The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-09-12
Chapter %
VANS Play

lvan7s Play
I GOT up and Strengthened my
L hair and wandered around the
room until 1 found cigarettes.
Adam held a light for me in 81
1ence. He had said all he meant to
say for the present.
I'm not sure I know what be-
havior you're referring to-" told
him at last.
Lets put it this way, then. If
did or said anything last night
that offended you l hope you'll
forgive me-"
You're forgiven" I said.
He griEned. "Pu be discreet
and not ask what for. May I sit
DOWN."
"If you like"
He accepted the grudging invi-
tation and changed the subject.
What's your idea about this
murder?"
Il haven't any. What is there
to go on?"
Nothing, that ! can see"
Have you questioned Sandra
and jeff"
r.Not yet. They came back to
the colonePs quarters a while ago
to get her thingS-they've taken
a suite OF guest rooms down the
corridor here. The remnants tried
to get them to stay there, but they
wouldn't. And-weH, there was
50 much talk and fuss that
cleared out"
How is it going to be if one of
them did it?" / asked blUntly.
You mean Sandra or JefI?"
"Or the remnants. The reignlng
family"
It's gong to be tough" He got
up and prowled unhappily about
the room. I've been appointed
to head the board of inquiry on
this and those stolen cars. Pd like
to ask for a change of station"
But you wouldn't get it. You've
only been here a couple of
months"
No" He sighed. at wouldn't be
soon enough, anyway. And It
couldn't be one of them. Ivan
wouldn't have been worth Il"
'Saldra thought ne was"
Worth murdering?"
THAT isn't what | mean, OF
course. Worth-WOrth revenging.
at least"
Adam blew a cloud of smoke
and looked at me through It
Are you sure you know what
you do mean?"
II suppose I shouldn't have
brought the subject up in the
first place Adam has a discon-
certing habit. one know we'll. Of
making you De explicit. as
Sembled my thoughts hurriedly,
trying to sort the things / could
tell from the ones had obligated
myself to be silent about.
ITS an impression got this
morning" I said finally This
hurried-up marriage. for orc thing.
don't care what Colonel Pennant
says, she was the one who pro-
NOTED IL l heard her. She practi-
cally hypnotized JEFF into going
for the license. And l had a strong
feeling that she was doing it o
get even with-with someone.
Maybe all of them"
Then you don't think it was
. meant TO protect jeff"
Maybe it was meant to look as
If she were protecting JEFF"
For what puTpose?"
Your guess Is as good as nine.
The remnants are pretty fond of
him, aren't they? She could hit at
any or all Of them through him
Agent of Vengeance
LIE was silent for a while, think
IL ing that over. He stretched his
long legs out and crossed them, but
the rest Of his body did not SLOUGH
Adam gives me the impression that
his mind and his body are always
under perfect control, ready to ACT
with speed and precision at an II
stanfs notice.
That strikes me as a womap'S
line Of reasoning" he said finally in
a rather pedantic manner. (which
doeSn' necessarily mean us
faulty. Set a woman to catch &
woman. Perhaps. But I'd ike
something a little more SubStan.
tial to go on. A little more logical
Why, for instance, is she a sell.
Il think she was IN love with
him
Then why marry jeff? In TIKI
first place. mean. Before the mat
ter Of revenge comes into the DC.
ture? Money!"
mo. JEFF hasn't anything" re,
peated what Julia had told me o.
Colonel Taek's will u don't kno I
why. Spite, possibly. But that!
even thinner reasoning. A woman
might marry for spite If she were
not in love with anyone else a
the time. Hardly otherwise"
perhaps Ivan had other idea
and she was trying to bring hin
around, make him jealous. Yol
haven't said ne was IN love witt
her"
was silent. This was skirtini
too close TO the scene on IN,
barge last night. ! wanted to tel
Adam about that; I was used +
con6ding in him But ! didn'
dare. I had to remember his of
fetal position in the case. tina
nothing told him in the way o
actual evidence could be consid
cred confidential.
"Who was Ivan, anyway"
asked. hoping to lead him ava.
from dangerous ground What d
you know about hirn?"
BOY. ?. HERO