The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-01-07


eyes on that small. quiet form.
She looked up at last. MUIR
INJURED. her lips barely moving.
She's coming around"
Barney lurched to his feet
caught at the table for support,
and the yellow light went out.
Someone squealed family.
Barney said quickly. tits all
right must have yanked out the
plug. I'll get it"
In the half-light of early dawn
shapes were beginning to form.
Barney was on his knees. fumbling
behind the liable. Then a small
dark figure GU: across my field Of
vision, making for the bed.
Annie was no longer beside me.
| heard a grunt as | caromed
into someone. then 1 was behind
that small black figure, my arms
around her, pinioning hers to her
sides with all the strength | had.
She fought. For a woman of her
age and slight build she was a
wildcat.
mo you cont! No YOU don't!"
she kept gasping.
! heard a match scratch and
called. Light. Quickly!"
Someone plunged past me, half
fell over Barney's kneeling form.
"Switch-by the door!" Adam
called brea hlesoly. IS try,
Barney. did | step on your hand?"
'You!
COMEONE ha found the switch.
- Overhead lights flooded the
room and it seemed full of people.
Suddenly Annie twisted around
in my arms. looked dt me. surprise
mingled with malign fury on her
flushed face.
"You!" she -al furiousiy. "Why.
you black-he 'rted-"
81 think--it was the medicine.
Or the glass "a water" | painted.
81 think It was" cried Annie
tiercely. twItchlng herself free of
my relaxed grip and glazing at us
all. But she never got t. the bot
ties and held me hand over the
glass no matter how hard she
struggled"
Trap or no trap, Adam or no
Adam. Doc Moore's professional
ire was reused.
do you want to kill the girl?"
he demanded wrathfully.
There was not one among us
who did not look abashe :.
Outside in he car. Adam patted
my Shout 'er.
Good girl" he said quietly.
But it was so inconcluSive," /
said, discouraged. There's MOTH
ing to prove that | wasn't the one
who was trying to get at Anne or
to drop something in her drinking
glass"
''As matter o. fact. | doubt il
they'll find anything in the drink
ing water" III
Cars were turning, moving un-
certainly away. dark shapes, in the
dim light. The sky was overcast,
there was 40 color to herald the
Invisible sun.
where .next?" l asked as we
drovesoff slowly.
Charles car was UP ahead, trav-
cling as purpoSelesSly as ours.
~ don't know" Adam was be-
ginning when we both heard 'it-a
faint. steady drohe like giant,
angry fly, that grew and sWelled
and zoomed above. us. e..
Adam stuck his head oul of the
car window, craning his long neck.
"The Old Mani" he cried. Must
have taken off in the dark"
And in place. the deSpondency
that had expected to see or his
face. when he pulled in his head
and stepped on the gas, he was
visibly excited-almost. thought.
iubilant.
The others had seen il too-that
circling dark shape against the
Steel-gray sky. Charles car
picked up speed. Behind us fol-
lowed the other two.
Adam drew up beSide Charlie
behind long To- shed, and almost
at once Elizabeth pulled into line.
Annie and Lou Orpington still
with her. The Flowers. in their
car. brought up the RESI-.
| wasn't even surprised. as we
tumoled out and stood watching
the low-circling plane. to see Mary
and Tubby Shaw come around the
corner on two wheels. BY now /
was used to their united front.
their herding instinct, the way
they chung together, Jealous of :,
being left out-a large family in '
which each member wanted to be
sure his version of any dispute
would be properly presented to the
head of the clan.
stood alone, feeling rather for
lorn. watching Adam and Barney
and Charlie stroll out across the
level field-three tall. fair men.
Adam. bareheaded. still in his
white dress uniform that was be-
ginning to IooK little muSSeo.
was even at this distance a more
distinct, more personalized in
dividual.
saw him stoop and pick some
thing up from the turf at his feet,
then the big black shadow sUooped
down out of the sky and scattered
them.
For a fieeting instant Adam
turned and caught my eye, and
there was exultance in the flashed
message. ] ran to him and slipped
my arm through his. feeling sud-
denly frightened and terribly
alone.