The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-04-22

Yesterday: bfadame Medur Is
SHADES sister-ia-latn. She prom
ises to help Asey.
e -
Chapter Il
sWouid-Be Burglar
A SEY expected to find Weston
n over at the hall, and the usua
number Of bystanders remefn
bered seeing him just few min
utes before, so he waited in the ex.
position rooms, where the loca
antique collections, and the flower
and vegetable and preserve en-
tries, held sway.
J. Arthur Brinley came up II
him.
Good evening, viewing our en-.
tries7 Er-Mayo."
'Yup."
weston tells me that Slade has
left town for the time being. He,
Brinley nodded knowingly, Says
Slade was scared out Of town, bui
Bessie and ! know that you man.
aged il. I wanted you TO know
that we appreciate it, sir, we ap-
preciate it deeplyl"
Don't thank me-"
"Ah, modest, as everyone says.
But you know sUe know" Asey
wondered what sert of reward that
was supposed to be. "And-Mayo."
"What?"
'Er-some OF the ladies, they
want to take down their quilts fcr
the night. / don't want to be rude
to our guests, but on the other
hand, it's a chilly night, and the
quilts y you know what mean.
Have you any suggestions"
There's General Philbrick over
there" ASey said. Tell him to
take out his watch, and announce
in that voice of his that the expo
sition will close in five minutes,
but will open tomorrow at-well,
whenever it does. Then close the
door, an the ladies can rip down
quilts to their hearts content, an
no feelin's hurt"
Wonderfully" Brinley said
'Thank you'll / never thought Of
oh, thank you'll"
Ten minutes later the antique
quilts of Billingsgate-pine trees,
log cabins, rising suns, birds and
baskets, ships wheel, rose of
Sharon, ducks foot in the mud
and all the hundred and one other
kinds, were on the way to their
respective homes to warm the
tourists and the old settlers.
Asey grinned and strolIed up
stairs towards the town Offices.
A man coming down brushed by
him hurriedly, taking the steps
down four at a time.
Asey glanced after him curious
1y, for the man wore the first dark,
city-like clothes he had seen in a
long while. --.s..-
Then, at the selectmen's offices,
Asey stopped short.
The glass-topped door was open,
but there was no light in the Offices
beyond. He could see the marks
where the lock and door had been
forced.
'Goldilocks'
A SEY stood there and surveyed
"A the situation.
There was no sense to romping
downstairs and trying to pursue
the man, for the chances of catch
ing him were something less than
slim. II the fellow continued his
original pace, he was now beyond
pursuit, anyway. And in the con-
fusion outside the hall, with doz.
ems OF cars starting and turning
and departing, it would be next to
impossible to find anyone. No;
without creating lot more con-
fusion.
Weston appeared a. the head Of
the stairs.
''Brinley said you wanted me
Is anything the matter? What's
"a gent" Asey informed him
Hos 0CCn RATAH AutO tL1db WHICH
don't concern him. Come on let's
see the damage"
Weston nearly wept.
Asey, has someone broken in
there? Who? Did you see-let's &c
after himl"
Hes not important rel,tively
speakin'," Asey said, "but what he
may have found or got or done OF
taken away matters a lot. Come
see."
Nervously, Weston went to worl
In the Office.
He hasn't touched Jeff,s desk
and he hasn't touched Brinley':
desk, but he has been at mn desl
what are you laughing abou
now, Asey Mayo? This isn't"
you sounded so much" AseJ
said, "like Goldilocks an the three
bears. Go on, Yves. I'm sorry"
"He didn't touch the files. They're
all right. He didn't touch the safe
thank God, because I've got a hun
dred times as much cash there q.
usual. As far as ! can see, Asey
he only went to my desk, anS
everything seems to be In the righ
order except my lower bil