The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-04-22
OLD HOME WEEK MURDER
BY Phoebe Atwood Taylur


1 "what d'you keep there, ledg-
ers?"
Eyes. Mostly I've got committee
| lists and plans for this week.
| did keep'em In the safe, but lately
| I've just left them out. Everyone
/ knows 'em. They weren't irnpor-
tant, because everything in them
| has been copied and printed and
1 mirneographed. f-oh," Weston
| added lamely, Il did used to keep
imy ledger OF vital statistics there.
| Just jotted things down, and
| copied them later. We don't have
| more'n couple Of dozen births, or
| deaths or"
did you or did yeu not hike
| that ledger over to the bank and
put it in the vault?" Asey de-
manded.
81 did. I was out front this morn
| ing when they opened the bank at
eight. Well, / don't understand
this much, do yoQ2"
'tOnly that someone wanted to
peek at that ledger. Certainly they
didn't want Old Home Week plans,
with the streets knee deep mem,
so to speak. Well, well. An didn't
even get much of a look at that
fellow, either. He had on dark
clothes an felt hat, but he didn't
limp. or smell Of garlic, or have
any outstandin' features. Huh.
You was goin' to have guard here
at night, wasn't you. in the hall
here?"
Weston. shook his head. @You
know there's never been a bur-
glary in this town, unless boys
broke into summer houses, or
something. Why?"
OutIandish 0utlanders
"5TD-seem that you had a would
i be burglar here among your
guests" Asey said. Yves, don't lose
sight of the fact that you're not
just eopin' with natives here.
You've got a good many out
landers, an some ofem are goin'
to act outlandish. Wen have a
couple Of cops left here"
People will want to know
why"
"TeHem, to look after your an
tiques, an exposition, an all, an
for the benefit of anyone deSirin'
aid or assistance. Billingsgate's
gesture of safety for its guests.
Two cops constantly on call. Make
a hit, shouldn't wonder"
"Well," Weston was dubious, 81
suppose so. But how can we ex-
plain this door,"
Blame it on me. My car keys
got locked up, an I broke in. Now
grab the phone an get a lock-
smith an have him fix things up.
Got one in town, amt your Get
him, then. Weston, ] don't know
as I ever saw man litter the way
you can when once you get started!
What's the matter with your"
Matter? It's like sitting on a
powder key! You can't tell what'll
be the last straw that'n leave you
holding the bag"
Weston" Asey said, "get the
locksmith, an stop. this foolish
ness! I'm goin' over to the fire.
works. It's most time for'em."
''There!" Weston said: There's
the next thingI The fireworks!
What'n happen tonight when they
have the big display? Who'll be
shot tonight"
mo one"
'How do you know? For all you
know, someone might shoot at
you'll"
"That is exactly why" Asey
said, I'm goin' right plumb up to
the field an stand in the middle Of
the crowd, teeterin' on my toes.
Sara an JEFF, an Eloise an Jane
are goin' to stay there, an Pm
goin' to send a cop TO stay with
you. In fact, you're going to have
a guard yourself, tonight. Does
that help your blues?"
What use is guard, If some.
ones decided to kill me: Suppose
I did keep out of the way Of win
dows, and had a guard with me.
If anyone wanted to shoot deer
ball at me, all they've got 10 do a
1 ASQiG WIlGAG 4 III SAtkQl&, O1 S4CSD-
ing. and fire-right through the
walls. Suppose someone does take
to shooting through walls? Up at
Aunt SaFa's, for example7"
Wont get far thee" Asey said.
That's an old house, an built ON
the foundations OF an older one
still. There's a solid four inch
thickness Of brick between the
clapboards an the wainscoting.
Aunt Sara was tellin' me today,
an about how il costsem q youna
fortune to have the place wired
for electricity. # anyone wants to
pop at me under the circum-
stances, they have my permission.
Now, call the locksmith, an I'll
send up a trooper. Don't worry,
you'll be taken care of.
'But who was this man heres"
| Weston said. "What did he break
in fort"
'This Is q new one" Asey told
him. This isn't the first one.s
Someone else?" Weston said
"What makes you think so?"
"The first fellow stole your keys
didn't he? Or the duplicates, or
skeletons, Well, why should he
stoop to lock breakin'7 This il two
other fellows. Weston, cheer IN,
viii you? Lob. goodby. IN see
you later"