The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-03-12


hunted through the directory for
the number of the law Office, To-
Gated a nickel and dialled. It
seemed to take hours for the girl
to get Dirck Kolf on the phone.
Whether the Sergeant would
think telephoning was funny
business I didn't know, but ] was
afraid to risk getting caught, and
by the time Mr.. Kolff answered
! was in frenzy.
And the minute I heard his
voice my own went haywire and
I babbled like a sixteen-year-old.
He was very much surprised to
hear from me and inquired cheer
fully whether / wanted bail, was
I just being chatty. or did / need
money.
"It's not as funny as you think"
/ told him. "You may have to bail
me out at that. I'm mixed up in
murder and the Sergeant of the
Homicide Squad seems to think ]
did it"
did your"
mo" I shouted, "but I know
now what provokeS it.
He laughed.
"The Sergeant is going to arrest
me this afternoon"
He was impressed at last.
Good Lord" he said, where are
your"
gave him the address and
begged him to hurry. but nay
heart touched bottom when he
said he couldn't possibly come to
the house until sometime during
the afternoon. He had to 60 to
court.
Just sit tight, Chris" he said.
I'll be with you the moment !
can. l don't believe they'll arrest
you immediately"
The Shop
WITH those words of cheer he
w said goodby and l went
back to the wheat cakes. But it
was almost impossible to eat. ]
forced a few mouthfuls and drank
little coffee, one moment think
ing confusedly of the murder and
the next of Dirck Kolff calling
me "Chris."
On my way out l bought two
cartons of cigarettes, preparing
for jail or enforced Information.
On my return Mr.. Norton
greeted me cheerily from the
front steps. Enjoy your break
fast?"
Every much. particularly the
wheat cakes
What big appetite you have,
Blonde. You don't look it. | must
say" He patted my gloved hand.
''Mr. Kimball wants a word with
you, and must say don't blame
him"
took a sidelong glance through
the shop window and saw no sign
of the Sergeant.
Nothing to be afraid of" Mr..
Norton said impudently. 1.-THE
Sergeant's not in there"
held my tongue. BY this time
l had my fill of arguing with the
police. stepped over the young
mans feet and opened the door
into the shop.
It was lovely place, Mr.. Kim
balls shop. Usually antique stores
have a Cutlery look. but this one
was spacious and well ordered.
The walls were lined with books,
there were few choice pieces of
early American furniture. some
fine brasses and a couple of very
old hooked rugs. There was none
of the usual claptrap.
Mr.. Kimball got up quickly
when I came in and asked me
to sit down by his desk in the rear
of the room.
'I'm terribly sorry you moved
in at such a bad time" he said.
turning his tired eyes on me.
"The Sergeant just told me you
want to leave here"
'He gave you the wrong i'm
preston" ] said. 81 want to leave
only because he thinks had
something to do with all of this
| -well-this trouble"
He smiled family. 1.-THE Ser
geant has an unfortunate way
about him. I'm afraid" He hesi-
tated, and then leaned back in the
chair. "Fm sure he won't arrest
you, if that is what's bothering
you. And I am hoping he'll settle
it very quickly. If ! can help you
at any time let me know"
He looked so distressed that /
begged him not to worry about
me.
We were silent for a moment,
then Mr.. Kimball said. ats such
shock, Miss Howorth. Joan is
my niece, you know. Her mother
is my younger sister. my only
sister now. the other one died
rather young. And naturally
feel responsible about JOAN" He
shook his head sadly. "Her mother
let her come to the city only be-
cause / agreed to take the best
of care of the child. It will be
| frightful shock to her when she
and Joan's brother get here this
afternoon"
I felt awfully sorry for him.
His niece was dead, the house was
overrun with detectives and not
very agreeable ones at that. and
he had to keep the tenants pla-
Gated.
For few minutes we talked
together. but there was nothing
| could do to reassure him. so
left and went upstairs. Il fEFsaT8
The Sergeant was standing in
the hall outside Of my apartment
with girl / gathered she was one
Of the two who lived in the front
i apartment. They moved down the
hall as I reached the TOP Of the
stairs and I heard the Sergeant
say, "There has been serious
accident here. Miss Wells, and
| fhnrr ara a Rorrr cfaaau4inr,c I'll hnrrn