The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-12-18
Cree 5fd: Non
by Fronces Shelley Wees

'helley Wees -
strike on something. Higgins heard
1t too, and drew in his breath on
something that sounded very like a
sob.
Michael lifted out a trowel Of
earth carefully. Higgins made a
convulsive movement, and Michael
grasped him by tie shoulder and
forced him down. Il haven't got 1t
yet" he said consolingly.
But the next thrust struck It -
something firm and hard, and Mi
chael put his hand down into the
hole, not. however, without mo-
ment of dread: and encountered
there a smooth fiat surface. With
few more strokes of the trowel he
laid it bare, seized it, and drew
forth a little square box.
Now, isn't this lucky" he said
to Higgins. We'll Just 90 UP on the
porch into the light, and open it. Do
you know what's in it?"
Higgins was shaking. IT don't
know nothink about it." he said
over and over. II don't know
.nothink about it. + wasn't me-"
Michael led him UP into the sun
porch and snapped on the light.
The little man was as white as a
ghost under his sallow tan. His
eyes were wide and full of fear.
Michael lifted the lid of the box.
Inside, lay mans gold watch, the
long chain coiled round it.
He turned it over and on the
back were engraven the initials
EGM.
q Never Done IT.
HIGGINS put his hands over his
face. and moaned. "pll 'ang
now, I'll 'ang," he said to himself.
"You certainly will" said Mi
chael cheerfully. "As high as Ha-
man-unless you listen to me-"
II never done it, s'welp me. ]
never done it. I don't know nothink'
about it."
mo? Well, just come into the
study, and tell me all about it. Hig-
gins"
Half dazed the man followed him
in, and watched him as he locked
the door.
"Sit down." Michael commanded
briefly.
Higgins sat gingerly on the edge
of chair. II never done it." he said
again.
"You didn't do what?"
Higgins stared at him. IT never
killed him. I don't know nothink
about it."
eff you say that again." Michael
said evenly, Il shall choke you
with my bare hands. You do know
something about it. You wouldn't
be sitting there like a damned
aspen leaf if you didn't. Now.
where did you get this watch?"
81 found it"
"Where?"
"On the path"
What PATH"
"The path through the wood.
That's right. It's the truth I'm tell
in you"
Il believe you. You didn't hap
pen to find a diamond necklace
lying. right close beside it. did
you?"
The shot struck home. Higgins
went white again. mo sir" he
whispered.
when did you find it?"
"One rnornin'."
Indeed? Which morning?"
"The mornin' after he he was
supposed to have went away"
"Who?"
Higgins was Silent.
"Who?"
"You know. Murchison."
"How did it come to be lying on
the PATH"
II don't know. I've no idea"
you found gold watch lying
on the path - with initials - and
you didn't attempt to return it to
the owner? Why didn't your"
II did, | come ere, KNOWN as it
was Mr.. Murchison's watch, and he
wasn't to 'ome. That's right. So /
went away"
why didn't you give it to his
wife?"
ut wasn't is wife as talked to-"
"Who was it?"
Higgins would not answer.
well, who was it?"
"Mr. Duncan Murchison."
what did he say?"
e didn't say nothink. e just
said no, lis brother wasn't 'ome,
what did ! want. And | said
nothink, I didn't want nothink, and
| went away. S'welp me. just
went away"
with the watch? Why didn't
you give it to him?"
u olan1 want TO"
We'll. that's a good reason. Then
what?"
"Nothink."
Michael gritted his teeth. Look
here. Higgins. Stop saying thatl
Tell me straight. Why didn YOU
give the watch to Duncan Murchi-
son right there?"
al didn't want to-" Michael
glared. Higgins shutfled. .: wasn't
going to take no chances" he NUT
tered. at might ave been him.
They was tightin' one day before.
I'eard en-"
who WASP"
"The two Mr.. Murchisons."
"And you thought it might have
been Duncan who had murdered
his brother? That's what you
thought, eh?"
Eyes"
$50 you knew that the Professor
was dead? How?"