The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-12-29

clay. ledge left for them, and in
front of the table thus formed was
Gordon's chair. On the table stood
old coal oil lamp, with a black
ened chimney.
Pretty nice place you've got
here" Michael went on with inter-
est. "Bet it took a lot of work to
make it."
How'd you find it?" Gordon
asked in an ,aggrieved tone.
did you ever hear the story
about the lost horse?" Michael
asked him as he sat comfortably
down on the floor.
what lost horse?"
well, once there was horse,
and it lost itself, and nobody could
find it until a half-witted kid went
out and brought it in. And they
asked him how he did it, and he
said he just thought if he was a
horse where would he go, and he
went there, and the horse had"
Hasn't got anything to do with
my cave, has it," Gordon asked
Scornfully.
Well, not exactly. Except that
you're the horse"
Gordon's snort was eloquent.
eff had been you, you see," Mi
chael went on, I'D have certainly
dug me out cave along here, if I
could have got little help, which
I see you had"
"Help?"
didn't your"
Wizard Or Something
ICORDON stared. ooh, gosh," he
~ said at last, "are you one Of
those wizards or something? Do
you have to know everything?"
Nearly. Don't be so dumb, Cor
don. You know what I'm doing out
here. It's my job to find things out.
AS matter of fact, happened to
be on the bank above here one
night when you had the light on,
and saw the reflection in the river.
I'm not spying on you. But if did,
you'd have to admit that had a
right to. You've laid yourself open
to it."
Gordon's face was pale. How'd
you know :" he was beginning,
when Michael stopped him.
Can it," he said crisply. 'T'll
tell you what know, and I'll tell
you too that you're not going to be
hung for it, not for a couple of
days anyway" He licked the items
off on his fingers. First, you wrote
letter on your fathers typewriter
to the Police Commissioner asking
where Professor Murchison's dia-
monds are. Then, when the Com
missioner didn't seem to do any,
thing about it, you gathered unto
yourself several dishpans and so
on, and hung them on the outside
of our doors while you did unlaw-
fully enter the study and search
for them-the diamonds, of course.
All this, because your friend and
satellite, Higgins, did discover a
gold watch lying on the path with
a piece of bloody paper beside it,
and perhaps for diverse reasons
unknown to me. Is it not so, my
young friend?"
ooh gosh," said Gordon again.
Most inelegant,," Michael COM
mented. Isn't that all true?"
Gordon gulped. "I-I guess So"
"Where'd you get the key?"
Gordon did not answer.
VERY WELL" said Michael.
What were you going to do? Fer
ret out the mystery, and find the
jewels, and claim the reward?"
There ought to have been one"
Absolutely. But is there? !
doubt it. You see, Gordon" Mi
chael said, "the diamonds are
found. / found 'em."
"Honest?"
Honest and true"
"Shucks. Oh, we'll"
very philosophical indeed.
Quite commendable attitude"
Michael looked at him keenly.
How much do you know, young
ster?" he demanded.
Gordon eyed him thoughtfully.
What abput?"
"Oh, about everything. Do you
happen to know who murdered
Edgar Murchison,, for instance?
That might be helpful"
Nope. ] don't know that. But I
bet | could guess without much
trouble"
"Guesses are quite, quite use-
less. I've been guessing for some
time now, with very little success.
Supposing you tell me what makes
you guess, and I'll do the guessing.
| How'S that?"
Gordon looked at him shrewdly.
.'Why should I tell you what I
know"
well, why shouldn't you? Is the
murderer a friend of yours? Or do
you enjoy living in this blood
thirsty atmospheric"
The boys jaw frightened. "He
sure is not a friend of mine" he
said bitterly. after what he did to
Fred? I'd like to get some of that
dope he had and put it in his meat.
I'd like to kill him, would"
81 don't feel exactly that way
about it." Michael said candidly.
But I'm not exactly anxious to
wake up some morning, and find
out that he's killed me. Are your"
Nope"
He's killed Edgar Murchison.n
Michael said, sand Fred. And Miss
Lissey. Why should he hesitate at
killing US? No reason whatever.
Particularly since I think we inn
pede his progress somewhat"
Continued tomorrow