The Key West citizen., 1939-10-11
Meet Mr.. LoelIinvur
By Marie Blizzard
Cnaprer 50
Left Foot. Right Foot

THERE were excited whisoe:
i all about them. People stopret
at tables on the way to their own
leaned DOWN, whispered. III,
dance floor was deserted, ant
through the windows Cecily sa9
the men down on their knees, ,nt
porters with ling brooms. Fine
combing the room. She prayed
they'd find that which they sought
Must be worth ten thousand
dollars. -"
cit couldn't have been stolen....'
"She said the clasp wa:
weak. :"
did you know that there's {
rumor that the reason Lady Rath'
bone left Mrs. Brewster's suddenly
was because she said a valuable
diamond pin had been stolen?
told.my husband :"
Cecily heard it all.
Stupid woman to wear a jewel
like that to a place like this,
Gloria said.
'Why?" Philip asked. Every
body knows everybody else. II
there were any suspicion that il
had been stolen, the committee
would have gone about it more
quietly. searched the guests"
THAT sounds reasonable" Jim
Penny said. why don't we sug-
gest il? Then there won't be any
question about it. The men might
submit D it without letting the
ladies in on it."
"Good ideal" Philip agreed. "It's
nasty business. I'll tell Lochran.
Suppose we go in first?"
Gloria said, Don't be silly,
Philip Mrs. Goodale herself said
the clasp was weak. It'll turn up.
II you're feeling so energetic you
might see if you can snag waiter.
] want some more coffee"
Mrs. Goodale came back, look
ing haggard under her smile. I'M
rnediately all heads turned toward
her.
She stood in the door, holding
up her hand. "It's all right, every
body. I'm sorry my carelesSneSs
spoiled the party. Please forget
that it happened. We're sure it
will tC71 up somewhere. Anyway,
It's insured. I'm afraid there isn't
going to be any more dancing be-
cause the search isn't over and Z.
So. the orchestra is moving over
10 my place and you're all inVited!"
Immediately there was a con-
certed movement as chairs were
moved back. AS she got up. Cecily
saw that 'he food on Laura's plate
was untouched.
Olivia came over to their table
~Children. it's after one. I'm going
home but you all go on to Mrs
Goodale's if you wish"
Tony said. am for going home"
$50 am |. Mother. The edge is
on the party"
They all decided to go home.
Laura leared toward Cecily and
taid in low voice. Insurance
companies don't pay large sums
withou! making extensive in
Quiries. do they?"
Cecily shook her head.
Oh. definitely not, she thought.
The time that Doug had lost his
geld cigarette case given to him on
his twenty-first birthday, the
place had been over-run with IN
vestigators. If they d. that be-
fore paying a two hundred dollar
claim. what would they do for one
as large as this one must be?
They'd send detectives. They'd
question everybody. They'd say,
Exactly who was al that party?"
They'd as if there were any sus-
picious characters seen about the
grounds. They might even tie this
up 10 the Brewster affair.
Nightmares
THEY might learn of the figure
4 on the veranda. Had anyone
else seen it? Had anyone heard
her call. ats Cecily!"
All that night she dreamed
Nightmares. Dreams in which DO
lice stood over her menacingly,
threatening her with prison. They
finger-printed her. They said,
You know all about it and we'll
make you talk" And she sid. "No!
MOI But Laura knows"
And then in horror of what she
had said. she woke up and was
unable to sleep the rest of the
nioht.
A sudden thought assailed her.
II wasn't like Laura to be secre-
tive. Then why was she? Was
Laura being blackmailedl Some
one-or some group, had gotten
poor little Laura into his clutches.
That was why she couldn't talk.
What had happened to Laura the
night she went to Locke'S cabin?
Poor girl, she had looked fright
ened and illi
Laura had said, 81 can't tell you,
Cecily i don't know any more
than you do"
Try as she would, Cecily, in
spite Of all she hac seen, couldn't
make q villain Of Locke. His eyes
kept coming between her and the
picture Of him with horns sprout-
ing from that clear forehead.
Trying to plan her course, Cecily
dropped of to sleep. When she
woke 1t was bright morning. She
felt under her pillow for her
watch and 9eered at it through
sleepy eyes. Ten o'clockl
She swung her legs out of bed
and, not stopping for her exercises,
washed and dressed hurriedly. She
wouldn't even stop for breakfast.
she felt she must be of to the
shop. to Laura.
She put on a knitted dress, ran
comb through her hair and
snatehed up the polo coat she had
worn the night before. The house