The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-12-23
Chapter 81
Under Fire


MARY SHAW said nervously
1SA "You had been with us, Lou
I remember that. Wasn't she here
when you brought the coffee, Bar.
ney7"
Barney shook his head and
looked at Lou strangely, I thought
'There was just you and Tubby, "
he said refectively.
Lou Orpington glared at them.
II was in the wash room. And
when ! came out someone had
turned out the light in the powder
room. The door swung shut be-
hind me and couldn't see a thing"
Il should have screamed" con-
tributed Mrs. Flower eagerly.
mo doubt. But live with man
who's all the time going around
behind me turning off lights, so
though very little of it. I remem-
Der the switch was over by the
door and / stumbled over there
and turned it on. Then I saw the
door was shuttle one to the
dance floor, / mean-and that
looked kind of funny to me, be-
cause I'd left it open. stood there
O moment, looking around, and all
OF a sudden the lights went out
again. ..
That got me, all right. There
] was in a perfectly empty room
and the lights 60 out second time.
] stood still and hollered my head
OF, and much good it did me. /
might have been still yelling If |
hadn't seen a light flash at the head
OF the stairs. l didn't much care
who 1t was-I went up"
Passing no one?"
Passing no one. There was no.
body came down those stairs, I'll
take my oath on that"
The dressing-room door was
closed when you stood there lis
tening, Barney?"
He nodded.
.'You didn't think of opening it
Looking in?"
swell, after all, it was the ladies'
ROOM" he said delicately.
Adam turned back to Mrs. Or
pington.
ssYou had time to look around
the room before the lights went
out again? You're sure there was
no one there?"
mot unless they slipped into
the wash room while / was cross
ing the room in the dark. And I'd
have noticed that, / think-the
Light was still on in there"
There was nothing out of place
In the dressing room-no sign that
anyone had been there?"
She started to say no and
checked herself. A surprised ex-
preston crossed her sharp face.
why, yes, now think Of it."
Either the woman was a mar
velous actress or she was suddenly
terror stricken.
"Yes. There was an empty coat
hanger swinging on the rack"
The telephone rang in the IL
brary and Adam was away like a
startled deer to answer il. In the
lounge there was no pretense Of
polite conversation to cover his
voice. It seemed to me that every
pair Of ears flared out from every
head to catch the sense of his few
words.
The conversation was brief and
inaudible except for one last SEN
tence.
@You keep him there if you have
20 sit on him." he shouted sudden
". 'Pll come when / can"
Steely Malevolence
LIE returned to the lounge look
II ing dashed and a little an
noyed. He had to stop and collect
his thoughts for a moment, and
the pause gave Mrs. Orpington her
chance.
Her terror was either gone or
Under better control, and her eyes,
glinting with steely malevolence,
just brushed mine. She took the
door.
Lacking motive, which Is a poor
line Of inquiry when we don't
know who this girl was or why
she should have been killed, i'll
seems TO me the question to ask Is: |
Who had the best opportunity? |
And there's one person here who
had not only the best but the only
opportunity"
Mary Shaw was looking at me. |
could feel her eyes boring, but |
would not turn. I was feeling beau
tfully detached, as II this was all |
happening to someone else.
She was going right on without |
giving Adam a chance to change |
the subject.
Tcame up the stairway. and you