The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-12-28

Il A<04IAdl1 60lW 4l4414
| first. He put his hand over my
mouth. and held me there as If he
were made of steel. And after a
while the man got to the edge of
the trees away to our right, and
disappeared among them"
"He was coming this way,
Bunny?"
l. "Along the bank, yes"
Did you see who he was?"
Impossible"
did Duncan offer any explana-
tion?"
None. He said-he told me not
to breathe what had seen to any,
one. He said it was dangerous.
The next morning added an
other paragraph to the queer and
mysterious story unfolding before
their eyes. Bunny and Tuck, con-
trary to MichaePs express orders,
had been for walk in the woods.
AS they came back and entered the
| study, Charlotte Jean burst into
the room breathleSsly. "It's good
thing as you're back, Mrs. For
roster. I haven't known what to
do. locked her in your bedroom!"
Locked 11ho in my bedroom2"
Mrs. Murchison She -
"What?" ..f
"Yes'm. I didn't know what else
to do with her"
"But, Charlotte Jean-what did
yon--how did you get her there?"
Il didn't, ma am. She went her
self, She said as how she was goin'
home, wouldn't wait, and I let her
out the front door with my own
hands. And then, in few minutes
I'D gone back to the kitchen to
wash them jelly glasses, Mrs. For
rester,-in few minutes I heard
somebody prowlin' around up
stairs, and l tell you I did get a
start-but slipped quick like up
the back stairs, and / seen her in
your bedroom. So just reached in
and grabbed the door and locked it.
And there she is"
MY heavens! Are you sure it
was Mrs. Murchison? Sure?"
ut was somebody in a purple
dress. ] saw it Stiekin' out of the
clothes closet when I reached in
for the door. Sure it was her,
ma'am. You can just bet it was
her. I bet we've caught the E1ur-
derer, ma'am, that have!"
Didn't she call out?"
mot word. She hasn't said a
word, although I did hear her
tryin' the window. It's a good
thing the porch roof doesn't come
just there, or we'd have lost her."
Rage And Fear
TUCK looked at Bunny. Bunny
l looked back at Tuck. "What
are. we going to do, Tuck?"
Tuck was already on her way to
the stairs. Let her out" she said.
"But Tuckie-wouldn't Michael
"Oh, Michael!"
Charlotte Jean said something
in which the words Mr.. Michael
and lunch were mentioned. But
Tuck did not hear. She turned the
key in her bedroom door and flung
it open.
Marie Murchison, her lips trem-
bling, her eyes black, was standing
in front of the open window. Her
hands were claSped tightly to-
gether.
Tuck surveyed her. Good
morning" she said weakly.
Your servant is-is-a crea-
turel"
I've always rather liked her.
myself"
Mrs. Murchison's voice shook. II
am looking for the bathroom" she
said. "She asks me nothing. She
turns the key and laughs. Laughsl
At mel"
Tuck shook her head sympa-
thetically. THAT would have been
terrible. Naturally, you couldn't
have been expected to know that
we've moved the bathroom since
you lived here"
Behind her in the hall, Bunny
choked. The angry woman at the
window heard. She burst into q
flood of Gallo tears, tears of rage
and. fear mingled. cit is terrible.
what ] am suffering" she sobbed.
"They tell me my husband is dead.
! know it is not so. know he has
has left me for another woman.
The Shame-it is more than can
bear. It is awful. I cannot tell any
one. I cannot confess it to them.
/ come here to get the proof-the
proof that he has done SO. And this
Is now / am treated"
I'm sorry" said Tuck soberly.
I'VE do know what you are going
through, Mrs. Murchison. It must
be dreadful. But what possible
proof of your husbands action
could you find in the bathroom?"
That brought on another out
\ burst. When she was Ineligible,
the woman said. at is not in the
bathroom. I do not know where
you have put it, but | want to seek
in your bedroom for it." She lifted
her face. 'sThere!" she said de-
family. Nov you know the truth.
You are keeping something from
me which should be mine, and /
have right to look for it. ! have
right to look for itp
81 don't know what you mean,
Mrs. Murchison."
The black eyes stared, then the
lids fell secretively. II think you
do"
why do you think that?"
| She shrugged her shoulders.
There is no use beating about so.
No use at all. know that you
found what my husband had hid
den in the house"
| Tuck surveyed her levelly. 'sWhy
didn't you come and ask for it,
Mrs. Murchison, if it was really
something important to your"
"You know what it was. You
know why ! do not come and ask.