The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-10-14

Chapter 40
me zero Hour
nUNNING lifted a large. White

The Zero Hour
nuNNING lifted 4 large. white
~ hand. "Just q minute. There
are few points to consider befors
we take any hasty step. md the
first and most important Is the
safety Of Virgoe Wills. We have
pretty good authority for believ-
ing that this day will see the at
tempt on his life, and we know his
death Is the stake these gentlemen
are playing for. Our first duty |:
70 attend to his safety. Up to now
I'm happy to say, he is ignorant oil
his niece's disappearance. and
warn you that I shall resist, by
force II need be, any attempt Il
alarm him about her. See here
son, he continued on a softer note
III you 60 TO the police about OF.
tiles vanishing, you'll have the
whole circus, complete with ele-
plants. dashing around here to in.
terrogate him. Before you know
where you are, the old man'll be-
out securing the town for her, ani
how. IN the name of all that's holy
are we going to keep an eye or
him in the sort Of free-for- al
frolic that'n be filling the streets
shortlr?"
He was right, and I knew It,
but nevertheless my whole soul
recoiled from the thought of leav-
ing the girl to her tate. Mink
she might be. but there was a
charm . courage. an innate hon.
esty about her that made the
thought Of leaving her to Cess
completely unthinkable. Therefore,
when Hugo spoke, had already
ranged myself mentally and physi-
cally on his side.
Z cant do It." he said, and his
voice was tired. You're right.
Dunning. according to your lights
but you see. l love her and I've
got TO have . shot at finding her"
Il never suspected that. You 20
cut and look for your girl. and take
Archie along 10 help you. I'd come
myself Il ] could. but you know
how i Is. III have my hands full,
but there's two or three Of my men
hanging around this locality to
help ne. and guess Wen win out."
Hugo threw him a swift, CRATE
fui glance. i won't forget that.
DunninR.s he said. sThe sooner we
ind her. the sooner well be back
to give you hand. Archie. are you
ready"
-champing at the bit to be
gone. ! retorted. much relieved,
but even as turned to follow him.
I halted. stopped short in my
tracks BY the sight OF a tall. rugged
figure emerging from the lift. It
was Eirgoe Wills himself, and at
sight Of Us he reclined his gray
head In dianified salutation and
came towards as.
Good morning. gentlemen" he
said. 1T you are waiting TO see me,
you are most welcome, but IL by
any chance you have q date with
Ottiiie. | fear you'll be disap-
pointed. cassandra tells me she's
feeling poorly this morning"
Now. II that isn't too badr' said
DunninR with a spurious hearth
ness. Here's Mr.. Stern come with
an invitation to you and Miss OF
tile 10 spend the next two-fhree
days with him and his sister az
their chalet"
The old man bowed gravely. "we
are much obliged to you, Mr..
Stern" be said. but Ottilie, As you
have lust heard. Is keeping her
ROOM He broke of sharply, for
another voice had sounded az his
elbow, q fat. oily voice that knew
only too well.
But nc. monsieur e said. "You
are mistaken. Mademoiselle OF
tile. she d already out, enjoying
the bruderie. just one little mo-
ment ago l meet her, and she ask
me 70 come and tell you to Join
hafl"
: 4 swung round and saw, with 4
mixture 81 stubefacti6n and dis
may. the squat. obese figure OF
Baron Stahl standing &C nv elhow.
kcr moment we all stared af him
In . dared silence: then Hugo
spoke.
That's q lie!" he said sharply.
''Miss Wills Is in her room, suffer-
Ing nom = headache"
TITS Come AZ Last
THE old man looked from one 10
4 the other Of us knitting bis
shaggy brows. For q moment III
seemed. he almost suspected that
something was wrong--and then.
e bis eye lighted on Hugo. his
face cleared. I knew only too well
what he was thinking. Here was
yet one more OF his niece's vic
timss jealous that she had chosen
another escort TO show her round
the fair.
Well" he said slowly, II guess
the Baron should know what he's
taking about Mr.. Stern. you'll
Ind Ottilieis made that way--sud-
Gen decisions and impulsive &C.
tiona but she doesn't mean : mite
OF harm. II she wants me. though.
] imagine I'd better be getting
alonK. Where did you say she was
waltlns Bafonq In ths main
In the main street. yesla the
small. Fat man assented with a
triumphant glance at us. i take
you there right away. nor But
now L was Cummings turn 70 pro-
test
See here. Mr. wills he drawled,
there's crush out there BY now.
Tvs 49, .M4~ fhn kf,A Me ~v.e~R