The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-07-08
Chapter so
Fred Jones

NnapteI oU
Fred Jones
IKOCELYN led the two men
~ through the side entrance and
ND the stairway 10 the back OF the
house into the room which had
been Bob's. When the driver had
deposited two cheap new suit
cases and eft the little man
turned to her.
~Th pay two weeks IN advance, !"
he stated, again opening his wal
let. How much2"
Fifty dollars week"
He handed her five twenty
dollar bills, then removed his
can. His mouse colored hair was
clipped so short his scalp CLEANED
through it. She noticed how gray
and thin and paliid was his face.
Afy name Is Fred Jones', he
said. I've been sick. In the hospir
tal Tor month8 Up near Frisco.
They thought I'd never get better,
but / fooled them. Now ] got to
get well and when saw your ad
IN the Frisco paper figured this
was Just the right spot. ] went be
no trouble 70 you, Miss. You won't
hardly know Pm here"
~Thaf's quite all right" She
managed what she imagined to be
q brisk blzsipesslike smile. Just
ask for anything you want. The
beach Is only . few yards away;
the stables are right back OF the
house; the swimming pool is at the
side where you came in. Would
you like to have lunch down
stairs?"
Turning his back to her he
stared out the windows. Can 4
get Il up here2 I'm pretty wore
out. Miss. gotta get some sleep
Taking this last remark as her
cue for departure she hurried 10
her own room and locked the
money in her jewel case. One hun-
bred dollars! She Rugged herself
gleefully, Shed show Tally how
helpless she was. Now. II someone
else would come this afternoon !.
Yet after her jubilation died
down she began wondering about
her queer little guest. Disturbing
suspicious darted into her brain.
That gray pallor; that clipped
head: those dropping. close-set
eyes. Hospital, maybe: prison,
more likely II he had come out of
prison was he dangerous? Should
she let him stay without demand
ing refeEepees2 Still, hotels didn't
ask references as far as she knew
Besides, she had accepted his
money. Probably he had beer sick
IN some sanitarium. Anyhow. she
needed that hundred dollars badly
Too. after what had happened this
morning, she had to show Nola
and Tally that she sould make 81
90 Of this place without their help,
so she deliberately thrus doubt
and suspicion from her mind and
went down TO the kitchen to SUPER
wise the luncheon.
That night at dinner Jocelyn
had TO Introduce Fred Jones to
Nola and Thorndyke. Thorn, OBJ
serving the mans Hashy clothes
and poor grammar. retired into
aloofness. Meeting JoceiYns
glance he trowned in tacit disap-.
prevail. She eyed him defiantly
and maintained careful cordial
ity toward Jones.
This was the FIRST time today she
had seen Nola. She felt certain
that Tally had repeated the COM
versation of the morning to her,
for she spoke little and was not
as all friendly. He sU0uld tell her,
Jocelyn thought rebelliously. Mo-
ia probably considered he. stub
born little fool. Well, let them
think whatever they pleased.
White And Obscuring
FER dinner Jones announced
a his intention of going for q
walk: Thorn said he was going in
20 town; and Nola departed for
the Macks. She, had beer over
there all afternoon. Lyn reflected
resentfully. AT least Jones pres
ence at dinner had prevented
Thorn from repeating his fatuous
overtures If the night b efore
he appeared resigned tonight,
though. He had not even looked at
Nola.
As the lone hours cf The evening
stretched toward twelve Jocelyn
knew depressing loneliness. This
aide q the house Has SO otlief. Sc
sort of lIfelezs. This mas the SORT Of
night that ghosts might walk, Il
one believed II such 4 thing. Fog
White and ohscLrinN. cut OF the
sky and the ocean; Wavared salty
and damp. through the screens
o1 the windows 70 permeate the
rooms with its cloudy fingers.
Sandy, curling &C her feet beside
the fireplace In the great drawing
room, moved and groaned In his
eieep. JoceIyn tried to concentrate
on her book.
The slow tread Of feet across the
stone veranda outside startled heI
until abe remembered Mr.. Jones
who had gone walking. Why, be
must have walked miles during
this time. Adjusting her book, she
pretended absorption IN its pages
f0htinq Of 3 vague fear o. being
alone with this strange little man
He came through the room and
went on up the Stairway without
speaking, evidently not seeing her
Yet more startling than his eerig