The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-12-27
Chapter 80
Andrew Talks

mistaken"
81 am afraid not" said the off,
Ger dryly. Then, turning TO Rob-
erts, What was It Andrew says
he overheard Mrs. Amber say to
Mr.. Stuart?"
Roberts tipped the pages of his
notebook, cleared his throat. mois-
tened his lips and read: Don't
you dare lay hands on me. Willie"
But it is impossible" l cried.
"And yet someone did lay hands
on Mrs Amber" l was reminded
inexorably. 1T was the natural
thing for her to say under the cir
cumstanceS. And there was no one
else known to be on the premises
whom she would have addressed
by that name"
Il don't care" I argued. Its all
wrong. Bill wouldn't do such a
thing. Mr.. DodSon, you said you
had a glimmer. Surely you know
better than this"
We must not interfere with
Lieutenant Gregory's investiga-
ton" he old me. There are still
others to be questioned, you
know. When ne has finished, We
will see what we can do"
But Andrew could so easily be
mistaken" l insisted. After all,
he admits that he was not paying
much attention. There are other
words. other names. that sound
like Willie. II was just an aSSo-
citation of ideas in his mind. Aunt
Maggie was one of the few people
who call Bill by that name. An
drew. Of course, knows this as
well as anyone, and if she said
anything sounding at all like VIII
lie he would naturally jump to the
conclusion that that was what she
meant.
you are just wasting your
breath, my dear" said Bill. 1--WE
been over it all with Lieutenant
Gregory. I've tried to convince
him that l had no reason to kill
Aunt Maggie and no desire TO. or
to kill anyone"
I'm afraid you are going to
have to try to prove that to a
jury. Mr.. Stuart" said Lieutenant
Gregory. "IAnd in view of these
new developments, Mrs. Stuart,
wouldn't you like to amend your
own story? Are you sure that you
gave a correct statement Of the
facts when you said that you saw
no one else in the passage when
you stepped out there Shortly at
ter the MURDER"
sally. you don't have to answer
that question" cautioned Mr.. Mar
shall.
But of course, l will answer
it." I said II did not see anyone"
"All this is very unnecessary"
Mr.. Marshall told Lieutenant
Gregory. Assuming that Mr..
Stuart is guilty, which I do not. /
suppose you are aware that. ac-
cording to law. wife is not COM
PEELED to testify against her hus-
band"
But I'm telling the truth"
repeated. "Mr. Dodson, you be-
lleve me, don't you?"
Eyes. Mrs. Stuart" he said sim
ply. Il do believe you"
Thank you" 1 choked. sudden
ly very near to tears. Bill
squeezed my hand hard and for a
moment 10 one spoke. The silence
was so heavy you could feel it.
Or rather you could feel all sorts
OF vibrations IN it-vibrations that
met and clashed there in that
quiet room as definitely as words
that are said or swords. that are
crossed.
Andrew Again /
I looked around the circle of in
L tent faces. Roberts fidgeting
with his notebook and so obvious
ly reSentful of what he consid-
cred special privilege. Lieutenant
Gregory. stern and hard-bitten.
unremitting in his vigilance lest
he be taken IN by too-plausible
story. Mr.. Marshall. his features
etched in line of deep distress.
his eyes full of incredulity that
two people he had known since
their childhood could have be-
come involved in such an unthink-
dOAC PAC4AN04AAC4L- Dill SL111 DAZ-
zled and impatient, but wearing
a fighting look as well. Only Cor
oner DodSon'S countenance, with
the unseeing eyes, was serene.
He said now, and his voice was
like oil poured on troubled waters.
Lieutenant, may beg an indulg-
ence? / was not present when the
butler was interviewed. Would II
delay matters too much to have
him brought in and let US 90 over
his testimony"
We waited IN hushed expec-
fancy for Lieutenant Gregory's
reply After al, il would not have
been unreasonable for him to re-
fuse. But he said finally. looking
at his wrist watch. Il have no OBJ |
lection 10 your questioning the
witness, provided you viii be |
brief" |
There were tears on Andrews |
black cheeks when he was brought /
In. and at sight Of them I al
most broke down myself. %Oh,
Miss Sally, Mr.. Bill" he cried.
so God, they could've drug
me over red-hot Goals Of fire and /
/ wouldn't We told. but they just
scared II ont Of me-"
Never mind, Andrew" I said.
And from Bill, I'VE know YOU
only told what you believed to be
the truth, but how the he'll could
VOL have fn0TTuhf i'm