The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-08-21
Chapter Four
Felicia's Shopping

Felicia's Shopping
"uE WAS just leaving Field
II stone Inn," continued the
Colonel, where he had dinner
when he saw a man walking
along the road and stopped to
ask him how far it was to Fort
Michigan. The man said ten miles,
and that ne was going there him.
self, so Henry told him to get in.
Unfortunately he didn't get a
good look at the fellows face
he had on soft hat pulled down
over his eyes and he didn't have
much to say. Henry described
him as a small man, short and
rather slender. They had covered
about nine miles when he pulled
a gun and, few minutes later,
directed Henry to turn onto the
dirt road back of the post"
''They ought to be able to trace
the car" Gerald said refiectively.
"Oh, they've found that. l had
word just before noon-it was
abandoned about twenty miles
from here, between here and
Chicago. It had been well driven,
too-you see, the Car was bought
new in Chicago yesterday and
driven directly here, so the troop
ers knew just what the mileage
reading should be, and il was
almost exactly twenty miles short
Of. three times what it should
have been, if you follow me. In
other words, the car could have
been driven to Chicago from
here, then back to the place
where it was abandoned"
Felicia looked thoughtful.
"Any clues in the carr"
"None. The luggage was gone
it was empty as when ne
bought it; and there wasn't a
fngerprint in the car, not even
Henry's. II must have been gone
over carefully and wiped clean
by the thief. Probably used it to
pull some very unsavory job in
Chicago last night" The colonel's
face darkened. eff it's one Of my
men I'll get him if it takes until
Christmas"
Gerald leaned forward and
looked at the older man in some
surprise.
What makes you think it's one
OF your men, sir? Surely that
doesn't follow"
"Only because this incident so
closely resembles one that pre-
ceeded it, one which we have good
reason to believe involved some
one on the post"
He went on to tell them Of the
affair of the taXicab, which had
heard from Adam that morning.
The presence of that regi-
mental insignia in the cab is
rather good proof" he concluded.
pleasant thought" observed
Felicia brightly. "a gangster
right on the post with US. INNER
man, that's the second dessert
you've brought Miss Cornish; and
with all Difference to her taste
and her figure, l can't believe she
wants two helpings Of bread pud-
ing"
81 wondered if ! was seeing
things" l murmured as INNER
mans agitated hand removed the
second dessert.
But Gerald was still pursuing
the subject.
"And you say, sir. that the taxi
driver was alSo-er, Invested of
his clothing? What a beastly
criminal You'd think one might
be left a garment or so. what?
| mean TO Say-at least his boots.
Man is so helpless in bare feet"
Probably the idea exactly"
said Adam. Wonder they weren't
put permanently out of the way"
That's so, too. Can't have been
very desperate, Ell? Just in a
hurry" Gerald Beaufort paused,
a serious CLEAN in the gray eyes.
81 say, sir, did they get away with
all the poor chaplain's belongings
uniforms and all?"
Everything. He was in civilian
clothes. but he had a small trunk
full of his uniforms and accouter-
mentS in the back Of the car.
Even a full outfit of the new
blues-darned expensive, ! can
tell you. And Of course they can't
be sold for a fraction OF their cost
pure vandalism"
The fringed gray eyes were
dreamy.
Too Attractive
MUST ask when can see him.
WI Bit of business, what?
Boots, belts. Must see what I can
do for him."
Mrs. Brideweu pushed back her
chair.
"Bit Of business for me, too"
she remarked tartly, giving the
Englishman a whitening glance
Of which he seemed happily un-
conscious. "Tm a good shopper
il do say it, and he sounds help
less"
She rose, put down her napkin.
Boots and belts, indeed" she
said scornfully. what he needs
is shirts and shorts. and I'm the
one to see that he gets them with
what money he has left"
Five minutes later, having Of
fciated with her charming smile
at Colonel remnants leave-tak-
ing, she turned her back on the
rest of us who had dropped lazilY