The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-12-17

to the breaking point.
eve must have been near the
door," | heard him say. The en-
trance. | mean. / heard thought
it was one Of those balloons. She
went limp-jn my arms His voice
| broke. steadied. Then | saw
there was blood on my hand. :"
"Tken the shot seemed to come
from outsider"
Il don't know-I tell you, |
thought it was balloon"
iag?"
q don't know think-no. /
don't know There may have been"
Adam was silent or minute.
When he resumed his voice was
less official, more gentle.
what kind of trouble was she
p. Barney?"
Trouble? What do you mean?
What makes you think SOP"
- don't know Even tonight
thought she seemed-ragged.
She drinks -dral k too much
we been telling her She was go,
ing on the wagon after tonight"
Was that why YOU split up last
spring."
"Not-not exactly" | ached at
the patience in that tortured voice
You heard that story about
Wheeler? He was shooting off his
mouth Shaw -old me the straight
Of it. but even then-I guess / was
jealous. thought she might
really like the fellow"
"But you changed your mind?" .
''Yes-later. That was Elizabeth
She talked some sense into me-"
We had been hearing a lot OF
theories about Elizabeth and Bar
ney. Here at last was something
that sounded authentic. If only
Charles part could be as reason
ably explained.
But the typewriter-and | had
seen his eyes when he looked at
her.
The Prize
THEN you've nothing to add
about that shot this after
noon?" heard Adam ask.
II told you don't know any
thing about a shot. | dropped a
light bulb and that ass Shaw thinks
back and decides it was a shot"
"But we did find a bullet"
Adam reminded him mildly
you know what think about
that. Somebody-somebody missed
her the first time"
The last words were half sobbed
Surely Adam would let him so
now
He did. | heard his voice asking
Barney to stay around and advis-
ing him to take care of himself
But Barney's ordeal was not end
ed | heard the door open and Mrs
Flowers uncontrolled words be-
gan to flow
"Such a dreadful thing-you
poor boy! Quite like Juliet and
Romeo. only of course she didn't
kill hcrself--or did shea Juliet. ! !
mean, ] was just asking Mr. Shaw
where YOU wire So glad you're
able to be about He didn't know
about the prize. that's how he
happened 90 mention YOU"
THE prize?" Barney re ,eated
stupidity
"Yes. for the balloon dance. My
balloon was the last one on the
floor y at least we'll yes ,UdS
the last one dancing. So of course
| asked Mr.. Shaw about the prize
and he said you'd know
There was an awful silence. For
once even Adam must have been
at a loss. Then someone began to
laugh-a thin, high giggle.
The prize" Barney gasped
shrilly and broke into another peal
of that terrible laughter.
Adam said something in a low
voice and the sound ceased. A
door opened and closed
Now don't say word" said
MIS- Flower placidly Il quite I'M
derstand and I'm not hurt. The
boys overweight No doubt he's
forgotten what he did with it. II
YOU see him, just tell him he can
send il around tomorrow.
Adam coughed and seemed at a
loss for an opening. But he need
not have worried. Ii was only nee
eSssTy TO listen. Mrs. Flower pro-
ceeded to volunteer all that she
had told me earlier in the even
ING about hearing the shot and
about Mrs. Orpingtons incrimi-
mating position on the veranda.
and everyone on the post
knows she's thGt tcdu about Bar
ney. or course they Sau it's d&h-
las"
Barney is very much interest
ed in botany, Adam intcrposed
gravely Biology, too-inherited
sra.tS-quite scientific mind"
Now If Adam would only get
rid of her. So could tell him about
The typewriter.
Mrs. Flowers sudden sill ice
was more provocative than her
spe sch. She couldn't just be still
Il was impossible. Something must
De gong on
Something was. | heard Adam
say What's that?"
And then, in a piercing stage
whisper that carried easily TO the
head Of the stairs, Mrs. Flower
Kissed. "A scrap OF paper!"
fcapvrteAt 1883 Flysfais Ha~soaI