The Key West citizen., 1939-05-09
OLD HOME WEEK MURDER
BY Phoebe Atwood Taylor

"Call me Emily"
Asey felt Kay's elbow dig into
his ribs.
"Okay. Look, on Monday night
you was up to the midway with
the Brinleys. Were you there while
Mrs. Brinley was caught up on the
ferris wheel. maybe?"
"Oh, boy, was II"
where was ]. Arthur"
II don't know. I rather felt he
was a prospective Button and
Clasp Conventioner, in a small
way. so hung around with the
boys from the band. Arthur was
around, guess. He-oh, what love-
ly flowers. Mr.. Brinleyl"
j. Arthur turned down his coat
collar and mopped at his dripping
face with handkerchief.
Really. it's quite a rain" he said.
Il do hope my wife is all right at
the clambake. And the governors,
at the ball game-but Weston had
planned an alternative program in
the field house in case of rain. That
man." Asey knew instinctively that
he referred to Mike Slade. was
to put on some sort of show Tab
leaux or something. Weston has
been very efficient about things
like rain"
"Where was you." Asey asked,
"durin' the time your wife was
stuck up on the ferris wheel the
other night?"
]. Arthur turned such a deep red
that the shade was apparent even
in the dim interior of the ice house.
"Er-when? I mean. what?"
Asey repeated his question.
'Oh. Then? Why. was around,
talking to the. man and trying to
see if someone couldn't do some
thing to repair the car ensine-it
worked by car engine, somehow.
My wife was tremendously upset.
Really. this week has been very
hard on her. with that wheel and
then that man last night"
Don't care much for him, do
you?"
4 Hate Him
"CLADE? | hate himl" ]. Arthur
~ spoke with a bitter ferocity
that startled Kay and rather amaz-
ed Asey. Il hate him! And | don't
care who hears it, And my wife
says, she doesn't think that Warren
girl is bit better than he is. Turn.
ing up her nose at the town, and
making fun of everyone, and talk.
ing about how much better they do
everything in New York; What's
New York;"
He paused for a moment as
though he expected someone to tell
him.
That's what my wife says.
what's New York;"
Concrete, carbon monoxide, a
lot of noise" Kay couldn't resist
the opportunity. Sirens, dirt"
Asey shook his head and she sub
sided. -
"Brinley. 1 s'pose. IL you had to,
you could prove just where you
was Monday night, from-say the
time your wife got stuck on that
wheel to the time the fireworks
ended?"
Il don't see that it matters where
| was!" Brinley said hotly. "If you
want to find someone you think
killed Mary Randall. find Mike
Slade!"
And how" Asey asked blandly.
did you know that Mary Randall
had been killed?"
Brinley's breath sounded like
the air escaping from a child's bal
loon. 1t was weak, but gasping.
How" Asey asked again. This
is news, J. Arthur Where did YOU
pick up that tidbit?"
He reached over and caught
Brinley as the latter started to dash
for the door
"You don't really want to 60
out into the rain," Asey said, "an'
listen to that thunder! Come. ]
Arthur. stay. Stay an talk!"
Brinley's expla anati n was
dragged out, item by item. In brief.
Mary Randall was not at the hol-
low. Eloise and Jane were with
Aunt Sara, he knew Mary Randall
had no relations in New York. lei
alone sick ones, and Mary was too
shrewd business woman to leave
town during period when she
could make so much money. Slade
had spoken of a murder. Asey
was hanging around. Police were
around.
Therefore. therefore" Asey
said. Il see. Think this out last
night?"
mo. today when Governor
Skellings asked for Mary. He said.
where was she, because he collects
sandwich glass and pewter, and he
had bought things from her before,
and she said she had something for
him, and he was planning to look
at them while he was here. He
asked Weston. and by the funny
way Weston acted. it came over
me-"
Maybe that explains the Israel
Trask pewter" Asey said, "but il
don't explain you. Where were
you, durin' the time | asked you
about? An why do you prod for
dog license tags when Amos has
more than the usual collection.
right this minute?"