The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-10-13
Chapter 80
A Girl Vanishes

- VII N0nhOnGD ~ fs -
I TOOK another look at the inert
= body on the floor. Beside 1t was
. woman's handbag, and at sight
Of It I knew in q fash just what
kind Of fool I had been.
snatched it UP and tore It open.
There were keys there, as ] had
known there would be; the big
latchkey of the Chateau Ia Vague,
the Yale of Geiss's front door, and
a smaller, queerly shaped bit Of
metal that / knew without telling
would unlock our prison door and
set US free.
! whooped with Joy like q
schoolboy and raced down the
room to the farther door.
"Come on. ottiliel" yelled. and
as she came, / fitted the key into
the little hole and heard the well
come sound of the wards turning.
One minute later we were drag
ging open the garden gate. staring
into an outer world that we had
hardly dared hope to see again.
The sun was high in the heavens.
rubbed my knuckles across my
heavy lids, and as / did so, heard
familiar voice. May ask" said
Hugo dryly. 'if this has been an
all-night party? Or were you
merely sleeping of the effects?"
The girl had been clinging, half
dazed, to my arm, but at the sound
Of his voice she wrenched herself
free and, running to him, flung
herself on his breast. twining her
arms round his neck.
sits you'll" she sobbed. Il knew
you'd come, but on, I've been so
frightened Hugo, ] was so terribly
frightened"
He put his arms about her, awk-
wardly, like a man who is half
afraid. and then suddenly strained
her to him and pressed his lips to
her hair.
Dearest" he said, very low.
'DeaTest, you're safe now. You're
with me. :"
stood there with my hands in
my pockets. feeling slightly resent
ful. for, when all was said and
done. 1t was / that had done the
dirty work, and he was getting the
thanks. But after a minute he
raised his head and grinned at me
In shamefaced way.
Sorry, old mani" he said. "Un-
accustomed as l am to public love-
making. ! forgot all about you for
the momentl
Don't mind met" retorted Bit
terly. Garry on as long as you like
but when you're through, il
might be as well to get Ottilie back
70 the hotel. Dunning must be
throwing Mysteries by now"
He looked suddenly conscience
stricken. you're absolutely right"
he declared. Actually. it's past
eight already. Ottilie. my dear,
Wen have to get q move on, but
hrst. tell me how you got here and
what you've been doing. II / hadn't
run into Fleuriof and heard that
the last he'd seen Of Archie was
when he turned in q purposeful
way up this street, I might have
been searching for you till Dooms-
day. As il was, ] was just ponder
ing the best way Of breaking into
the villa"
"Fleuriot?" I echoed, startled
what had he been up to. 4
wonder"
II don't know said he. ''but his
car was inches thick with dust, and
he looked as II he hadn't slept for
q week. He asked me to tell you,
though, that he would be calling
your blum shortly. whatever that
may mean"
''well.v l said. 'Tm ready when
he is-but taking II by and large,
we've certainly had q full night.
Ot6lie and I. We both had the same
idea ok breaking into Eeiss,s villa.
aid we met o. his BAleorty. Fol.
lowing that we witnessed Cess
murdering Henrietta Adams. and
we've been locked in with her
corpse for the rest Of the night. but
we did. at least. locate the missing
gun"
4 Love you A Lot
THE Carlton terrace was empty
\ when we arrived. AS we halted
just inside the door. Hugo turned
to the girl and gently unlinked
her arm.
Sweet" he said, "we're too dirty
and disheveled to 20 through an
other day without cleaning up. but
there's obviously nothing wrong so
far. or Dunning would be In evil
dence. WIN you let him know
you're safe, and tell him wei be
back as soon as we've had q bath
and shaver After that | want you
20 promise not to stir from your
room until give you leave"
She looked az him. and for a mo-
ment I saw a fat refusal trembling
on her lips; then slowly her ex.
preston softened. and q second
time she reached up and kissed
him softly. You're q medieval
relic. my precious" she murmured,
~but you're terribly sweet, and 4
love you quite lot"
Huge" said. as we turned
down the ramp to the deserted
Croisette. ARE you going to marry
that girlg"
II she'll have me-" he answered
self-consciously.
Shell have You al right Il
retorted. and added aloomily. -in
more ways than You thinkss