The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-05-12

ANO OiAC SCCiiAS W I1AO" "tA%AS
Brinley was" he told Asey. "I've
asked all the people with badges,
claiming l thought I'd given one
of them my glasses to hold while
/ went on the merry go-round, and
maybe it was Mr.. Brinley, but l
hadn't been able to find him. OF
course they all said they was there
Monday night, but I hadn't given
them any glasses to hold, and on
delving into the matter, not one Of
them remembered seeing Brinley
there. Now what?"
For my part" Asey said, "I'm
goin' home an get me an early
supper. Lane, amt no seventh
son, but this feller's b'ginnin' to
act. Have your lads around every
ones place again tonight, an give
blazes to them outside Brinleys'.
The whole blinkin' household sky
larked out last night, as well as
SHADES ciimbin' the Paul's Scarlet,
but your men was two other
places, doin' a lot of other things"
Don't think they haven't heard
about it" Lane said grimly. "They
told me something about some
wandering woman from the mid
way, and I told them plenty, be-
lieve me. Look, Asey, this bothers
me. When were the shells and the
gun planted?"
More Noises
GLADE claims the gun was
- stolen Monday night. It could
have been stuck into the pond any
time after then, but somehow I
think it. was today or yesterday.
The shells-well, the houses had
you or one of your men around
since Monday night. Except when
Prettyman had Konrad hogtied
last night. Durin' the time I was
chattin' with Tertius would have
been good time. Konrad was in
side with me. Takin' chance then,
to plant'em, but it worked"
Back at Aunt Sara'S, ASey ate
his supper by himself. After he
had eaten, he went up to the room
he shared with Zeb, and stretched
out on his bed. To judge from the
last two nights, things started to
happen late rather than early, and
tonight he was going to be pre-
pared.
Somehow he couldn't seem to
get away from feeling of impeIld-
ing trouble, and it worried him.
He had wanted this person, who
ever he was that they were up
against, to act. Now the fellow had
begun to show his hand, there was
no telling what to expect. The
planting of the shells had been
beautifully timed, and so had the
shotgun. This fellow knew what
he was going to do, and he did it.
;Asey got UP and hunted out
SAra, and tried to impress on her
the necessity of being careful.
"We're all of us going to the
governors party" she said. "I'll see
to everyone, / promise you. Yes,
Eloise is going, too. She's recov-
cred, she thinks, but feel for Mike
when she sees him. Yes, We'll be
careful. Zeb an6 Jeff and I will
look after them, and Kay, too. ]
wonder, Asey, is Zeb's stock pick
ing up again with Jane? She seems
to have spent the entire afternoon
with him, and Slade hasn't called
or been near the house today. Dear
me, / suppose I was just as odd
when I was young, but it doesn't
seem to me that could have been,
possibly. know I wasn't"
eff what folks say is true" Asey
told her, "you had jeff Leach on
his ear, an forty-seven others
practically in the asylum. An you
worry about Jane with two! Well,
look out for'em ALL"
Before the fireworks were due
to begin, Asey climbed in his road
ster and drove up to the hollow.
1t had stopped raining, but the
fog was coming in and the wheel
was wet and slippery under his
hands. As he turned into the drive
way. he was pleased to see two
flashlights shoot at him from diff
ferent angles.
ION the job, huh?" he asked
Konrad, who came running over
"Say," Konrad said, "this place
is worse tonight than last. Hon.
est, this fog is creepy. and it has
more noises in it"
| Thought you was to get tonight
/ Off"
| "Yeah. But Lane said two men,"
Konrad told him sadly. "I'm the
other" -.
Asey picked his car fashlight off
the clamp on the steering wheel.
"I'll stay with you a SPELL" he
said. 81 want to watch this place,
but I couldn't tell you why" He
looked at the illuminated dial Of
his wrist watch. "It's most time
for the fireworks to begin. Twelve
minutes more. think I'll"
You're slow-see, there they
CO." Konrad said. 'Hear-hear
that?"
"Shut up!" Asey said. 'Listen!"
The other trooper doomed out Of
the fog. SAY" he said. "was that
fireworks, or shot?"
They're beginning the fire.
works." Konrad said. "Hear that?
Now? That's another"
But Asey and the other trooper
were already pounding towards
the woods.
! That strange laugh Asey had
heard before rang out somewhere
in the fog ahead.
Hear that?" the trooper said.
That's a woman screaming. that
isl"
mo-" Asey said, shat wasn't
but what you hear now isl"
L fCopyrioAs. 1881