The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-03-15
Chapter II
Mother And Brother

last night, and was sure she
knew something the Sergeant
hadn't been able to pry out of
her.
In the lower hall 1 ran into the
ubiquitous Sergeant. Anything
else you've forgotten to tell me?"
he inquired wryly.
Before could answer, eolored
man, a big numbering fellow as
tall as the Sergeant, came up the
stairway from the basement. He
stood before us, shifting from one
foot to the other. regarding the
Sergeant uneasily.
am Patrick" he said.
"Well," said the Sergeant, "what
were you up to last nights"
Patrick scratched his head and
smiled uncertainty. Il wasn't up
to nothin'."
"You should have been here at
six o'clock last night to fix the
furnace, and you didn't show up
until this morning"
"To tell you the honest truth |
had Jest drop too much, Capri"
Drunk" the Sergeant snorted.
Then you weren't near this house
the whole evening. / suppose"
mo. sir. | was uptown"
"All right. run along"
Patrick ran gratefully.
Come into the shop, Miss How
arth." the Sergeant said.
So / gave up lunch with con-
siderable regret and followed him
into the room. Mr.. Kimball was
there with a woman and young
chap.
The Sergeant introduced me.
Miss Howarth. this is Richard
Macdonald and this is Mrs. Mac
Donald. Joan Kent's mother"
Mr.. Kimball brought in some
chairs from a room in the back
of the house and we seated our
selves. | hadn't the fainteSt no.
ton why the Sergeant wanted me
there and | was a little afraid of
what might happen.
The Sergeant glanced through
his notebook, leaned against Mr.
Kimball'S desk and addressed US,
MIR. Macdonald was out of town
last night. He left because his
father was ILL.,"
He spoke in such a detached
way that | couldn't tell whether
he was making it clear to us why
the boy had been away or was
going over it in his mind. My
own mind was a hopeless muddle.
Joan and Richard were related,
but why was her name Kent?
This Is terrible" Mrs. Mac
Donald said in a low voice.
She looked pretty bad and the
boys face was pail and drawn.
! looked at him again, and then |
was sure that he was the young
man I'd seen in the Knife and
Fork last night with Joan Kent.
The Sergeant went on with his
Grafton. 1t seems the woman and
Richard Macdonald had come to
the city Immediately from some
where on Long Island when Mr..
Kimball called them. They were
under the impression that Joan
had been hurt but was still alive
The shock had been terrible when
they found she had been muir
dered.
Now let me get this straight"
Sergeant Long said. you are
JOan's half-brother." he indicated
Richard. "And your present huS-
band. Mrs. Macdonald, is Joan'S
stepfather."
The woman nodded.
you were married twice, and
Joan is the child of your first hus-
band and Richard the child of
your second marriage"
ayes"
There are no other children?"
Richards Story
CHE shook her head. The Ser
- geant's questions seemed to
drain the little strength she had.
She was leaning back in the chair.
her hands hanging Imply at her
sides. Not a pretty woman,
thought, but there was something
very smart about her And there
was a strong resemblance between
her son and herself. and vet he
seemed to have inherited mainly
her poorer features; a decided
weakness about the mouth and
chin and a pleasant face lacking
strength.
was so busy listening to the
Sergeant that l didn't notice
when Dirck Kolff came in with
Mr.. Norton.
"He says he's a lawyer" the
detective informed the Sergeant.
Dirck was grinning at me over
Norton's shoulder.
81 telephoned and asked him to
come" / said quickly before the
Sergeant recovered from his sur
prise.
could feel the color come UP in
my cheeks as I introduced Dirck
TO everyone.
''Mr. Kolff is my lawyer" l
said. "If you don't mind I'd like
to have him represent me"
The Sergeant, after a rather
grudging acknowledgment of his
presence, raised an eyebrow at
me, but he drew up a chair for
Dirck beside mine ard said moth
ing.
Out Of the corner Of my eye I
looked at Dirck. He still made