The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-10-11
Chapter 81
Strange Visitors

Ae0AJ D.. AA4AA&CA JOA ~ kOA1lE
here?" / demanded. Haven't yon
learned enough by. this time to
keep out of trouole?"
Even In the half-ligbt / could
see the fash of anger in her dark
eyes.
"You make me tired" Ottilie re-
torted in furious whisper. "Cuth-
bert told me all about how the
servants had gone and Cess was
staying with Rakovsk1 over in
Italy, and he said how the one inn
portant thing was to find that gun,
and / though. to myself, if none of
you had the gumption to come and
look for it. it was about time I got
busy myself"
groaned. well" | said, 'the
one question now is how we can
get you safely out of here" But
at that instant came a faint but
unmistakable sound. the sound of a
leisurely tread mounting the mar
bic stairs. --'s--'
Il look round wildly. The room.
as much as-luegtlltl secret it was q
bedroom and, from. the gilded, ro-
coco splendor Of the furnishing,
! guessed il to be Geiss,s own. II
would he madness ia conceal me
girl there Then Suddenly nv eye
lighted on the giant cupids that
acted as supports to he outer wall
OF the loggia. Behind their wings
on either side was : most merciful
patch OF shadow. caught Ottilie
by the shoulders. thrust her into
the angle of the wall. ] had Just
time TO fiatten myself against the
opposite wall, holding my breath.
when suddenly the lights inside
the room flashed on. and Cess
himself stood at the threshold.
A moment he paused, hesitating,
and ! saw that he carried q suit
case in either hand. He opened
them. set them up against the foot
OF the gilded bed. Then, as If sud-
den idea had struck him, he
crossed to the window and stood
looking out.
For an awful instant | thought
that he had seen us, but after a
pause he turned to the side of the
window. raised his hand, and q
metal shutter ratified down.
shutting of the room.
] counted ten slowly, then
moved. with infinite caution, to
the shutter and peered through the
Stats, and as did so. with a faint
rustic of silk. the cir was beside
me. The room inside was clearly
visible, and in the middle of Ii
stood its owner, fantastic figure
in yellow shirt and crimson trous-
ers, engaged in the prosaic task Of
packing.
| soon realized that this was no
haphazard preparation for a week.
end, for no sooner were the two
bags filed than their owner carried
them out returning next minute
with another couple. Then he
halted suddenly. staring. open
mouthed. for the door was slowly
tell ottilie's grasp tighten con-
vulsively on my arm. but when the
door opened. all that showed in
the aperture was the stark, uncom.
promising figure of Miss Henrietta
Adams. There was something cold.
something menacing in the CLINT
OF her green eyes through the
glasses. and | saw the cartoonist
take an involuntary step back
wards.
$50 she said harshiy. you're
quiiting2"
He looked at her, slowly rails
Ing hiseyebrows. II thought it was
foolish to give you that key" he
said softly, "and now | know it.
What business Is 1t Of yours what
] dol"
You're Mad
CHE sat down quietly on the edge /
, Of thea6ed aid looked at him
oddly. YOU'RE quitting" she said |
akain, aand / don't blame you. The
police have be0aquestioning your
servants and they've run away
The juoe d'insfTuction has let It be
known that he no longer suspects
Llimsden. and that means that he
knows you were lying. and IL
means, too. that he suspects you
md Stahl and Rakovsky.a She
beat her hands together furiously. |
Why did you ever mention their
aamesf" she demanded. Were
you mad7 And now Noah More
has tried TO kill Eumsden and /
Ialled. because an Arab carpet
,eller saved aim-"
IAN Arab carpet-seller?" he
surprised. "Are you sure
81 that Henrietta?"
She sileneed him with an impa-
sient jerk Of the head. and now /
The man from Marseille guesses |
that Ludovic killed Venner and |
he Is searching the coast for him. |
That means that tomorrow's plans |
are spoiled"
He looked al her. smiling, and |
slowly shook his head. THAT |
means nothing Of the sort" he an |
swered gently. They have not |
found him yet have they? And IL |
S nothing to connect him with the |
affair at Prague"
s-Pahl" said she contemporary.
VIII any man alive not tell the |
truth 70 save his own skin? I |
would. ] tell you, but ] hope that |
! shall not have 70. That Is why |
have come 70 see You tonight. You.
al three Of you. have your way Of |
escape. but what Is 20 become OF |
he rest Of Us? |. for one. am not