the fact that
yoGf sflngerprints, and yours alone.
have been found inside and out
eide the shutters of this, window:
second. the fact that your finger
prints are the only ones on the
medicine-bottle, the watef-carafe,
and the glass: third. the fact that.
apart from the man Amedee, who
Is an honest fellow and has good
record. you were the last person
70 see Monsieur Venner alive"
Viewing Vengeance
LIE STOOD up suddenly. his
- eyes. sharp and keen as gim-
lets, boring into mine.
Shall / tell you the TRUTH" he
said softly. "You came here, an
unexpected guest. because you
were in need Of money. because
you knew some guilty secret of
Monsieur Venner's past life. some
secret that he would pay well to
have you silent about. You dis
closed your knowledge to him in
the morning and gave him until
night 20 make his decision. He sent
TOR you and there took place an
Interview so stormy that he was
afflicted Nth a heart-attack. He
refused your exorbitant demands
and you departed, vowing ven-I
geance. Then. in the silent hours
OF the night. you returned % your
wiretched victim and brutality MUIR
dered him, taking what money you
could find. You are not aware. ]
suppose. that his wallet is miss
Now that the storm had broken,
was conscious only Of a queer
relief az strain relaxed. and an inn
mense thankfulness that had
mentioned the medicine ! had