The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-01-03
Chapter SO
InsinuatiOns

InsinuatiOns
ITO you remember a particular
II time when you caught Miss
Lissey spying?" the Coroner asked
Higgins.
Higgins looked at Michael
again. and received only a bland
stare. Il don't just seem to be able
TO remember anythink, sir" he
mumbled.
That's very unfortunate, Mr..
Higgins. Very unfortunate. I'M
derstand that Miss Lissey herself
made some statement which would
seem to prove that you are mis-
taken at present"
Higgins pushed back the hair.
Miss Lissey said that?"
Eyes"
Higgins twisted his hat in his
hands. ut was over at Murchi-
sons" he muttered.
"Yes?" t..
Marie Murchison was sitting
forward in her chair, one pink
tipped hand pressed to her throat,
totally unconscious of the silent
scrutiny of half dozen pairs of
eyes.
at was" he looked around
half-ashamedIy, alf-defiantly, at
was Mrs. MurChiSon and Mr.. Muir
Gibson talking"
Professor Murchison?"
mo. This one here. Mr.. Duncan
Murchison. They was in the study.
And l seen Miss Lissey slirpin' up
underneath the edge of the sun
porch to listen. l was under the
study window myself" he said
naIvely, IAN just when they was
done talkin'. Mrs. Murchison come
out on the porch Suddent-like, and
saw Miss Lissey snoopin' there.
She never said nothink, but l
could well imagine her eyes flash
ing"
"You are sure she saw Miss
Lissey eavesdropping?"
well, of course Miss Lissey
acted like she was coming to call,
but that wouldn't fool nobody"
Mr.. Higgins, what was this
conversation between Mr.. Duncan
Murchison and Mrs. Murchison
that you remember it so clearly?"
Duncan Murchison was on his
feet in an instant. Il protest" he
said angrily. That conversation
has nothing 10 do with Miss Lis
Sey'S death, and that question can
not be asked at this inquest"
The coroner looked at him with
those round eyes. you and Mr..
Higgins seem very sure as to what
has. and what hasn't any bearing
on this death. Mr. Murchison."
i don't like your inSinuations,
DR.. Mayhem. know nothing about
Miss LisSey's death, but | do know
that private family matters can
have no bearing on it,"
The coroner looked away. "Mr.
Higgins" he repeated. what was
this conversation"
Duncan MurchiSon looked down
at Michael Forester" he said
savagely. you are a lawyer. Has
he any right to ask that question:"
I'm this particular case" Mi
chael said regretfully, Il am con-
WINGED that he has"
MurchiSon dropped into his
chair without a word. His sister,
in-law had two bright spots of
crimson standing out against the
CHASTITY white of her cheeks.
''Mr. Higgins?"
Terrible Amusement
THE little man fdgeted. 81
L don't rightly know what they
was talkin about" he said finally.
"But they was both pretty mad.
Mrs. Murchison was cryin'- like,
and Mr. Murchison was all upset.
And | didn't ear 'er say much of
anythink except No. no, MOI! But
he said This as got to stop, Ma
RE. / can't stand it any longer.
I'm goin' to kill i'm, that's
what
McBain suddenly put a hand
over his eyes. Duncan looked
across at him, and turned back
with look of terrible amazement
in his eyes, as if he had only now
realized what that speech might
mean.
THAT was all, Mr.. Higgins?"
"YeS, sir"
at was there that Miss Lissey
was discovered?"
ayes. sir"
do you, by any chance, know
Of whom these two people were
speaking, Mr.. Higgins?"
Higgins swallowed. mo sir" he
said. They never said no names"
u see. When was this then?
When did this conversation take
placer"
Higgins considered. at wasn't
very long before the Murchisons
left that 'ouse," he said neatly.
"Yes. Now, do you recall any
other times - has anything else
printed itself on your mind where
by Miss LiSSey might have made
enemies?"
mo, sir. I can't rightly recall
anything else, sir"
The coroner rejected. "You
weren't by any chance working
around the gardens on the day
Miss LiSsey died?"
mo, sir. That was Sunday"
"You weren't out on the Horse
shoe at all that day, then?"