The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-10-19
Chapter A
Into The Fiery Furnace

WE CARRIED Noah More out
" and laid him on the scorched
grass under the orange trees, and
he lay there like a dead thing, eyes
closed. breathing hardly percept-
ible. Fleuriot dropped on one knee
beside him. struck a match, and
raised an eyelid.
He turned to Cunning. go then
to the house, my friend, and see if
you can find some brandy"
"See here, mani" said Hugo
harshIy. why all the anxiety
about bringing this vermin round?
Don't you realize that Miss Wills
Is in deadly peril. and a minutes
delay may mean life or death to
herr"
The man from Marseille looked
UP at him. MY friend" he an
swered gently. "This Auberge des
Allouettes is probably some small
unknown inn and without the help
Of this wretched clod we may never
find it."
Dunning had been fumbling in
the pocket of his white coat, and
now produced a serviceable-look-
ing flask.
bent over Fleuriot's shoulder,
holding my breath, as | watched
the still. putty-colored face on the
ground. and gradually it seemed to
me that faint tinge of color spread
over it. The eyes opened, staring
sffaight upwards at the night sky
and the riding moon, and suddenly
there came a cough, a choking con-
yulsion, and Noah More sat UP and
sfared about him. He pushed the
nahk hair from bis, forehead and
then Suddenly gays a h3atse cry.
susssThey ,shaD't get mel he gasped.
Il won't Be eaughtl1
Steady friend" | said. SECT a
grip on yourself. No ones going to
hurt you" But a gesture from
fleuriot silenced me.
There is more here than fear of
the police" he murmured, and then
to the vagrant: "Who is it, then,
that you fear?"
The tattered object gave him a
swift. sideways glance. His eyes
were wild. his fingers plucked and
twisted at his tattered shirt.
II don't know" he said, scarcely
above whisper. 81 can't think.
My brain-there's something the
matter with my brain" And then,
with a swift, crafty look: "And
why should ] tell you? II you
are the police, you have nothing
against me-"
You're perfectly right, Mr..
Noah More" / retorted. "The po-
lice have nothing against you, but
I wouldn't say as much for the
Club DIES Sans Clubs"
He gaped at me, his jaw dropped.
and his face contorted, and then
suddenly he threw back his head
and screamed.
you See" said, while Fleuriot
swore softly 10 himself, I'VE know
all about it, but If you help US. |
guarantee that the police will look
after you until all danger is past.
You saw something last night in
the villa Of Monsieur Cess. didn't
you"
He stared up at me with wild,
terrified eyes. II did not see, but
] heard and guessed" he NUT
tered.
Just So" said |, "you guessed
that Cess had killed Miss Adams,
and think you taxed him with
II, 70 get money from him before
he fed"
TO Grips With The Fire
LIE PASSED long, bony hand
4 4 across his eyes. Il knew that
II was the end of everything" he
said The Club des Sans Clubs
was finished: Geiss was on the
run. When / asked him to settle
up, he laughed at me and told me
Il was cheaper and safer for him
70 report me to the club as
traitor who must be extermi-
mated" He smiled. a wry, drawn
smile. and for q moment ! saw a
shadow Of the man he must once
have been. II cannot blame him"
he Admitted. for Il was his life
fkainsl mine. He knew / could
testify that he had killed that
woman. but he knew too that the
club would kill first and ask cues
fions afterwards, II once he said
The word. That club" he shud-
der ID. You do not know what 1t
Isl.
Listen, man, you know where
this Auberge deS Allouettes ISL"
/ asked.
He nodded. But you will never
get there" he said. "Geiss might
have got through this morning.
but now the place must be a red
he'll =
Not half as rudy as we'll make
II when We get there" retorted.
Come on, you've got 20 show US
the way" With Hugo gripping
him by the other arm, We half
dragged half-carried him up the
steps anu &CEu@S TIC tCkEdGSs anu
In another minute We were pack
ing ourselves into the Hispano.
Dunning. by virtue Of his
weight took the place beside
Hugo. while Fleuriot and I set
tied oursela es in the tonneau with
the bony form OF Noah More
wedged between Us. and as we
swung out OF the lane and whixzed
of along the highroad, turned
curiously 10 the vagrant
Zone thing" ! said. before life
gets too full for words--do you
happen 10 know just how Cess
rot hold Of Miss Wlils9"
He turned soulleSS. laek-luster
ewes towards me. 1T was easy he
nnewered In his toneieSS voice.