The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-11-20
The Cree :lli[: Mon
Chapter One y
The Missing Man.

ALTHOUGH the woman
~ in black seemed as
a calm and composed
Il - as ever, she had cho-.
sen the chair standing with.
its back to the light. The Po-
lice Commissioner eyed her.
thoughtfu1ly as-she spoke.
"You have, then. no further
news of my husband?"
"None, am sorry to say"
The tall handsome young man
with the suIler1 eyes threw his hat
down on the table with an afgry
gesture.
why did yousend forus, tl1eh7"
he demanded.
COMMISSIONS Davies looked up
ct him. Il wanted to discuss the
matter with you. Mr.. Murchison,"
he replied. "All Of you have izil-
pressed upon me the fact that you
DO not want any publicity IN con-
necfion with the Professor sa-with
your brothers - disappearance
FRANKLY. we have come to the end
ofour resources, and in my opinion
IL Is time TO make use Of the press
Tfeel sure that a judiciously word
ed account Of the affair would
bring results
Duncan Muchison scowled. His
sister in law tapped nervously
with those shining long finger nails
on the arm of her chair. It was the
third member of the group who
answered.
'sWe have explained our position
in regard TO the matter of pub
LEFTY many times, Commissioners
Davies" he said gently. Surely
with an efficient police force and
matters as they are, tits not neces-
sary."
Mrs. Murchison leaned forward
eagerly. my cousin is right" she
said quickly.
The Commissioner turned to'the
missing mans brother. us that
your feeling, too?"
Murchison shrugged his Shout
ders. 81 don't see any sense in
broadcasting it. 1t seems to me If
your men had really been on the
Job they would have found some
trace of him by now"
Professor Devoe glanced apollo
getically at the Commissioner, his
dark eyes full of regret. 81 am sure
Duncan does not mean to be so
abrupt" he nurmured. "ThiSl six
weeks mystery has been some.
thing of strain for us all"
IT can understand that. ] am as
anxious to end it as you are, but
you must realize that you are
handicapping me greatly by re-
fusing my request. It seems to me
that Professor Muchison would be
most unreasonable under the cir
cumstances, if he objected to our
taking such a course. He had no
right to go away as he did--as per-
haps he did--without giving you.
his closest relatives and his wife,
an explanation We need not con.
slider his feelings, and as for you,
] think an account of his diSap-
pearance, together with his pic
ture, would bring his whereabouts
almost certainly to light" He
passed his hand slowly over his
thin white hair. "If you will not
allow me to do this" he went on
quietly, II must warn you that we
will drop the case"
There was absolute silence in
the room. Professor Devoe spoke
finally. His voice was worried.
I'VE realize that by not report.
ing the case for nearly week after
my cousins disappearance we ham
dicapped you from the start" he
said. "Indeed-we all realize that
you have done your part. But"
his eyes went to the beautiful
woman behind him, who looked
away; to the tight angry mouth Of
the young man who stood staring
from the window. He shook his
head and turned back to the CONF
missioner. 1T is because the Pro.
fessor went away just so, a number
Of years ago." he went on.
Davies waited. ~.