The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-10-23
Chapter Seven
New Arrivals

S~~~~
Of the house and several person:
alighted from it: a thin, oldisl
man, a plump, handsomely dressed
woman, a girl who was much toe
fat. They began taking SuitcaSeS
from the back of the car; dozens
Of suitcases, it seemed to the two
who looked on from the window
above.
Atkins appeared suddenly.
''Well, here we arel" said the
thinnish man. "a day earlier than
we expected, but it worked out
that way"
Atkins murmured something.
"Nonsensel Nonsense! We paid
our rent in advance, didn't we?
We agreed on the date? Well, what
else is there to understand? Help
me in with these suitcases. My
wife and daughter are tired. Wed
like TO go upstairs at once"
Buff was unconscious that she
had seized Tins arm in a wise
like grip.
Hes done it again." she whis-
pered. Hes rented the ranch
again"
He answered her thoughtfully
"Sure enough, my month is up to-
morrow. He must have dated them
al the same time he put the adver-
tisement in the Denver paper" A
rare sound broke upon the air. Tim
was chuckling. cable man, At
kinsp Shall we go down and deal
with him, Buff"
A few minutes later, Buff and
Tim CorlisS faced the foreman ac-
cusingly.
well, Atkins!" said Buff.
"Ain't much l can say" NUT
tered Atkins. "You know every
thing, don't your"
81 wonder if / dol Have you
rented the place, month by month,
throughout the winter?"
The foreman shook his head. 81
put an ad in a Denver paper. Mr..
Corliss and this man Hunt an
sWered it. Mr.. CorlisS wanted it
right away but Mr.. Hunt, he want
ed it through October. didn't see
no partikler harm in it, Miss Buff.
Honestl Just letting them stay
here. / was going to foot the bills
for supplies, of course. Mrs. Webb
was gettin' tired havin' only me to
cook for. When you stop to think
of it." he continued mournfully,
''it amt really no crime. How
could / know you'd come back
here, or Mr.. Corliss would hurt
himself and stay on after mis-
month was .up?"
Tim regarded him with cynical
amusement. "And what are your
plans now, Atkins?"
Atkins made his accuSers a pres
ent of the entire problem.
Il got my things packed and I'm
leavin' this afternoon. You kin do
what you like about the Hunts.
They don't seem to want to take no
for an answer"
Buff considered. Atkins might as
well 60, she thought. He would
have to eventually. DR.. Westland
had assured her he could get an
other man.
IAN right, Atkins" she said,
thereby surprising the man who
had expected protest. But let me.
be sure of one thing: is this the
last in your series of tenants or will
they keep on turning up here,
month after month";"
Tim struck in: "You know Miss
Carroll could prosecute you, At
kins, / suppose?"
Victims OF Fraud
Tor one second an ugly change
Il took place in the lanky fore
man. His eyes narrowed, menacing
lines bracketed his mouth.
"Mebbe she could, but she'll
have to catch up with me first!" He
turned on his heel and was gone.
Almost at once his car roared past
the house.
Let him CO." Buff said. 'Tm
glad to be rid of him. I'll call DR..
WeStland and ask him to send out
the man he recommended. Mean
while there are these people
Hunt, didn't he say their name is?
] shall have to talk to them"
The opportunity came almost at
once The husband and father
descended the stairs, glancing
about him with. an air of taking
possession of his own. Buff moved
forward to meet him.
I'm Miss Carroll, Mr.. Hunt, and
] understand that Atkins, my ia
Tiers foreman, rented you this
place for October. He had no au-
thority to do so. I shall give you
back whatever you paid him, of
course. I'm very sorry you should
have been the victim of fraud"
Mr.. Hunt smiled tolerantly. MY
dear Miss Carroll, how do know
that it was a fraud? answered an
advertisement; paid cash IN ad-
vance; acted In entire good faith.
Now you tell me Atkins had no
right to rent this ranch. Until you
can prove il we shall stay on, my
wife and daughter and /. I'm not in
the habit" ne told her impressive
~, "of being fooled"
Tim took quiet charge Of the
conversation.
you were this time, Mr.. Hunt.
So was I. rented the place for
September. I'd been here only a
few days when Miss Carroll ar
rived 10 close up the house. It's too
bad, but Mr.. Carroll is the real
loser since he's refunding the rent
that Atkins has gone off with"
Mr.. Hunt spoke three sentences,
all indicating a mental process
which moved somewhat creakily
but logically.
$50 Atkins has gone, eh? And
PERSISTENT COPS