The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-10-17
Chapter AZ
Kidnapped!

tIIE Iunched, which is to say that
w Dunning and / gulped down
some mouthfuls of food while
Hugo sat, refusing everything.
Then Dunning suggested inquiring
at the various gas stations on the
roads out Of town, to hear if they
had seen the yellow car pass, and
though it wac a forlorn hope. any
action was better than nothing, so
for couple Of hours we secured
the dusty countryside, all to no
purpose. The Esterels were still
burning bravely, but for the mo-
ment such small event as con-
fiagration held no interest for me,
and finally, just as dusk was fall
ing, we pulled up again on the
main square.
Across the crowded promenade
pulling up outside the Grand Ho-
j tel. was a shabby Renault with
dust thick upon it. A stocky. mid
ding sized man descended from
il and started to climb the steps
Of the hotel, but before he had
reached the door, was across the
promenade and gripping him by
the shoulder.
"Fieuriotl" / said. you're a
sight for sore eyesl"
He swung round aid his face
lighted at sight of me. "Tiens!" he
answered warmly. There is small
matter of a wager to be settled be-
tween us, wager connected with
the word 'Amourie.' You were
right, my friend" he added, tap
ping me in friendly way on the
shoulder, "but ! could wish you
had been triae more explicit, for
you see, when got there, the bird
he had fiownI"
stared at him stupidity. What
bifd?" | echoed. and he shook his
head, gently reproving.
do not pretend you did not
know. The chasseuT, of Counsel |
guessed. naturally, that the word
must be a street name in one of the
older towns, and made a lucky
decision in trying Antilles first, but
II took me some little time to To-
cate the street, for 1t is now re-
named. discovered 1t at last, how
everI" he finished triumphantly.
"And more, / found the house it.
self, the former dwelling of the
armourer who gave it its name. So
] added to myself certain Of the
local police. and between us we
broke down the door"
GOSH" ! said wistfully. II wish
I'd been therel"
"And ], too." he assented polite
ly. with your weight, we had
needed three policemen the less
but ! digressl The ground floor was
empty. but / assembled to the first
story, even to that upper room
where the old printing press
stands" He paused, nodding his
head solemnly. There il stood, the
whole equipment for that interest
ing little astrological magazine.
We had received Inquiries at the
Sflrete about this strange publica-
ton, notably from the Dunning
Agency Of Kew York"
II know all about that. / made
'em. I'm Dunning," said the big
man holloway.
But now found proof positive
that Monsieur Rene Cess was the
author-notes, proof-corrections.
unfinished sketches, what you like.
You knew this. Monsieur Lums-
denl" he added accusingly.
HeIpg
I'VE guessed it" corrected him,
w but we hadn't a shred of
proof. Go on. man. 60 on!"
Hiding in an attic under the
caves. / discovered q woman. a
NegreSs. who said she was In
charge of the holSe."
"Fatma." | said as he paused.
and he flashed me a swift, re-
proachful look. you see, you
know all. Monsieur Lumsden. This
Fatma | questioned. and she told
me what suspected. The chnsSeuT
had indeed sheltered there for two
days. but that very morning he had
left, for where do you Think For
40 less q place than the villa of q
certain Monsieur Vladimir Ra-
kovsky in Italy"
And you believed herr" said
Hugo hoarsely.
The other shrugged expressive
". Il believed her. yes, for ! had
no reason 20 do otherwise. and her
story was circumstantial. Also. |
had other things TO 70 on, as you
shall hear. So TO Monsieur Rakov-
sky / went, but when / arrived,
Il was 70 find had been on what
you call q wild-duck hunt. Our
friend was not there--he never
had been there. and Monsieur RAJ
kovxky was a very indignant man
az the mere suggestion that he
might have been therel So back to
Cannes / came. like the garne-dog
who has lost the camel"
Too hadl" / said mechanically,
for there was something in his
manner that told he sim had q sur
prise or two tucked away up his
sleeve. Lock here. Fleuriot I
added. sthis other evidence that
convinced you you were On the
right trail-what was it,
~Ahl'. said he. on q lcng-drawn
sigh. and his eyes sharply intel
lgent. searched each Of our faces
Ia turn 1T was such q little thing.