The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-12-20
Chapter 10
Stabbed


L stairs" Adam said heavily.
YOU'RE to wait in the library-to-
gether."
They went with him docilely
enough, but Mrs. Orpingtor turned
back once to eye me celdly.
You're staying?" sne asked in
nocently.
i made no answer, and she
seemed to expect none.
Adam joined mt again at the
head of the stairs.
Il want your story, but not yet. "
He reached the door Of her room
and barred my way. "You stay
here" he said gently. There's no
need -"
He was in the girls room a long
time. As the minutes dragged by
my last lingering hope died. ]
leaned against the wall and wished
he would never come out.
When he did his mouth was
grim, his eyes compassionate. He
spoke one word.
Stabbed"
My eyes chung to his and he
started going farther and farther
away.
II failed you" I whispered. 81
killed her. Il. -
The wall opposite began to lean
toward me. Then the flashlight
struck the floor and rolled over
and over, making a crazy pattern
of moving shadows.
Adams firm hands had me by
the shoulders.
sit down-now put your head
between your knees. All right?
Then ST. still and listen to me.
What do you think you could have
done? Screamed? You wouldn't
have lived long enough. Heaven
knows where my mind was when
left you up here alone with her.
Somebody had to kill that girl. I'm
glad you let yourself be tolled
away. I'm glad you were not in
that roomi
"And now let me tell you some
thing else. saw her. Her eyes were
open. think she was awake
think she knew what was going
to happen. And she made no OUT
cry
"She was-willing," said pain
fully. "The poor thing ething
she saw made her willing. Is that
what you Think"
That's what I think" said
Adam. "Now tell rue your story
and try not to leave anything out. "
The effort Of remembering
steadied me. !! began with my
recognition of the type Of that pitt
less note and related. as well as
could remember. everything ] had
done Until the moment Adam
found me on the dark balcony.
When ! had finished we went
back together to that empty guest
room and went over it inch by inch
for some betraying trace.
The evening wrap lay where
had flung II. Black velvet--volu-
minous. ankle les,gth. held Il IN
and recognized u.
Mrs. Flower'sl ! noticed it this
evening. It's just like her--see
these long scarf ends that reach
TO the hem? It's one Of those lush
things. Made to order for the muir
derer--the scarf went round and
round"
There was no bulb In the light
socket. . fact which. explained why
this room had been without light
50 long before the rest Of the house.
The missing bulb was across the
raorYa ~. fha bad
Man Or Woman?
"A DAM said, Here's your pros
a trafe body" and chuckled
Rrimly. aAr army blanket rolled
up and just not hidden by the bed
Quite q resourceful person, your
murderer. You're sure you
can't tell whether Il was . man OF
wonnang"
''How could II | didn't even gel
my hands on the creatu.E."
Think hnrd. Was there any per-
fume-tobacro. halitosis7 Where
were your elfactory nerves?"
"Viole." ] murmured. remenn-
bering. The wrap reeks OF it,
here, sn.elli So does Mrs. Flower.
THAT doesn't help any. She has
an unShaAshle abb Tor this one:
she was with me-.
Where's her husbandg"
~I-I don't know. Haven't seer
him for hours. He's OD.-wenl
OF to inspect. didn't come back.
But he's harmless--iust the type
Of man you mislay. All right
now let's see, where were we
you saw nothing. felt nothing
snielled nothing. What's left7"
Hearing. There was the heavy