The Key West citizen., 1940-09-24

| know she's straight just think
she's mistaken about this. But
where Jeffs concerned-you see.
she's in love with him"
Good Heavens
He stared at me across the
desk.
BIacker For JEFF
y IAYBE l shouldn't have told
vi you. but | thought II would
make you understand better It's
quite true" | assured him
Il hope you're mistaken" ne
said simply. JEFF will almost GER
tainly stand trial for murder"
You mean you think he's
guilty?"
He opened his hands as if 10
show MS helpleSSneSs-
1t isn't a matter OF what 1
think I'm not all-pnwerfuL !
can't obstruct justice by shielding
my friends Civilian authority
can't simply be fiOuted -"
Julia said ! began.
Il know Julia thinks all | have
to do s wave hand Pat these
things are ticklISh Civilian au-
thcritics were called III about
those ears and about Ivan's muir
der He was a civilian. So was
Sandra. though IN one sense she
comes under my Jurisdiction But
murder is different. It's a mill
tary crime. but its also a civil
crime Even if Jeff were tried by
cOurt-martial he could still be
subject 10 civil trial. And | doubt
if | could successfully oppose the
arrest for murder of any of my
personnel. Except by the one step
| have taken"
You mean-by arresting JEFF
yourself? Oh. but why didn't you
explain all that to Julia? !; would
make her feel so much better. She
thinks you're convinced of Jeff's
guilt"
saw his face then. and my
words trailed off.
Jeff has been like a son to
me-" he said slowly. after a little
pause Don't you think I'd rather
believe him innocent? But what
am ! to think? First Ivan. now
Sandra. There's only one COM
mon factor. and it's jeff. Then
there's that blood stained towel
-
But don't you think that was
too stupid to be true?"
'MurdererS aren't all as clever
as the ones in books" ne said
dryly. And he had obviously
manhandled Sandra-''
He told us he didn't give San
dra that black eye"
Would you expect him to ad-
NIT it? Then the chaplain-he has
rooms next to theirs at the club
told me reluctantly this morn
ing that he heard them quarrel
ing for about an hour. after they
got home from the reception. He
said he couldn't hear any words
but they both sounded angry
And jeff didn't deny it He jus,
refused to say what the quarrel
was about"
1t may have been merely be
cause she had appeared in public
looking like that But the fact that
they Quarreled doesn't necessarily
mean that he killed her. does it,"
Colonel Pennant looked deeply
troubled.
Il don't want to think the boy
rs guilty" he said. But if he isn't
who is?"
L wish | knew" drew deep
breath and plunged. And the
worst of il Is that what | have 10
tell you Is only going TO make i
look blacker for jeff. That's why
Julia doesn't want it told And
maybe she's right But | have an
old fashioned belief that when
YOU get together all the pieces OF
the truth that are available You'll
begin 10 see the whole truth. And
and if jeff really did kill her
julia might better find Il out as
soon as possible Because think
he's in love with her. too
He looked al me helpleSSly.
1t isn't polite TO tell a lady
she's demented." he said with .
quirk of his mouth that didn't
quite make a smile. We'll. never
mind. I'm accustomed TO female
intuitions and admit TO my sor-
row that they're often sound Sup
pose you tell me what you know"
So / told him of our seeing San
dra and Ivan embracing on the
barge. of JEFF coming up the lad
der and Julia sending him of
down the beach alone. And how
Sandra had come down presently
and left Ivan up there. and that
as far as we knew he had not left