The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-01-09
Chapter 43
Death Walks The Night

I AFTER on that afternoon, the
l. heat and low-hanging clouds
resolved themselves into rain,
which fell at first gently, then
gathered force and became a veri-
table deluge. By eleven o'clock at
night there were pools of water
standing on the roads and paths,
and the wind was lashing the tree
tops and branches fercely.
Two very uncomfortable police
officers stood among the trees at
the back Of the Forresters' garden,
their hat brims turned down to
shed the water. their raincoats
dripping.
Its a filthy night" Hall growled.
eff l was this murdherin' divil
that's abroad" Donovan said un-
der his breath. "Pd choose this
night fer me dirty work. Ye can
scarcely see yer hand afore yer
face"
THAT wind makes a hell of a
row"
at does that. Do we hear the wee
dog. Hall? The new pup FORESTER
gave the kid last week? He's been
whinin' fer the last half hour.
I'm wonderin' if there's anythjn'
wrong now over at the Deanes'
I'm wonderin' why the kid doesn'
take him into his sleepin' tent
there and keep him quiet"
'The kids not sleeping out TO-.
night surely!"
Donovan laughed under his
breath. He is that. He gets no ram
there in the lee of the house. He's
a bold lad, that" He buttoned his
coat tighter to his throat. Il guess
I'd better be leavin' again., he SAID.
cit won't do to be away from the
front of the house long, We never
can tell" He started off cautiously
toward the shadow of Miss Lissey's
hedge. then turned and came back.
"D'ye thing one Of us better have
a look at the kid. now?" he asked.
yell remember there's been
no owls hootin' in the dark tonight,
Hall?"
ITS too wet. But 60 if you like
I'll slide around to the front of the
house. while you keep your eye
peeled here at the back"
They separated, Donovan NOV
ing noiselessly along the path to.
ward the Deanes' back gate, Hall
going toward Miss LiSsey's hedge
again. It had been agreed upon
that they would not risk their dis
closure by crossing the open
stretches of the garden, although
there was little fear of disclosure
on such a night as this.
Hall made his circle of the hedge,
went in at the Forresters' front
gate, tried their front door softly;
went on around to the sun porch,
and tried that. Locked. The win
dows on the ground floor were shut
tight. and he peered up at the sec
ond story; none open tonight. The
kitchen door was locked too, and
he encountered nothing. heard
nothing to make him suspicious.
The little dog at the Deanes' was
whining louder now-he caught
the sounds between gusts of wind.
He reached the junction of
the paths again, at the back of
the garden, glanced over toward
Deanes'. and caught the flash of
Donovan's light inside the tent.
Instantly he strobe down the path
and into the garden. He lifted the
flap of the tent.
Donovan was bending over the
pallet in the corner. his arm under
the shoulders of the boy who lay
there. He looked up as Hall en-
tered. get his father quick. Hall,
and doctor" he said bitterly. TITS
got the lad now. He's barely Twin"
Gas!
HALL did not stop for questions,
II but obeyed instantly. He rang
the Deane door-bell furiously.
ratified at the door. and banged on
II. In few minutes light flashed
on and through the glass he saw
Mr.. Deane, his bathrobe caught up
hastily, coming hurriedly down
the stairs. =.
The door opened. "What--"
Mr. Deane began.
"Phone your doctor quick" Hall
commanded. "Your boys been
hurt"
Mr.. Deane scuttled to the tele-
phone without another word.
Hall ran back to the little tent,
and was Immediately followed by
Mrs. Deane, her hair in two braids,
her nightgown soaked through
instantly. Donovan was attempt
ing TO force whiskey from his
emergency flask between the boys
teth, and not succeeding.
Mrs. Deane stared at Gordon
whats happened?" she whis-
pered. my boy-hurt?"
We'll have to get him inside,
Donovan said gently. eff youth &c
ahead and show me his bed
ma'am. He's had sad blow on his
head. but he's still living, the Lord
be praised"
They got the boy inside, and into
bed before the doctor came; 1t was
not until then that either man was
able 10 leave. The whole proceed.
ing had not taken more than fifteen
minutes, but Hall fairly ran back
20 the Forester house with Dom
Ovan al MS heels.
Donovan was cold with rage
I'D break avery bone in his body
wild me own two hands. if / coulc
get himl" he muttered to himself
~The-the-"
Whats worrying me-" sale
Hall, as, has anything happened
here while we were away, Don.
REAKE DRUMS TO CHIMES