The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-01-04
CHAPTER 80
Murder Will Out

that you inquire from Mr. Murchi-
son. She held rather long CONVEX
sation with him, in a very agitated
manner. The subject of that con-
versation would probably lie at the
bottom of her mental disturbance"
THANK you for the suggestion,
the coroner said, with quick fash
Of his bright, little eyes. "You, too.
then, are convinced that Miss Lis
sey had something out of the or
binary on her mind that after
noon? That is, before she arrived
at the party?"
''Yes."
"You knew her quite we'll. Mr.
Devoe?"
I'VE were neighbors."
"Her death naturally shocked
your"
Naturally"
sand yet"-Dr. Mayhem paused
land yet understand that you
played golf on Monday afternoon,
Mr.. Devoe. The day after her death.
Is that so?"
at is not So" Devoe said angrily.
81 do not understand any such re-
port"
Strange indeed. You were seen
coming from the golf course, late
in the afternoon. with your golf
bag"
Devoe stared at him. II remem-
bered that / had left my bag at the
club house, and | went to get it. !"
"You were seen at the club
house? Someone could verify that
statement"
Il do not see why it would be
necessary. 1t can have no possible
bearing on the case, DR.. Mayhem.
Perhaps not. Thank you. Mrs.
Devoe?"
81 have no evidence to give" she
said. 81 was there on Sunday, but
I saw nothing and heard nothing
unusual"
DR.. Mayhem regarded her in
tently. Every WELL" he said sur
prisingly. Tuck drew long breath
Of disappointment.
Marie Murchison was next, and
she was on the verge of hySteria.
The coroner did not spare her.
Mrs. Murchison," he began
without preamble. lis it true that
you and Miss Lissey were at en-
nifty with each other?"
She shivered. lit is true we
did not like each other"
''Why?"
"You have heard what she was
like - the unkindness, the spying.
No one could like her"
You knew that she had heard
the conversation between you and
Mr.. Murchison that day?"
Il did not know"
'Did you suspect that she had?"
''It may be. | have forgotten"
at was a strange conversation
to forget, Mrs. Murchison." His
tone for the first time grim.
She did not answer. He tried an
other tack. Your husband is away,
Mrs Murchison?"
She raised her eyes to his swiftly.
sIt is true" she admitted.
Where is he?"
81 cannot tell you that. I do not
know" She waved a quick hand
at the Police Commissioner, who
had sat silently in the corner of the
room all through the long hot af-
Sternoon. HE understands" she eX-
planned.
Indeed. Well, tell us this; where
are his keys? Did he take them
with him?"
She shook her head. 81 do not
think so"
What do you mean?"
II heard him say-long ago-be-
fore he went; heard him say that
when he went away he would
leave the keys with Duncan. Dun
can has them. then"
There was a strange look of
despair on Duncan Murchison's
face, but he said nothing.
BOmbShell
LIS sister-in-Iaw went on. She
II seemed to take certain ma
licious enjoyment in describing the
incident, and she talked quickly,
volubly, in her excitement. at is
one day when | am in the garden.
They are on the sun porch. They
do not know | am passing below
and my husband. he has said to his
brother, Some day shall go away,
and / will be sure to leave the keys
with you. / will make no mistake.
for no one else is to have them.
And afterward you may use your
own judgment -"
What did you think he meant,
Mrs. MurchiSon?"
Il cannot guess. He has never
told me-"
Thank you"
He turned oward Duncan
Murchison, but that young man
was on his feet. There were dark
circles under his eyes as he faced
them. Il refuse to give evidence in
this case" he said tensely. II re-
fuse. because there are too many
issues at stake. will not tell what
Miss Lissey spoke to me about on
Sunday, because it is off the same
piece all the rest of this evidence
comes from"
Just what do you mean, Mr..
Murchison?" the coroner asked
quietly.
Il mean that the death of Alix
Lissey is so bound up in something
elSe-something else-that none of
us can understand all this mass of
evidence. 1.-The time has come to
face the whole thing squarely.
When that is done I viii give my
evidence"
TO face the thing squarely, Mr.,
Murchison? What thing?"
He met the coroner's eyes. 'The
murder Of my brother" he said
despairingly.
When Duncan had spoken. no