The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-12-30
Chapter 35
Oath Of Secrecy

Chapter IS
Oath Of Secrecy
GORDON thought it over. q
" don't know much" he said
81 used to kind of think l did.
used to watch that Lissey OLD
maid shopping around, and
thought maybe she did it, but she
didn't. guess. I've dug about halt
the woods up looking fo1 Murchi-
sons grave. but / can't find it."
Don't you think he might have
been thrown in the river?"
They'd have found him down
stream, wouldn't they?"
UNLESS a stone. properly tied
to the body -" Michael suggest
ed.
He'd have to row him out in
the river then, to drop. -" Gordon
stared at him. my boat!" he said.
II knew the same guy had it,"
your boat was stolen a year
ago, thought you said. Gordon?"
eyes. That's right. But 80"
But what?"
"Oh, nothing. Only there's
somebody on this river got boat.
I've heard the oars at night when
I been here"
"Oars at night, eh?" Michael
considered. Lately? Since we
came here?"
ooh, off and on all the time. |
don't come here every night. /
have to wait until nom thinks I'm
asleep, and I know they are, and
then | come down here and read"
Michael glanced at the pack of
cards on the bench. "And Higgins
comes too, eh, and you play
cards?"
"Pinochle. He's awful dumb,
though"
Eyes. But didn't he swipe a key
to the study door for your"
Gordon swallowed miserably.
Thanks" said Michael. II had
an idea that's where you got it.
Now about those oars. Is the boat
out in mid-stream or close in?"
Pretty close in. What gets me
is that it always sounds like it's
coming in to shore, and / listen,
and the oars stop like it's been
beached. and | been up and down
every inch of this bank for miles
and there's no place where
boats landed. / go out every
morning after hear it, but | can't
find it. So | guess it doesn't land
here"
Its upstream from you, then?
Sure it isn't down toward the golf
cluo?"
Sure. Anyways, there's no land
ing places downstream either, till
you get clear on the other side of
town. The banks too steep"
well, / don't suppose it con-
Germs US" Michael looked at the
lad keenly. The blue eyes were
steady. the chin firm. Sense there.
Michael decided.
How'd you like to take on the
job of helping me solve this mys-
terry. Gordon?" he asked.
Gordon gaSpad. Help you? !
thought you was going to arrest
me- for butting in!'
"Of course | ought to-" Michael
said gravely. But / don't think
! will You see. need you. / need
somebody to do two or three things
for me. that nobody will notice.
And l need somebody to dog
around and ferret out a few things
where | mustn't be seen. You're
a sharp kid. If you're game to help
me. I'll give YOU the oath of Sc
c:ccy and swear you in, and we're
away"
COrdon's eyes were shining.
"You bet your boots I'll help"
he said enthusiastically. II hate
that guy anyway with his buggy
brown eyes, and his ="
Michael held up a warning.
hand. "Shush, Gordon. No guess
ing allowed. No names mentioned
until you can prove it. Now, spit
on your right hand, and put it over
your heart. and repeat after me.
i swear. SO helpme Pete, never to
divulge anything l know except
to my chief. and ! swear to act
like a fourteen ear-old kid with
no brains as nearly as possible and
never to hint that / am special
deputy. | swear moreover to obey
orders without question:
THE last is the most impor-
tant." Michael told him, when the
oath was taken. Now we start.
The first thing I want to discuss,
Gordon. is the Creeping Man."
Two Bullets
THE inquest on the death of Alix
i LisSey had been called for
Wednesday. On Tuesday after
noon, Michael. coming from the
University Post Office by the
woodland path, was shot.
Shot at, rather. The first bullet
went past his chin by bare frac-
ton of an inch, and buried itself.
as he discovered by a careful
search later, in a birch tree be-
Yond him. The second clipped his
coat collar. There were no more
because he dropped down in