The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-12-24

II -
II wouldn't worry about Charlie
| II ] were YOU" he said in q tone
| that matched the gesture. I'm all
most certain he has an alibi this
| time"
't'm not. worried about him."
| said fatty. IF he did it he'll get less
than he deserves. ] hid his gun,
but that was early In the evening.
And there are other things didn't
tell you, but I've had time to think
things over and I'm not shielding
any murderers."
II He looked mildly surprised at
my outburst, but he listened in
tently while ! told him of my trip
back to Colonel Wright's quarters,
OF the absence Of Elizabeth's car
land OF her silence concerning that
absence. told him of the call from
Omaha that had not come through.
| told him everything could think
OF. that had been holding back
even. about the car keys and about
her errand on Noncoms' Row at
Ave thirty that afternoon.
81 don't think she did it." | fin
ished defiantly. Looking at her.
you know she wouldn't do an UNI
derhapded thing. But the fact re-
| mains that she could have done it,
and you have as much right to that
knowledge as ! have.
81 thought he looked rather
pleased than otherwise,
Thank you for trusting me-" he
said with a nice smile. He inspected
me bknevoiently for q. minute.
.'HoW do you feel7 Tired?"
II nodded. much too tired to
sleep. I'D Ike to stay on and help
YOU. Il Il can be arranged"
He tiptoed to the door, came
back laughing quietly.
They're still here-afraid to 60
home In the dark"
| r ~. :. Dead End
tHE aohered quickly mot that I
- blame them. :. I'll be very
glad .df. your help, I'm waiting,
lust now, for the telephone. After
that we'll 20 pay acall on Charlie" "
Unjust have looked my surprise.
but he did not explain. Instead he
launched into q recital OF his call
from Chicago,
.,,f'DaRd.end street again, I'm
afraid, ! get hold. Of one OF the
partners. all right-ard the right
bue. BY good luck. But there was
very fittie he could tell me. He had
never seen his client---the one be-
hind Ethel Curtis. All their BUSH
mesa was transacted by letter--the
LETTERS were mailed ip Omaha. the
checks, were drawn on an Omaha
hank. and all Of, the lawyers cor.
respondefce was directed to Leslie
Curtis, In care OF the bank. Tell
lrsIes u Leslie a mans name or q
wOfnans7"
EITHER one. l think"
He nodded, Il asked him which
Il was, but he didn't know. He
seemed. to remember that the sig
nature looked like q mans, then
changed his mind and said it could
have been q woman's. AND, oddly
enough, he couldn't recall a single
reference in any letter as to the re-,
Iatlonship between his client and
the patient--fAther, mother, sister,
brother. husband - except. Of
course. that she was always re.
ferfed TO as Miss Curtis"
/ stared at him. 'sThat couldn't
be ell accidental" suggested. not
too. brilliantly
Someone has gone to q lot Of
trouble to conceal an unfortunate
RELATIVES" he agreed gravely.
tried 10 put myself In the place
OF that someone and failed COM
pletelys II 1T were Eileen, strug-
Cling against such a horrible in
HNfP4ffV aAssHsefs5Aa -ss,rss. sas+s
sis Il hereditary. Adam"
1 II asked Doc that. He says they
don't know. It's one oi the few dis
aAses--n H. is q. disease--about
which The medical profession Is
stu pretty fnueE In the dark. Some
s0-cajled ,epiieptic patients have
been found 10 be suffering from
Varying forms OF pressure on the
BRAIN. When the pressure was re-
moved they lost the symptoms.
Others were more mysterious.
There seems to be q general idea
that epilepsy is inherited and that
there Is apt TO be insanity in the
family--lawyers like to use such
b history in basing q defense plea
OF insanity. But just what the re-
.lationship Is. IL any. medical au-
thorities are reluctant to say"
shlvered. "Then you think the
the killer might be insane?"
Adam spaced his words care
fully.
Il think the killer Is someone q
little too eager TO keep the skeleton
in the family closet"
The telephone was ringing again.
Adam dashed for it, overturning a
chair In his haste.
'Hello-hellot /. ID. Yes. Yes. 60
ahead"
His eyes. flaming eager, met
mine over the silent instrument.
Il put in a call TO the president Of
that Omaha bank. It's just chance
- Hello-hellol What? Whatl
OH Yes sir, Major Drew speaking"
The flaming eagerness faded like
a tropical sunset He Strengthened,
seemed to back away from the
cracking instrument. His face was
turning, slowly crimson.
fcapprisAt. 1853. vtrsista Hasseai