The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-05-16
iChapter "a
The Last Billings

Inc Last DlllInSS
"uE COULD have changed EN-"
Ii Hamilton voiced Asey's own
thoughts h..
Them, bat lie couldn't have
changed his whole outfit. Ham.
Look at them pants" Asey said:
"Cuffs all clean. An his shirt. An
collar. An tie. An then look at me.
Hamilton. wonder if | amt been
pretty much of a plumb out an out
fool"
J. Arthur coughed. The cough
said. palmer than words could
have. that Asey had stated the case
with admirable eXactitude and
clarity.
"Brinley," Asey said in a sub
dued voice, What was you doing
up there? What's your story?"
why, after got home" Brinley
said. "Walter Rutledge called and
told me that Win Billings had run
of, and would help hunt for him.
I'd got my clothes off, and didn't
want to much. but felt that
ought to. and Bessie was busy
around the house-she hasn't had
a speck of time to get things done,
of course-and she said. why not
help for little while. She thought
it was my place to. So | changed
my mind and told Walter Id
come"
"Those your usual clothes for
huntin' people on wet night?"
Asey asked.
Bessie had put out my clean
things for tomorrow" BrInley
said, land never realized 1t until
/ got over TO Waits. later Walt
said that Win had probably made
for the woods somewhere, and /
thought of the icehouse- they say
Vim lived there one winter 50
came up here. know. the way
pretty well. because of taking
Amos up so often. and | thought
I'd just look here and then go. and
I wouldn't get dirty AS matter
of fact" he added in a burst OF
honesty, 81 didn't think Win could
have got this far from town, and
didn't go all the way TO the ice
house at all. These are my last
clean pants, and the cleaners man
doesn't come till day after tomor-
row"
Huh" ASey said. IAN there are
lots of others out huntin' Win
Billin'S. too?"
"Oh. yes. Weston and jeff Leach
that's why thought Id better
90, if they were taking the trou-
Bile. There were a dozen or so 9TH
ers. jeff and Yves had town map.
and were marking off spots where
Win might be. and everyone had
spot to go to"
Didn't you take any kind of
tight with your"
81 had a flash, but lost it in the
woods" Brinley said
"Who was you with durin the
fireworks tonight?"
~"Sara, and Jane. and jeff. and
Bessie" Brinley said. land lot
Of others. The fireworks weren't
very good tonight. The dampneSs,
! guess. There's no fog uptown
now, and the radio says fair to-
morrow, and do hope it clears off
for the tag day"
"When | stopped you an held
you up" Asey said, why didn't
you tell me this?" Asey knew he
was being unreasonable, but now
that he knew for sure he had let
his man slip through his fingers,
he couldn't help being and sound
ing irritated.
You Got Him
II TRIED to-" J. Arthur said, but
~ i well, was afraid. I've never
liked firearms, and there you were,
poking me in the stomach with
that gum"
"Brinley," Asey said. have you
the keys to your car? Give 'em
to Ham i know. you don't like
strangers drivin' your auto, but do
you want to walk back to the car?
I thought not. Hamilton, get his
car. Well drive him back to the
hollow. An drive me, too. ! don't
suppose l was ever so weary in all
my born days"
He felt very old and tired as he
got out of the car at the Randall
house.
Lane ran up 10 him.
"By George. Asey-you got him!
How you did it. | don't know or
care. but"
81 didn't" Asey said. "Brinley
was just on a hunt"
'Who said anything about Brin-
ley? Come into the house and take
a look-we found him. One of your
shots got him in the shoulder Not
much. but enough to stop him. APP
parently. He was down by the
pond. Come onl And how you
could ever hit him on night like
this. with this fog. don't knowl
Man. you're wonderful"
LANE, are, you crazy?" Asey
demanded.
"Oh. come on! He even had