The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-12-14

/ why uOb6 why QlQ you come
Sneaking along there in the dark?
You must have seen / wasn't your
wife, the first time you looked at
me-" she said with \ trace of bitter
ness. Spying on me. Following me
around. Spying. That's what you
| were doingY
more spied upon than spying"
| Michael paraphrased to himself in
a mIrniur. She had the grace to
flush.
What am doing is my own af-
fair" she said with acerbity.
| Certainly" Michael agreed po-
htely. !"
IF I choose to come out for a
quiet walk in the woods by myself,
see no reason why / should be ac-
cused Of -. Of anything under
handed" -
"Of course not, Miss Lissey." His
eyes, perhaps unconsciously,
strayed to the handle of the read
ing glass which protruded from the
pocket OF her Jacket. She put her
hand over it hastily, and turned
defiantly away from him.
Michael gazed out across the
river. 'It's rather beautiful view,
isn't titaa he inquired courteously.
Across the river the low hills
rose smoothly, crested with dark
pines and groves of poplars. Far to
the right the smoke Of the city rose
slowly into the summer air: on the
| hills straight across were innumer-
able white sheep dotting the green
grass. One white curl Of smoke rose
hazily from the chimney of the old
stone. house on the promontory,
set in deep grove of dark green:
the only other sign of human habi-
tation was the low compact group
of farm buildings on the hills at the
left.
Miss Lissey snorted.
Michael turned to her suddenly.
did you send that letter." he
asked.
What letter."
"The one about the diamonds?"
"Diamonds?"
Michael did not elucidate. He re-
garded the sheep gloomily.
II don't know what you are talk
ing about" she broke out at him.
'Inever in all my life met such an
Objectionable. young man. Dia-
monds, indeedl Why should write
letter about diamonds? To
whom? What diamonds?"
Iady'S Maid
"DROFESSOR Murchison's dia-
L monds," Michael said gently,
and looked at Ter.
There was not trace of confu-
sion on her face. II didn't know
he had any," she said.
His wife's, them"
His wife's? She hasn't got any
diamonds. that little upstartl
Where would a lady's maid get
diamonds? Diamonds. indeed!"
Michael raised his brows.
"Lady's maid? Oh come now. Miss
Lisseyl'
She pressed her lips together.
| you're clever. aren't you? Very
clever" Her eyes went over him
swiftly. over his thick black hair.
his keen gray eyes. his firm mouth;
over his broad shoulders and his
slim height. She sighed. every
clever, Michael Forester" she
said a little YEARLY.
There were thousand wrin-
kles under her eyes and around her
mouth. Michael was suddenly sor-
ry for her.
"Supposing you tell me all about
it, Miss Lisse,," he said gently.
This isn't a woman's business.
Tell me what you know. and then
| b. 60 away and take a holiday.
Forget it."
She turned or him angrily again.
II am not going" she said.
There was 2 certain astonish-
ment in his glance. at her fierce
ness.
"You needn't pretend you don't
understand me. You used to fool
me with that mSaly-moIthed look
when you didn't know your Latin.
| am not going. am going to stay
right here and see it through. AL
though !" she softened surpris-
ingly. "T'm glad you came. You and
those two other children :. ] was
afraid"
Afraid Of what?"
ooh. :. ah aid somebody might
| get away with something"
| "And you don't think that will
happen now?"
mo"
Michael made a last appeal to
contradictory fem ininity. Miss
Lissey," he said hopefully, ssdon't
| you think we'd better join forces7
| That you'd better tell me what
you known"
She shook her head. 81 can't"
s : said unhappily. 81 daren't It's
all RICH. Z you ind i 1ao out fo o.
him sharply. Jared Devoe," she
said. what did he want Of you
this morning?"
Nothing"
She compressed her lips. Every
we'll" she said. 'That's only fair
| She pulled the bramble of her
dress. and started back toward the
path, walking very quickly. Mi
chaei followed in silence. She did
not speak to him until they were
almost at his gate. Then she turned
suddenly. as If she had made her
mind up, and said, what do you
think Of Duncan Murchison?"
He seems to be avery nice boy"
Yes. He does. Well -" she
| turned of toward her own house,
and then came back. There's one
thinr will tel you. II YOU happen