The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-05-24
OLD HOME WEEK MURDER
by Phoebe Atwood Taylor
"A-what? What happenedy"

"A-what? What happened?"
"On the cellar stairs. She"
"Oh, + thought you meant she
was killed, like Mary-you nearly
took my breath away! Is she badly
hurt? / hope not. You know, she's
terrified Of those stairs. The three
of us always worry about them.
We used to have a sign t. cked up,
saying Stop, Look. Grab Is she
badly hurt?"
Involuntarily Asey looked to-
ward the living room. Jane fol-
lowed his gaze and saw the figure
on the couch.
"Oh," she said. "Ohl"
She got up and went into the
other room. In moment she came
back.
"You did your best to tell me,
didn't your" she said in a fiat
voice. Well, tell me. Everything
I suppose sac just didn't fall"
mo. Jane, did any of you-you,
or Mary or Eloise. ever really fall
down those stairs?"
Never. We were so afraid we
took particular care, all of u.s."
What about that bruise on your
shoulder"
Jane flushed. "Oh. Kay told
you? You went to know the truth?
Eloise stuck me"
Asey paused in the process of
lighting his pipe.
That's the TRUTH" Jane said.
Monday. She was mad with me-
She often was. She wa, Jealous,
because she thought May cared
more for me than for her. Mary
didn't, of course, but-Well-can't
you see how hard it would be to
be affectionate about EloiSe? She
she cluttered so. Everything she
did or said was Cutlery. Then
she'd be perfectly swell. like she
was about my seeking her the
other night. And JUS as you
thought how swell she really was.
she'd tip the ink bottle over your
knees, or something, and be more
Cutlery than ever. And Mary
wasn't Cutlery, and it was hard
for her"
'"Tell me about those Paths to
the ice house" A2cy sad.
1t Drove Me Crazy
Il DON'T know anyth ng about
L them" Jane hold him. Il was
scared to death t, set foot off the
place here, if you want to know !
Il can't explain, but there always
seemed to be something so evil
about those swamps, and the mlsts,
and everything. It's queer place."
'You got that gun License cause
you was scared?"
Jane nodded. Mike said it was
foolish and therr was rothing to
be afraid of, and then he realized
how | felt, and he said he'd get me
a gun. and it would make me feel
better. even if ] couldn't use it so
we'll" She sighed. AFTER l learned
more about shooting. he was going
to get me a gum"
"Where'd you meet Mike. Jane.
down py the ice house?"
Truly. Asey. | never went near
the place but once. I'm scared
aIound here. Like Kay. I'm city
person. The country quiet and
noises simply terrify me. | usu-
ally met Mike at tn, beach. He
couldn'- come here becauSe Eloise
raised such rumpus. [. was all
open enough"
II wonder" Asey said. who did
go down there by the pond from
this house?"
Il don't know, but it always
seemed to me / heard d. owes of
people around. Mary laughed at
me and said it was my magma
ton, but she wouldn't stay here
alone AZ night There was a noise
that drove me craZy-a sor of
laugh. 1t was the most uncanny
thing, but found out what it was"
You found out-what?"
"A whistle sort of arrangement,
only it looks more like an ocarina
than a whistle. | found it out by
the barn, weeks ago. I decided
what I'd been bearing was local
boys and girls. parking around
those back roads are simply
stopped up with cars, sometimes.
Eve heard the sound since, but it
hasn't bothered me so much now
that l know what it was. ] thought
at first it was IN escaped lunatic.
1t sounded that way. Probably
some kids, signaling"
Haven't got the thing now?"
Asey asked. "Or do you know
where it is?"
Il stuck it in the fire. l think it
came from candy, or. popcorn, or
something like that. You know,
one of those gadgets they put in
packages - Asey. what'l. we do
about Eloise?"
We'll have to explain it as we
did about Mary. Jane. did you kill
EIolSe!"
She looked him squarelv in the
eye. mo, on my word of honor,
/ didn't. ] thought | could have,
the other night. Things were all
mixed up. Once I'd really taken a
stand about Mike. they all cleared
up. IL think you believe me. but
what about Lane and the others?"
We've proved you couldn't
have killed Mary" Asey said.
you was with Sars an jeff an
the rest when Kay an ! had our
meetin'S with the teller. We can't
prove thing about Eloise today,
but b'lieVe YOU. I'll see tn Lane"