The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-05-19
OLD HOME WEEK MURDER
BY Phoebe Atwood Taylor

Inc Snock or James WoCdS anc
her accompanying gesture was %
intense that Il affected even DR.
Cummings professional instincts
| While his prospective patient
groaned and writhed on the floor,
he stared at Jane as she coolly
walked across the room. opened
the door and departed. For fully
ten seconds he was speeches..
"By-by Georgei" he said. "By
George. that girl meant It'll Now
isn't that extraordinary, when you
stop and think Il out? That from
a nice appearing girl, apparently
in the best Of health. Emotionally
unstable, that's the answer. Emo
tionally unstable. Sara, what's she
been eating lately. d'you happen
to known"
aDoc." Asey pointed to Eloise.
Consider this end Of it, viii your"
go get my other bag" Cum
mings said to Zeb. "out in the car.
Dear me, more mysteries, ] sup
pose-once she finally assimilates
the situation, it viii probably be
an all night job quieting-by
George. what's the matter with
her? Look"
Eloise's mouth was working
strangely. She put both hands to
her jaw.
"That smack-Asey, what do you
do in a case like this? Isn't it as
sault and battery. or something?
The poor woman"
"Doc," Asey said, "Jane said
somethin' about smashin' her
teeth-say, has she got false teeth?
Cause if she has, bet you they're
wedged. or busted"
thee Theece, Theee
"THATS it'll" Sara said. eft hap
L pened to my mother once.
Carry her to oh. her room. ]
guess. Well have to separate Jane
and Eloise, under the circum-
stances, and I'm sure don't know
where we can put Jane, unless it's
the trundle bed in the attic Kay,
| know this isn't helping your
head anyl"
"Kay's all right" Cummings
said. II shouldn't wonder If Eloise
weren't the more badly hurt Of the
two. Kay's got just superficial
Zeb--help us here. Oh. put the bag
anywhere. That's it. Uh!" he
grunted as he helped Asey and
Zeb lift Eloise. Sometimes / think
this fad for a slim form is lot of
| onnsonco anI cax,, af;v, no -, a na eo
like this. I wish there We're more
of it."
They finally managed to pry
Eloise's mouth open and remove
her broken plate, which had, as
Sara and Asey guessed somehow
wedged in such a manner that il
locked her jaw.
But once open, Eloise's mouth
proceeded to make up for lost time.
She raised such din that Uncle
Jeff and Brinley and Weston. who
had been solving town problems
down in the living room. came fly
ing up the stairs.
aYou cana help" Briefly Asey
summed up what had taken place.
"You might as well 60. Oh. Zeb,
see if you can find where Jane
went to. In the mood she's in. she's
capable of anything at all"
"Asey," Zeb said. with q great
respect for your wishes, the an
swer is no. The door mat has re-
signed. This particular worm has
turned. Let someone else find Jane
and cope with her mood. Not me.
She's fooled me once too often. ]
thought, after yesterday-but that
doesn't matter. I'll help you with
Eloise. but as for Jane. no."
Il can see how you feel Asey
said. "Wes, you or Brinley, or
someone-find Jane for me.
Thanks"
"What's the matter with her
| now?" 1Brinley nodded his head
toward Eloise. whats happened
to her? She sounds as If she was
crazy"
"Just lisping," Asey said. ITO
use an old Cape phrase, she's gum
min it. You all get along and find
| Obediently the selectmen Of
Billingsgate marched off to find
Jane.
After while Eloise quieted
| down.. l.
| .Thank heaven" Cummings
said. my, what a nervous system
she must have. To be able to take
this sort of outburst in your stride,
the way she does-by George. you
can call women the weaker sex It
you want to. but no mar would be
able to work himself into froth-
ing state like this, and then snap
out of it-what's that you say?"
"Thee theece. In the. thace. "
Eloise pointed to Asey. thee
theece. thee?"
aShe sells sea Shells" Cummings
recited cheerfully. "By the sea
shore. Sea shells she sells, and Of
that Eloise, what do you want?
Say it again"
She said it again. but the results
were not any better.
| 81 got it," Asey said. 'sThe teeth
You got spares, have your"
| Eloise nodded vigorously.
4 "Where?"
i She pointed.
i aOh, the case. The teeth are in
the case. Sara, that's your de-
partment. Get her teeth"
i He tactfully strolled over and
stared at picture Of four fat sheep
In a field until the process OF
equipping Eloise with new teeth
was completed.
4 Continued tomorrew.