The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-12-09
Chapter 10
Just Pebbles

Just Pebbles
MICHAEL had put the box on
" the desk, and they had all four
regarded it with breathless inter-
est, manifested in four various
ways. The District Attorney pulled
furiously at his pipe. Michael
pulled at his ear abstractedly. Bum
ny frowned to herself, and Tuck
pushed the hair behind her left ear,
and wriggled ecstatically.
"A can opener?" she suggested
after a brief silence.
"a hammer and chisel," Michael
decided, and dashed to the base
ment, to return in a moment with
the tools. He inserted the edge of
the chisel at the juncture of the
hasp with the box; and several
sharp blows broke the hasp free.
He laid down the tools and put his
hand out toward the box.
Tuck held her breath.
He lifted the lid. There was an
other moment of breathlessness,
and then four audible exhalations,
We'll, I'll be damned" said Mi
chael Imply. For here was no
flashing, sparkling mass Of gems
but only thin sheaf of papers
stuffed hastily, It seemed, into the
box. He lifted them out, and laid
them on the table, with only q
hasty glance to see that they were
covered with writing. Below them
covering the bottom of the box,
was solid layer of small, round
pellets of paper.
They're it's. TUCK NUT
tered to herself.
Michael lifted one out. He I'M
folded the paper slowly, carefully
with the thing lying in the palm OF
his hand. He laughed. He held il
out for them to see.
It was nothing more than a
small, round, common black peb-
BILE.
well, I'll be ." he began.
you said that before" Tuck
reminded him crisply. "Open the
rest quick, Michael! There were
only twelve diamonds anyway
and there are dozens of those par
GELS"
Michael obeyed. He pushed the
box to one side, and laid the pellets
one by one on the desk, unfolding
the paper carefully.
II don't think E. . it seems as il
.. he breathed as he opened
them.
at isn't" Bunny said disappoint-
edly, as he came to the end. There
was nothing remotely resembling
diamond lying there before them,
only thirty round black pebbles on
their opened wrappings of scraps
of paper. The District Attorney
picked one up, and scratched il
thoughtfully with his thumb-nail
Michael caught his meaning, and
did il to several.
Rocks" he said finally. "We've
been bunked, ladies and gentle
men,"
'Bunked?" Tuck repeated, wide
eyed.
The District Attorney had lifted
the papers from the desk, and was
reading them. He made no com
ments. His face grew more and
more furrowed. He laid down his
pipe. He read every paper before
he looked up to find them regard.
ing him intently. There was a rec
spot in each of his cheeks.
"Well?" Michael asked.
There was an expression Of the
utmost disgust on John Forrester's
face. There's something for you tc
work on, Michael" he told his son
eth not be fit for ladies' ears"
Love Letters
TUCK seized the papers from the
l. desk where he had dropped
them. "Come on, Bunny" she said
+, this seems to have its poSsibili.
ties
ftl'rMy dear GIRL" her father-in.
law said helplessly. "There's-it':
indecent" l51.
"Pifie, Father Forester" she
said absorbedly. Nothing can hurt
meP
Michael twisted his mouth dowr
ct his father, and went unashamed
ly 10 read over her shoulder.
They were letters. AS Michae
put it later, they were warm
friendly, affectionate letters, seem
ingly from a lady to a gentleman
Beloved" the first one began
and went on, beloved, / shall bt
waiting for you tonight as ever
Come the moment you can ge
away. Life is so short that we mus
not waste one precious moment o.
these wonderful hours together
Nothing matters to me now but the
hours we spend in each other:
arms"
Dear, dear" Michael com
mented. II don't suppose the lady
ever missed great many meals Of
she wouldn't talk like that"
Michael" Tuck said severely
your speech denotes a terrible
cynicism."
Never mind, you two" Bunny
said quickly, read the next one
Tuck" s
Tuck turned the page. 'It SOUNDS
Just like the last one" she muir
INJURED disappointedly.
What do you expect, my dar
ling?" Michael said lightly. ''Mov
les? There isn't so much variety Il
the real thing, I assure you"