The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-12-22

1
thing that was said.
It was a relief, after all the
wondering, to look at Mrs. Me-
Balm. Dressed all in white she was
the most beautiful thing, Tuck de-
cided, that she had ever seen. She
didn't look like a Greek statue
as much as like one of Rossetti's
painted women; her lids over the
violet eyes were like the petals
of heaVywhite carnellias. Her hus-
band knew her beauty; often and
often Tuck saw his eyes 60 to her,
as she sat with consurtifnate poise
and turned Devoe's compliments
off as lightly as if they had been
made of nothing more solid than
fog.
Tuck could not refrain from
mentioning that loveliness to Mrs.
Deane, who was at the moment
! beside her. isn't Mrs. McBain
| perfectly beautiful" she asked.
who was she before she was mar
ried?"
Il don't know, I'm sure, except
that her people were very
wealthy. It was a love match, as
you can see, and McBain was still
at Medical school and had no
money at all. He was an orphan
or something out of home. It's
remarkable how he's gotten along
without any help, and they're so
happy together" H.
Tuck was glad someone was
happy. Nearly everyone else in
the sunny garden was carrying,
it seemed, heavy secret burden.
Il Know Who
ONLY a few moments after the
" DEVICES, who were the last to
leave, had gone, the telephone
rang. Michael lifted it from the
desk and answered.
Hello"
He shook the phone. Hello!
Oh D.. yes, it's Michael Forester"
He listened, said, eyes, we will.
Right away" and set it down.
cts Alix Lissey." He turned to
the two girls. "She wants us to
come over. Right away. Her voice
sounded queer"
II wonder if she's sick?" Tuck
said. "She looked so tired when
she went home. asked her if her
head ached, and she said no."
"She didn't say she was SICK"
he replied as they. went out the
gate. "She just said she wanted
to see us Immediately. | rather
think she wants to talk"
Doesn't she always?" Bunny
asked dryly.
Miss Lissey's door was open,
and her voice called "Come in,"
from an inner room. Michael
closed the door carefully behind
him, just as she appeared in the
archway to the right, She still
wore the hat she had worn all
afternoon, and she still claSped
in her hand the chiffon handker-
chief she had carried. 1t was
twisted into string. There was a
high spot of color on each cheek,
and her manner was strange. ex-
cited.
"Come in,'' she said, and turned
| to precede them into her living
room. "Sit down."
She would not sit down herself,
but paced the floor restlessly. tive
come to the conclusion it's time
to talk" she said after moment.
Don't know what's come over
me. That creepy feeling at the tea
you felt it?" She looked directly
at Tuck.
Il don't know what you mean.
Miss Lissey."
Don't beat around the bush.
You know they were all hating
each other-watching each other
like cats and mice. Cats and mice!
That's it."
What do you mean. exactly?"
Michael asked.
all tell you what mean. You
know ;, ;" she stopped in front Of
him. "You know Murchison is
dead?"
Michael hesitated.
"This is no time for hesitation.
I want to get this thing straight.
It's driving me crazy!"
Il think he is" Michael said
quietly. !. .
know he was murdered And /
know ;" she sank YEARLY into
the chair behind her. 81 know
who murdered him." she finished
tensely.
"What"
She paid no attention to his ex-
clamation. The handkerchief in
her hand was still. Her eyes were
fixed on some distant and terrible
remembrance.
Listen" she said more quietly;
Il want to tell you all about it.
Then you can do as you please. /
can't do anything can't tell the
police. These people-they have
been my friends. It's a terrible
position. It's-it's unnerving."
Bunny suddenly got up. walked
across the floor. and put her hand
on the older woman's shoulder.
eve can understand that" she
said softly. at has been hard for
you."
The woman leaned back. and
looked up into Bunny's face. 81
saw him look at you this after
noon," she said. "You won't be SO
kindly to me when I've told you
what I've got to tell"
Bunny's hand dropped. There
was a look of horror on her face.
'Sit down." Miss Lissey said
again. "Tll begin at the begin
ming" She drew a deep breath. eft
was on the night school closed"
she said.
Continued tomorrow