The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-12-20

oh" l said, knowing how fu-
tile l sounded, eve very often do
things ike that. One Of my guests.
Claire Harper, suggested that It
would be fun TO come out here. /
had expected TO open the house
next week, anyway"
= see" said Lieutenant Greg
DRY. Then it was Just an i'm
pulse?"
4 suppose you could call it
that"
4 see"
But I did not and said so. 81
don't see what difference any Of
that can make" / told him. ANY
way, nobody knew Aunt Maggie
was coming. That is, none Of the
other guests knew. / was really
the only person who knew in ad-
vance, except her servants. for she
came at her own suggestion"
you mean you didn't really
care to have her Gomez"
l felt myself flushing again. ut
hadn't occurred to me TO ask her.
She was free to come If she
wanted to-"
Thank you," said Lieutenant
Gregory noncommitally, adding
that l might take a recess if I
cared to.
went out Of the room in more
CT a fog than ever.
Enter Indy
AS I entered the dining room,
n Andrew stopped his table set
ting to tell me that Indy was
in the kitchen and very anxious
to see me privately"
Send her in" l said. and as
Andrew opened the door of the
buffers pantry the sound of high
pitched voices came from the
kitchen. in marked contrast to the
usual chatter and laughter which.
to the housewife, is such a
pleasant overtOne of domestic
harmony.
But with the police in the Office
and Anderson wandering around.
poking into every nook and cor
ner, why should I expect harmony
anywhere in the house?
Then the door of the buffers
pantry opened again and Indy. a
rather slight. dark woman Of
about thirty, flounced in, her
black eyes swapping fire. "You go
on back" she commanded Thorn
as. who was right on her heels
But they amt no sense in yo'
botherin' Miss Sally" he argued.
stubbornly following her into the
room.
Now, what's all this about?" 1
asked firmly. resolved that l
would make short work of any
marital miX-up I might be called
upon to mediate.
Miss Sally" they both began.
Suppose we let Indy have
her say first" l suggested.
"Ain't no use in bCtherin' Miss
Sally" Thomas repeated dog
gedly.
"Botherin', hunph," snorted
Indy. Miss Sally, Thomas done
got me here on account Of them
police. He says they thinks its
funny cause | run off last night
But I amt gonna stay home and
get in no trouble. Now he say l
can't tell EN- why / leave home,
but l amt goin' to no jail on &C.
count of that no-'count Eph Of
his"
Il thought Thomas said you left
Friday" l said, somewhat irrela-
vanity.
That's just another one of his
tales, Miss Sally. l never left till
yesterday evenin'. That no-'count
Eph come around and l amt goin'
stay home and get in no trouble" "
But who on earth is Eph?'
"Eph's my son Ephraim." said
Thomas. And Eph amt no bad
boy. Miss Sally, don't you remem-
Der Eph? He's been gone away
from home a long time"
ooh. yes" l recalled, "but I
haven't seen him since he was a
little boy and had forgotten his
name"
He's his son by one of them
first wives Of his" said Indy
vindictively. "Eph done run away
from the chain gang and come
home l amt gonna get in no trOu-
bic by bein' here when they come
after him"
rs this true, Thomas" I asked.
Nom, Eph done serve his time
in the chain gang last year. Eph's
a free man."
He don't never come home
lessen he in trouble" Indy
argued. "Or else maybe he want
somethin'. Come. and talk Thomas
out what little money he got. then
play Il on the bug and amt moth
In left"
He amt so" Thomas contra
dicted. He come cause he sick. "
Well, what business he got
comm over here TO the big house
when l tell him you amt here"
Indy demanded.
He Just come lookin' for me. 3"
Thomas insisted.
u -A4CCEA Z pm gin - g. OFNA
here yesterday aftern NJ" l
asked. trying TO keep nv voice
normal.
-Yes'm, Miss Sally l tell him
Thomas out lookin' after his set
hooks on the river. but | see hi.f
comm on over here. anyway H
say he don't fee! good and want
Thomas should phone for the
doctor man"
Fine way you treat sick boy. !"
Thomas accused. When l come
home, you amt there. and Eph
layin' on the floor ike ne dead.
l get him n bed and give him a
little corn I got at the house and
he lay there and talk out'n ne
head. About six o'clock I come
over here Miss Sally and get An.