The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-03-12
Chapter Eight -
Someone To Help

worse II dQGCLeQ me- anu IOr
the first time in my life l felt
completely alone and helpless.
There must be someone, thought,
that could get hold of to help
me out. Toby was about the only
person in New York | knew very
well, and of course he was oblig-
ingly getting a sunburn in Ber-
muda. Mr.. Taylor, the lawyer
who managed my fathers estate,
had just sailed for Europe. Then
suddenly I thought of Dirck Kolff.
and my heart skipped a beat. He
was Mr.. Taylor's partner and Mr..
Taylor had told me to consult him
if had any difficulty while he
was away. I'd never thought of
doing it, never dreaming in the
first place that there would be
any necessity for it; and in the
second-Well, Dirck Kolff was the
only man I'd ever known who
threw me into such a state of con-
fusion when l saw him that ]
couldn't even remember my name
and address.
had tea with him once in
Paris and it took me ten days to
recover. and a few scars were still
left. He was Hollander with an
accent that melted like honey
whenever he opened his mouth. |
hung on every word that day at
tea. mouth agape, looking. | sup
pose. like an idiot. because he
never took me out again. Mr.. Tay-
Tor said he hadn't time for girls.
but there are twenty-four hours
in a day and you can't spend all
of them working. Besides. he'd
been in Paris for five weeks and
it was supposed to be a vacation.
He just hadn't been interested.
but I thought he might come to
my rescue now. A word from him
might keep the Sergeant from
locking me up. So decided to
call him.
The house was quiet when I
left the apartment. / had no tele-
phone Of my own yet, so thought
I'd go down to the Knife and
Fork to call and try out a few
more wheat cakes at the same
time. The Sergeant, l hoped. had
drowned in his own questions.
But he was still at large. could
hear his voice when | went down
the stairs, because the shop door
was open and he was inside with
Mr. Kimball ! stopped halfway
down. not knowing whether to
90 on or beat a quick retreat.
$50 the lights were out last
night How long?" The Sergeant
was at it again.
Mr.. Kimball sounded very
tired From about a quarter to
twelve until the man from the
electric light company came.
shortly after one"
what caused it?" the Sergeant
asked
." fusA The hall lights went
out the first and second floor
and Xn Miss Howarth'S apart
mentP
"B5t not in your niece's apart
ment."
"No."
The Sergeant's voice grew
louder. That Christine HoWarth
knows a lot more than she admits.
If she doesn't speak up this
afternoon I'm going to arrest her
on suspicion"
l sat down fast. My legs failed
me again. That big bully was out
of his mind. With the whole house
full of people to suspect he had
to keep concentrating on me. 1t
was time got a lawyer. BY night
I'd probably be in Jail.
sit Tight
I CREPT back to the top Of the
i stairs as the Sergeant came out
Of the shop. The hall was dark,
so fortunately he didn't see me or
doubtless he'd have arrested me
for lettering. He looked about
quickly, then went back into the
shop and closed the door. So tip
toed down to the first floor again,
let myself out of the house as
quietly as possible. and bumped
head on into my red-headed
friend, Mr.. Norton, who was lean
ing against the front door i'm
peding traffic.
'No ones allowed in or put of
here without the Sergeant's per-
mission, Blondie," he chanted.
I ground my teeth. "You might
ask the Sergeant if he expects
me to starve to death" | said.
looking at my watch. "It'S quar-
ter to twelve and I haven't had
breakfast yet"
He grinned and stepped into
the shop. could see him talking
with the Sergeant and pointing
towards me from the shop win
dow. A moment later he came
out.
Where are you going for
breakfast"
'To the Knife and Fork"
COX, but no funny business.
And come back as soon as you've
finished. Sorry / can't 60 with
YOU" he added with a smile.
I thought it might be better
to be nice TO him so smiled back
and said | was sorry, too.
The sidewalks were dreadful,
ice coated treacherously with a
couple of inches of snow. picked
my way to the corner and went
into the restaurant. While / was
taking off my coat took a quick
look out Of the window. No one
had followed me. so / sat at the
far end of the counter as close
as possible to the telephone and
where ! couldn't Be seen from
oUr rRu~ e.,r -