The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-04-15
Chapter Eight
Going Into A HuddIe :

Chapter Eight
GOING. Into A HuddIe =
WHERE are the rest?" Jane had
w passed the stage of fippant
desperation, and was now resigned
and nearly normal except for the
redness of her eyes.
"What rest?"
"oh,- police and all. Coroners
and reporters and things like
that" az
DOCS medical examiner for this
part of the world" Asey said.
yves is the. town, an the law, an
Pm actin head of the police here.
Lanes the'state outfit. Don't need
more, unless you want it to be
fancy. Lanes a detective. He's
done what you might call the
needful. Say, when is Eloise due?"
"She- should have been home
long ago." Jane said. 'It's awfully
late for her. You don't suppose
but then nothing could happen to
her. Shes with Prettymsn,""
"Shes stuck on thetYe rrfs
Wheel We ton said dismally,
speaking for the first ting in TWEEN
ty minutes. TOP seat, with Ter
titus. Ne ladders to reach, and she
said she wouldn't crawl down one
anyway. Neither would Mrs. Cum
mings. She's just below, with Bes-
sic Brinley. The rest were all kids,
and they managed TO Wriggle
down somehow. Oh, ] knew some
thing would fappeni I knew, il
was bound to. knew it would"
"What would happen" Jane in
terrupted, eff we didn't let anyone
else known"
why, we've got tol" Weston
said. Haven't we, Asey? How
could we keep it quiet? We can't.
YOU'RE the town." Jane said,
sand you know. Your police chief
knows. The state cops and the cor
oner, or whatever you call him,
they all know. And Zeb and I.
Eloise'Q have to, but why any
more? Why can't we keep it a Sc
cret until after the week is over?
It's all so horrible, and letting peo-
pie know will be even more hor-
rible-" ~ - Il. B,
"we- can't" w els t o NJ said.
There's the funeral, and the uni
dertaksr, and that smashed. win
dow, and the messtof tbgt irOops
All sorts of things. How'd you a
plain about Mrs. RandalPS not be-
ing around? How could-oh, it's
just impossible. 1t cant be done"
wait now" Jane said. 81 hear
the beach wagon coming up. the
drive. Eloise-she probably took
Prettynan home. thought heard
it going past few minutes ago"
Asey watched the d01r expec-
family. This EloiSe had been men,
toned any number of times, but
people had SHE'D away from per-
sonal description. Usually that
meant someone was crippled. or
disigufed. Perhaps she had a wart
on her nose, or was minus an eye.
He didn't even know if she were in
her twenties, like Jane, or if she
were iff her forties.
Forties. He almost said it out
loud as she entered. Middle forties,
stoutisff. reddish brown hair be-
ginning. to show streaks of grey.
Nothing the matter with her that
he could see; she had the proper
number of eyes and ears and arms
and legs.
She looked from one to another
in the group.
Why. janet l didn't know that
you planned mean, / didn't hear
you say anything about a partyl
I'm sure Tertius and would have
preferred-So very distressing, up
on that wheel. You know I'm al
ways glad to help. Always. Sand
wichess or even cake. Pm sure
there'sno necessity for Jpur max
ing any secret of your parties, my
dear-tch, tchl" she clueked, her
tongue rAnd that coffee Pot, tight
on thesfug!"
Loose Association
CHE pat her hat on the table, and
- somehow managed to knock of
two books, an ash tray and lamp
in the process.
TnEx' en-" Zeb said. He was
watching Asey out of the corner
of his eye.
Very nice of you, Pm sure
won't he rest of you gentlemen sit
oh, Mr.. Mayhem. I'm so glad
you'r9here-I think it's only fair
to tell You that the ferris wheel
really, the things those men who
ownedH said! So very unsafe-oh,
why, Br. Cummings! Your wife is
so very distressed! She couldn't
find you"
She'll survive Cummings said
brusquely. "Asey, you tell her
no. onsSecond thought, will. The
ret OF you 60 into the kitchenaoF
somewhere" III
Aseysdrew Zeb out into the haIl.
what"
Thefdoctors," Zeb said, call il
loose association, If you mean
EloiseyTell me, is there any chance
Of keeping this reasonably quiet
Gov q ,x1h;1a9D