The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-04-11

prayed this Adrianne would be
her."
was confused and she must
have noticed it, for she said, ''You
see, I'm Ada Wells mother"
murmured something inau-
dibly. There was nothing that l
could think Of to say. 1t seemed
almost incredible that this pleas
ant, home-like person could be
the mother of a girl like Adrianne
Wells.
as she all right" she asked,
eagerly. well, | mean?"
"Why, yes, of course" l man
aged that much.
She hesitated. Il read all about
it in the papers and | was so wor-
ried. | couldn't leave him-her
father-to come here yesterday.
He isn't very well. She isn't
| mean" she faltered, "the police
don't suspect her, do they? 1t
didn't sound right in the papers,"
No, Of course not" | told her
quickly. They question everyone
in the house. That's Just a formal
ity."
The woman was intensely re-
ieved, ! could tell. although she
said hastily. "Of course. | knew
she'd never do anything wrong,
but not hearing from her and not
knowing were She was living Wor-
ried me-" She took a handkerchief
out of her worn leather bag and
wiped her eyes.
You must have been upset." l
said.
Shaken
THE woman leaned forward con-
fidentjaIly She's a good girl"
she said. but she was always
headStron2 and when hel father
forbade her to go on the stage.
she quarreled with him Then she
ran away from home I've always
thought if we'd been a little more
sympathetic she d have listened to
reason. And she did write me as
soon as she got TO New York. But
you see She didn't say where she
was living / guess she was afraid
of what her father might do. !
wanted to come and find her But
he's hard man. He wouldn't let
me lift a finger. Is she Working?"
| shook my head She was. |
know" | said cautiously I'm not
sure whether she is now"
Maybe she'll come home with
me-" her mother murmured Her
fathers illness has made him
little softer. He'd be glad to have
her back now"
| heard voices in the lower hall
and then through the open door
way ! could see Adrianne Wells
coming up the stairs Her mothers
eyes lighted at the sound of her
voice IS Adrlanna called back to
Mr.. KimbaIl, and when she hur-
rled out INTO the hall | closed my
door. didn't feel in the mood for
a reunion But I'd gotten a glimpse
of the girls face, She was shaken
at seeing her mother, but there
was something deeper than that in
her eyes. She was afraid of some
thing, even is she hadn't been last
night,
1t was after twelve when Mr..
Kimball came up to tell me that
Sergeant Long had called. Mr..
Whitefieid was still in the hos
pltal but he had improved con-
sideEably and was out Of danger.
TheEe was a broken place in the
roof OF the garage where air could
N Il - ~
But Mr. Kimbal said surpris-
ingly that the artist was under
arrest What theory the Sergeant
had built around Whijeicld's at
tempted suicide. we didn't know.
When Mary Ann came IN. Mr..
Kimball invited both of US down
to the shop for lunch and | &C.
Cepted gladly and so did Mary
Ann. The knife ard Fork was
noble institution. but was be-
ginning TO wish the menu was
little more varied. Wheat cakes
and ham and eggs are swell oc-
c2s.onaliy. but for a daily diet
they are little heavy even for
a tain person.
l5hi had prepared a delicious
luncheon, but he served it with
that smile on his face that gave
me the willieS. | wondered if the
Sergeant had gotten Mary Ann to
talk and whether Mr. Klmball
knew the girl had been with Rich
ard the night Joan dieA. Mary Ann
was quiet and Mr., Kimball talked
little. SO | was glad to leave them
and get back 10 my apartment. /
wanted to be alone to worry about
Dirck, He hadn't been in the house
all morning.
It was a little after two when
the Sergeant rushed upstairs. rs
Miss Wells in?" he shouted.
Before could answer Adrianne
came out of the apartment and
closed the door behind her. Her
face was as white as a sheet.
i want 10 talk to you, young
lady"
Adrianne begged him to be
! quiet. My mother is in there"
she said, motioning to her room.
Come down to the shop, them"
the Sergeant said brusquely.
Adrianne followed him down
the stairs, and Mary Ann passed
! them on her way up.
What does he want with her?
What did she do?" she gasped to
/ me.
| shook my head. If Whitefeld
was connected with Joan1s and
Richards deaths, Adrianne would
be mixed up in them too. Shed
been with the artist that evening.