The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-01-03


said Adam and drove on slowly.
Almost at the end of the back
row we found him, drawn UP close
behind someone's back porch,
slumped over the wheel. With his
habitual jack-rabbit speed Adam
was out Of the car and Jerking open
the door next to the drivers seat
saw Shaw lift his head.
"Whassa matter% he mumbled.
"Time for stable call?"
The name on the steps was
chaplain Weaver" Someone had
said he was away on leave. For the
ksake of the chaplain's sensibilities
I hoped it was true. Adams
language would have panied man
of God.
Even Shaw seemed to find it I'M
called for.
well. / ran out of gas" he ex-
planned plaintivelL. $50 ! thought
I'd just rest awhile before walked
home"
No Time For Steep
yXE STOPPED at his front. door
w and Adam let him out. then.
after hurried word with Mary.
who greeted him whitefaced at the
door, he rejoined me hurriedly.
mo word from LOU" he said,
turning the car. We'll stop by her
quarters"
The brakes squealed. Our head
lights had picked out the strolling
figure of a woman, at her heels a
small, nondeScript white dog.
"Lou!" Adams voice was sharp.
accusing. What are you doing out
here alone?"
But Pm not, alone" she said
hreezily. Heres Toodles."
She had changed her Pierrette
costume for something white and
tailored, something exactly right
for a well-built, athletic woman
whose face was no longer her for
tune,
Il suppose you know Mary has
been nearly crazy. telephoning
you and not getting an answer.
You going back to Mary's?"
"Don't know why should. Fine
help she was in an emergency
wouldn't come with me to see
about Toodles. Figure I'm as well
off alone"
Adam said implacably, "You're
not staying alone. If you don't
want to stay with the ShaWS I'll
take you along to Elizabeth. We're
on our way there now"
She peered through the heavy
darkness, seemed for the first time
to see that he was not alone.
"Oh-you've still got Kay with
you," she observed brightly. She
appeared to ponder. SWELL. nigh:
do that. Elizabeth ought to have
some responsible person with her.
Just wait till put Toodles back in
the house."
She summoned the reluctant dog
and disappeared with it into the
surrounding darkness.
Sorry" said Adam, ~but cana
take the chance of 'etting her stay
here"
"She hasn't single alibi," I OBJ
served dispassionatley.
II realize that-it's one reason
why I don't dare leave her
alone. 49,.
I wondered that he meant by
that. Did he think she was the
murderer-was he afraid to give
her the opportunity for further
crimes? Or was .le rem ,mbering
Captain Flowers diffident words:
Murder often made to look like
suicide?"
And suicide could be made to
look like a confession of guilt.
"How about you,' Adam? Are
you going to get some sleep?" A
sudden memory smote me. ooh,
your poor ribs! You should have
been in bed hours ago!"
His laugh had its old, carefree
ring. Don't try to make me out a
Spartan. I'll admit that when I
lean over I'm remindet. to straight
en- up again; but I'm not suffering,
and I'm not anticipating s]eep for
the present"
He hesitated, resumed rather
grimly.
with Elizabeth's permission I
propose to stay. Sentries are all
very well when you know what to
guard against. But we're still in
the dark, and ] don't like 1t. I have
feeling 49,"
With the old-fashioned courtesy
that was so necessary part of her
Elizabeth was waiting up for us.
She greeted Lou cordially. without
surprise, and conducted her up
stairs, talking practically of sheets
and sleeping garments. and fol-
lowed by Annie, who had been
lurking grirnly in the background.
! thought Lou hung back a little,
but she was helpless in the face Of
Elizabeth's deep-rooted conven-
tionality. Lou had come to sleep;
it was long past the hour for sleep;
therefore, to bed with her.
Presently Adam joined me in
the hall. He had paused to talk to
the sentry, who was smartly pac-
ing the short stretch of sidewalk in
front of the house.
"Just as I thought" he reported
with a half-humorous grimace.
"The sentries have orders to detain
any strangers or other suspicious
acting persons.
. "How helpfull"
He shrugged. @At least they'll be
here il they're needed"
Copyright. 'sss. Vireinia HansosJ