The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-08-27
.asuaI SIuqhtexs
$1,000 By VIRGINIA HANSON

- W. ~ ~ = - - - -
NSON 90 ---z=-==z-
bered Mimi Pennant, who had
gone out alone IN her car that
evening, who had not yet returned
when Julia telephoned.
Julia came stumbling back to
us then, looking wild and dishev-
eled in the strange light.
'Tt's a coupe" she cried breath
1essly. minis car is a coupe.
Adam, who is it? Tell me the
truth"
Not Mimi" he said. and added
reluctantly. ats Felicia Bride
wells car. saw the license plate
She must have missed the bridge
in the dark, though what she was
doing way out here"
"Oh no. No. you don't under
stand-Felicia's home in bed" !
told him eagerly. / felt as if
clamp had been removed from my
throat. For an instant the relief
was stupendous. Not Mimi - not
Felicia. The thief. But-the trem-
bling seized me again-nonethe-
less. whatever his misdeeds, hui
man being trapped in that blazing
/ hell
Julia was answering his quick
fire of questions, describing Fe-
licia'S arrival at the club in her
girdle. and her explanations. II
didn't sound in the least funny
now.
4 SOLDIER came up and salut-
n ed. l let go Adams arm and
stepped back, controlling myself,
while he listened to he report.
The thick underground in the
gulley was afre and there was
some danger of the flames spread
ing to the wooded slope behind
the range. Adam went off to see
about it.
1 glanced around and saw that
a small crowd Of spectators had
gathered. Officers and men. a few
women. Colonel Pennant was
there, and Jeff Tack and Gerald
| Beaufort They joined us and we
told again our story Of Felicia and
the theft Of her car. l saw Cap
tain Jones. the doctor, standing at
the edge of the gulley looking
down and shaking his head. The
ambulance was just behind the
! fire truck and two Hospital Corps
men lounged against it smoking
cigarettes.
The fire began to die at last,
leaving behind it a twisted hulk
of red and black metal and the
charred remains of what had
once been a man. Adam came to
us, looking quite gray and tired
and told US we'd better 60 home.
Were going tc try to get the
body out" he said.
Pink dawn was streaking the
sky and the lake when Julia
dropped me at the club and went
on home l undressed and stood
for a long time under the cold
shower, trying TO shock some life
back into my quivering muscles.
killed as much time as could
dressing, but the mess hall was
still closed when, all in clean
white. ard every hair painfully
+ cOaxed into place. I came on into
t-o deserted lounge. So ! paced
+ the Ve-arda smoking cigarettes
hat r1=-'a ne Eel I'd '-a.-ar until
+ I heard dishes a-1 silver c5-tter-
/ ing inside.
I The regular waiter h2d not
+ come bacz. TIE same ere Who had
/ served Us n dinner brought me
| grange iuire ard black coffee
two cups OF It. Over the last cup
l asked him what had happened
to zimmerman.
Late" he said disgustedly.
Had the afternoon and evening
off yesterday. but was supposed
to be here for breakfast. He'll
catch it." He clattered some silver
down at the head of the table.
Mrs Bridewell sick?"
told him she had a headache
and was not to be disturbed, and
he started a chatty conversation
about the fire. could see that the
story Of Felicia's. miShap had
reached the barracks after all:
but Adams entrance, looking az
stern as / had ever seen him.
dried up the fOunt of sman talk.
Where's Immerman?" he asked.
and was told of Immerman's de-
fiction. Then the waiter scurried
of TO the kitchen.
| seized the opportunity TO tell
+ him about zimmerman at the Post
Exchange, and he listened with a
peculiar. startled expression.
That's very interesting" he
said when had finished. He rose.
went out into the lounge, and
could hear him telephoning.
He came back in presently, Sat
down and sailed his grapefruit. I
made the wan gesture of passing
him the pepper, but he took Il
from me and set it down without
comment.
zimmerman did not sleep in
barracks" he said when the wait
er had taken himself off again.
! didn't quite follow his
T thought. but he said no more.
And presently, because my pa
tience would not let me wait IN
I'll he had gone through the usual
oatmeal and ham and eggs,
asked him if the body had been
identified.
I He shook his head. Small hope
of that, unless there was bridge
work and we can locate the den
tiSt."
l need not have worried about
+ the ham and eggs. He left his oat-
meal half finished. pushed back
his chair and rose.
We're going out again and sift
/ the ashes for clues as soon as the
I frame has cooled e0Orro, Yo1ISd