The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-11-27
Chapter Seven
Feminine Curiosif.

Feminine Curiosity
I THOUGHT left nothing in the
1 house." said Mrs. Murchison.
Just this book" Tuck said. q
didn't think the book was impor.
tant-perhaps it had belonged tc
your maid. But il had in it a lovely
carved ivory bridge pencil for a
marker, and / thought you might
not like to lose it."
There was a tinge of hot color
al the base of Mrs. Murchison1s
throat as she took "The Battered
Bride" from Tuck's hands. Thank
you for the pencil" she said. "My
maid. yes"
And this pipe" Tuck went on.
IF your husband is as devoted to
his old pipes as mine is :" she
stopped.
Mrs. Murehison had dropped the
book. Both hands were at her
heart. She was staring at the pipe
IN Tuck's hand with some terrible
surmise in her face.
g. Inc pipe-he has had it study
Then I'm glad found it," Tuck
said equally.
The woman looked up. where
have you found it?" she said tense
ly. 1T is never out of his hand"
1 found it in the little drawer
just under the leaf for the type
writer-in the big desk in the
study, Mrs. Murchison." Tuck re-
piled. Il am sorry if your husband
has been searching for it."
She still held the pipe out but
the woman did not touch it. Tuck
glanced at her sharply.
The woman caught the glance.
She moistened her dry lips and
Strengthened her hould ers.
Thank you for it, them" she said
more composedly. took it from
Tuck's oustretched hand and
stepped back. Tuck took the hint,
said goodby and ran down the
steps.
Now, what's that all about?"
she said to herself. The woman's
attitude was certainly strange.
That afternoon, when Bunny
came out from a halliday relieving
at the Office, she had something
more to add to the picture.
Tuck. almost bursting to tell her
OF the events of the morning, had
gone to the UniveI sity to meet her
and as they walked back through
the dim green woodland path had
told her cf the affair of the pipe.
"She had a terribly frightened
look, Bunny-surprised and fright
ened. Now why? Why should the
sight of an old pipe your husband
had left behind, even if he had
had II ever since he was a student
In Germany-why should that up
SET a woman so?"
: II don't think it was the pipe that
upset her." Bunny said slowly. II
think it was the fact of your having
it."
What do you mean, Runny?"
WHY thought I'd do a little
sleuthing too. So / telephoned the
University and asked for DR.. Muir
Gibson" she broke off sudden
ly. and looked at Tuck. "You re-
Tuck, that Higgins was
quite willing to tell where Mrs.
was, and where the
brother was, but when it came to
DR.. Murchison himself he wiggled
and squirmed?"
"Yes-and Michael, right after
he had finished saying that he
didn't know q thing about the Muir
chisonS, asked where DR.. Murchi-
son was! How did he know Murchi-
son was a doctor? That's what
made me suspect Michael! Bunny
right. He's the man the
about"
MY idea too"
What did they say at the Uni
versity?"
said he was off on a business
trip and they didn't have his adj
dress. So 'phoned his wife"
"Bunny-go onl"
"Well"-Bunny stopped, pulled
of her hat and lifted her face to
the cool evening breeze-"Well--
/ thought I'd better be little wary
SO said / was the Customs Office
and had a box of books for DR..
Murchison and that there was duty
on fhem!"
Go on. Bunny-you're exas-
perating."
"Yes. dear. And I asked for DIR.
Murehison's address to notify
him"
"And what did she say?"
"Well, she waited a little while
before she answered me, and then
she said she'd tell him herself"
"Oh," Tuck said disappointedly.
Il thought maybe / didn't
''Me too" Bunny agreed. But
wait a minute. said, How soon
can you let us know? Because if he
doesn't clear them in week we've
got 10 send them back.
"Yes?"
"And she said, very slowly
Send them back then. ! cannot get
an answer in a week.
Nocturnal Providing
THAT night, falling to sleep late,
L Tuck dreamed of walking past
a gigantic rock-crusher, which
rumbled menacingly and then fell
suddenly across her feet. When
she struggled to disiodge il she
awoke ia find AcameunOn DUR
ring happily and digging his claws
into the eiderdown over her knees.
She reached dow, slapped his