The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-05-02
Chapter %
An Unmarried EscuicheOn

Chapter %
An Unmarried EscutcheOn
MADAME MEAUX herself was
4f1 no more fully clothed than
any of the other women, but some
how she seemed dressed for the
occasion. She wore no curriers' like
Eloise, OF cap like Sara, nor was
her hair muSsed like James. A
hairdresSer might just have fin
ished with her. Her satin negligee
was a rather too vivid shade of
orange, but it was unwrinkled and
shining.
Zone thing about my business"
she said, 1T teaches you to be
smart about emergencies. Now If
this had been a fire, Sister Brinley
would clutch the pillows in her
arms and take them carefully
downstairs, and then toss the
glassware out closed windows.
know. I've often wished that
thirty-siX weeks on the Chautau-
qua circuit was compulsory for all
women--look, GUn't you want that
note?"''f- - $50
She passed over a crumpled
piece of paper. D.. r
mail me all the money you've
get to the Weesit. Pc. General
Deliv. There's been a murder and
I'm in a spot. Mike. P. S. Don't say
anything. You'll get your money
back" Asey froWned. "The fool
no wonder - look, how'd Bessie
Brinley get hold of this? What
happened'"
"As far as can make out" Ma
dame MeauX said, "the Brinleys
moved out of their bedroom and
turned it over to me, and then they
moved to their guest room. Mike
climbed up outside and Tipped
this in the top of the window. II
hit tootS there in the face. He didn't
know about the room switching.
She blew into my room and blew
up. got her into the car and over
here to you. thought it was a job
for you t. handle. Besides, at the
rate she was going, all the town
would have been up in few more
minutes, and got the impression
that whatever was going on, you
wanted TO keep il quiet"
fThapk heaven you did," Asey
said. What mess, what a meSSi"
''You may think so" the soprano
said. "but you haven't been driven
by Bessie in a sweat, and | have,
and itzhas aged me horribly. She
wouldn't let me touch the car, be-
cause Arthur never lets strangers
drive il. The angels nearly had =
wheel, the last mile. Look, let's
stop this din, what do you say? I'll
cope with Eloise. That isn't hys-
terics now. It's temperament.
know. all about temperament"
s'Go'to it," Asey said. "Tll fix
Slade. intact, just got the where
withal out in the kitchen"
He pulled a piece of laundry
soap from his pocket and strolled
over to the still shouting Mike.
Gimme your handkerchief,
Zeb. Got one? Fine"
As Slade opened his mouth for
good DIT of oratory, Asey inserted
the soap. apd then tied the hand
kerchief so that the soap would
stay in place.
There. That's the old-fashioned
treatment fo' small boys, Slade,
an you d'serve it. How-wheeei"
Bristling With Inducements
MADAME MEAUX had crossed
WI over to the couch; she watched
Eloise dispasSionately for a mo-
ment, and then leaned over and
slapped her face. 1t was resound-
ing slap. and it made Eloise blink.
"Another peep out of you, and
you get another" Madame Meaux
announced. And then some. No
wonder you lead single life if you
act like this very often"
She returned to her arm chair
and lighted another cigarette. The
silence was electric. briStling with
undercurTents.
"WeIl, really" Mrs. Brinley said.
Il never saw anything quite so
brutal"
But how effectivel" Asey said,
-how effectiveI Kay, is that coffee?
Sara, feed your guests, an - ah,
there's the doc"
They got EloiSc upstairs.
"I'll look after her." Cummings
said. 81 don't know what's going on
down there, but it looks as though
you were needed, Asey. Why must
some women be '".e this? Her
digestion'll be all shot for a week,
and it's none too good anyway.
I've told her a thousand times
TO lay IF that medicated hay and
straw. What she stuffs into her
stomach in the guise of food would
leave anyone itching for Mysteries,
Just for sheer relief"
Asey went back to the living
room. He had a task before him
and he didn't look forward to it.
He went straight to the point,