The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-04-09

sidewalk IN front or the house.
Dirck turned to me and our eyes
met.
Something had gone wrong
while we were out on the Island.
Sergeant Long was standing in
the doorway of the shop. When he
spotted the yellow car he hurried
over to us. @
Whats up?" Dirck asked in a
strained voice. ~'''''i l. '''-'
"Plenty," the Sergeant said.
1--WE aren't through with this yet.
He's skipped, but we'll find him"
Dirck's hands dropped from the
wheel. but he said nothing. His
eyes were fixed intently on the
Sergeant.
who's skipped?" l asked, pull
ing off my wet gloves.
"Whitefeld."
"Whitefeld!" l dropped the
gloves.
The Sergeant rested an arm on
the door of the car. "Yup, he beat
it this morning. Two detectives
traced him as far as his studio
and from there on they drew a
blank. He left there and they lost
him in the crowd. They called me
about it, but didn't really get sus-
picious until he didn't turn up to-
night" His voice rose. IT thought
he was getting funny like that
damn fool. Kincaid. He's been
playing games with the detective
all day. Half dozen times Norton
lost him, and Kincaid was doing
it just fol fun"
$50 he's gone," Dirck said alb
sently. ''.'.t' j.
The Sergeant nodded. Eyes, and
his cars gone, too He made a clean
getaway" :
~ should think anyone would
recognize him in that overcoat." |
said. 1T covered him like
Shroud,"
I "Oh, he vas smart" the Sergeant
said. Everyone got used to seeing
HIM IN that oVercoat and he knew
it. So he left it behind and wore
a tan topcoat. You'd better come
in, it's cold" he added.
Arctic Explorer
4 S Dirck and | got out of the car
n Mr.. kimball came to the door
of the shop and invited us in for
coffee. Dirck said that would be
fine. We could go out for dinner
later. Then saw Mr.. Kimball
looking at me with curiosity and
some amusement / was dripping
wet and gotten up like an Arctic
explorer with Dirck's automobile
robe still around my shoulders.
You go upstairs and change,
young lady" he said. This eve
ming I'll have Patrick build a fire
in your room. You shouldn't have
been out in weather like tho"
| hurried upstairs, too tired and
too excited to worry much about
being soaked to the skin. But /
took a hot shower and put on my
blue knitted frock to ward off
pneumonia and went back to the
shop. -
Tim Lathrop had come in while
l was upstairs, He was Standing
by the window looking out on the
street, paying no apparent atten-
ton to Dirck and the Sergeant.
arguing heatedly over something
at Mr.. Kimbalfs desk. He drew up
a chair fol- me by the fireplace.
l don't believe it." Dirck was
saying positively. He'd have no
reason to harm Joan. Why. he
barely kppIu bar hid bo M -
ball?" '-
Il never even saw them speak
to each other" Mr.. Kimhall said.
He. can't be the one you're after,
Sergeant"
Who am after, then?" the
Sergeant roared. "Mrs. Evans
keeps saying it's you"
so you've told me-"
ms won't get us anywhere"
Dirck said hastily.
We'll. tell me why Whitefield
IS missing" the Sergeant snapped.
tlltlng his chair back against the
bookShelves. 4 gave everyone in
this house instructions not to leave
unless they went to business. or
left we'd where they were going.
Not THAI anyone paid attention TO
my. orders" he added with sharp
look at me.
=. Il took her out with me this
afternoon" Dirck said quickly.
Fhe Sergeant rested his feet on
the desk. "Whitefeld was running
away. An innocent man doesn't
leave buildings by fire escapes for
no good reason. He found he was
being followed this morning and
ran upstairs to his studio, locked
the door and left by the fire
escape"
Where is his studio?" Dirck
asked.
Its that place on West Tenth
Street under the name of Leon
Perry"
Dirck raised his eyebrows.
Where Miss Wells went yester-
day."
Sure. the Sergeant said. "She
went around to warn him. Perry
is supposed to be a friend of White
fields, according to the old man
who runs the apartments, but no,
one in the building has ever seen
this guy Perry"
And, that's where he works?"
"Yup. It's all full of paints and
stuff"
So Mr.. Whitefeld had another
studio. Somehow it didn't sound
right to me. thought rapidly.
What exposure does his place on
Tenth Street have, Sergeant?"
The Sergeant frowned. "The
house is on the south side of the
street." he said slowly, "and his
studio is in the back. BY gosh, it's
SOUTHERN" He jumped to his feet.
That's right, Miss Howarth, you
said yesterday that artists always
have northern exposure" He pat
ted me on the shoulder and reached
for the telephone.