The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-06-29

said, because someone wanted
me-oF anyone at Octagon House
who might know about the am
bergris-they wanted US to, rush
to it and save it from possible
flames, thus pointin' it out, so that
the someone could get line on its
location"
Weren't they fooledl1 Pam
said bitterly. What's the old
adage about the goose and the
golden eggs? It'd make a nice
headline. Goose burns goose"
''Yup," Asey said. "But would
the goose have started the FIRE an
burned the barn without a nice
careful investigation first? Don't
be silly"
Pam sat upright on the couch.
"Asey!''
well. wcsild they of? Would
you? | wouldn't, myself, an I give
this Teller credit. If he had brains
enough to think Of burnin' down
the barn to find out where the am
hergris was. he had brains enough
to make sure he wasn't buFnin' up
the anbergris in the process"
But If that's so-no. it won't
work out, Asey. Father found il in
the coal bin when he went down
fol coal for the kitchen stove FRI
day night. The cops were all over
the place-whose car is that OUT
side? The cops? And. by the way.
if it is, what's Hanson's attitude
toward me?"
sHe's too upset about Them two
missin' troopers of his 20 have att
titudes," Asey said. Don't worry
about him. That's the docs car.
I'd know the sound of that coffee
grinder anywhere. III bring him
in"
Belt Cn The Jaw
| CUMMINGS strobe into the
- study and dumped his inevi-
table black bag down on the table
The recuperative powers Of
this village" he announced, sare
amazing. simply amazing. The lit
ter's cleaned up, the carnival at
mosphere has departed, and Qua
nomet's going to church as sedate-
ly as If things had happened In
two other towns entirely. II /
hadn't seen that riot Yesterday
with my own eyes, wouldn't be-
lieve il took place. How's Aaron.
pretty unhappy"
tHis Jaw looks better" Pam
said, land the swelling on his
ankle has gone down. I think most
OF his present suffering is mental
He's seen the barn."
He had to know sooner or
later" Cummings said. "But I'd
imagine it would add to his suf-
fering. He thought he was doing
such a big thing, to put the am
hergris safely away in the barn
for you-oh. Asey. We didn't need
to use the sea serpent
The what?'' Pam demanded.
What sea serpent2'
sAsey's idea, I" Cummings ex-
planned. sfor distracting public In
interest. We didn't need &c. One Of
the Barn Players punched another
Barn Player. and Senator Hem
rnlngwells sons cracked up their
roadster. and there's a pogy boat
ashore on Black Gull Bar. Be
tween EN-, the reporters are hav-
ing field day. don't think they'll
be around you for a willie. But
orders have been given to have
the serpent spotted the minute the
present attractions die down. You
should see Nettie Hobbs, speaking
of attractions. Piously going I'd
church. dripping black crepe from
every pore
"All set, no doubt" Pam COM
mented. ito pray for my soul. ]
know that crepe. It's part OF her
Good Woman act, and she's worn
It to every funeral since ! can re-
member"
We'll. she had her picture
taken with the minister on the
steps" Cummings said. land then
dropping a dime into the foreign
mission box. / hear it's the first
time she ever dropped in any
thing - Is Aaron really badly
broken up over the ambergris7"
Pam nodded. Hes utterly
downcast about 1t. and he knows
am. too. And even il could pack
my voice with conviction and tell
him not to worry. it doesn't mat
ter. he'd still be downcast. And
every time he looks toward the
window, his eyes get all watery--.n
Were the X-rays all right?s
Asey asked.
Yes. | drove over again iust
now. Nothing's broken, though
I'm sure / don't know why not. I
think il was that tooth that
messed things up so. and added
such CORY touch ~ have you
found out yet what actually hap
pened to him7"
We've pieced most Of Il to-.
gether," Asey said. when he
walked out back in the woods with
Tim Carr and his grandmother, he
thought he saw someone lurking
in the bushes. He slipped of with
out sayin' anythin, an tried to in.
vestigate the matter on his own.
He thought he saw someone sneak
into Jack Lorne's house - didn't
have on his long distance glasses
s. he couldn't be sure. but he fol-
lowed anyway. He went in. an
someone was waitin' for him by
the door. an give him that belt on
the Jaw. He didn't see the person.
il all happened too quick. IN fall-
in. he went head over heels down
the cellar steps that lead of the
entry. That accounts for his ankle.
an the Renral aerasi0ns an con-
tasions he's gol"