The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-03-14
Chapter 10
Address Unknown?

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N rected in your handwriting"
the Sergeant told Miss Wells.
Sergeant" I said to myself,
you're liar. You haven't had
time to study handwriting this
morning"
"Mr. Kincaid didn't want his
address known here" Adrianne
burst out. Anyway, what has
that to do with the murder?"
'T'm the one to decide that"
the Sergeant said roughly. Come
on. now. Out with it."
I'D rather give it to you when
no one else is around. After all it
was supposed to be confidence"
"O.K. Tell me in the hail."
The Sergeant led her out of the
room. and in a moment she re-
turned alone. Without saying a
word she went to the dressing
table and, after she powdered her
nose. she threw her compact on
the table with a clatter and
picked up her lipstick. could
see her in the mirror as she made
up her mouth in two or three
careless strokes. She was still
pale and her dark eyes were
guarded. but she had regained
her composure. Mrs. Evans was
watching her curiously.
When the Sergeant came in a
few minutes later he was smiling.
well. that's better. We can get
somewhere if everyone will help.
Miss Rogers thought she saw Mr..
kincaid last night. Did you see
him. too. Miss Wells?"
She sat down again, shaking
her head. mo"
The Sergeant took chair close
to both of the girls. and bending
forward intently asked whether
either of them knew Richard
Macdonald. who lived upstairs.
Just by sight" Adrianne Wells
said.
And then without looking at
the Sergeant or answering, Mary
Ann picked up her fur jacket and
hung it in the closet. She did it
casually. Much too casually.
well. Miss Rogers?"
It seemed a long time before
she turned around and faced us
again. Then she picked up her
hat and turned back to the closet
with it.
81 knew him by sight," she
murmured as she laid it carefully
on the shelf. "Why?"
The Sergeant'S eyes were on
her speculatively. Il Just Won
dered that's ALL"
And when she came back and
sat down again Mrs. Evans stared
at her "Many's the time I've seen
you with him." she said.
Mary Ann looked up at her,
wide-eyed. "Oh, | know him."
she said with a faint smile. "but
not very we'll"
Then you wouldn't know
where he was last night?" asked
the Sergeant.
Her voice was level when she
answered, No, have no idea
where he was"
Adrianne Wells lifted one eye
brow. Have you lost him, Ser
geant?"
The Sergeant disappointed me.
He turned back to his notebook
without a word.
A. ]. w.
CUDDENLY the cigarette lighter
, occurred to me. The initials
were "A. ]. W." That might be
Adrianne Wells.
I'd forgotten to give the lighter
to the Sergeant or even to men
ton it to him, so / slipped out of
the room while he started to
question the girls again, and ran
to my room. reached hurriedly
for the lighter on top of the chest.
1t wasn't there. My own was
lying in the same place I'd put it.
/ upset everything in the room
looking for it. But it was gone. |
tried to think when l had been
out of the apartment. It must have
been while / was out for break
fast that someone had come in and
taken il. That made me uneasy.
l didn't like the idea of person
or persons unknown prowling
around; the man last night. and
now someone again today. There'd
been one murder and that was
enough.
When | went back to the front
apartment ! was in a lather. The
Sergeant was still sitting with the
girls and Mrs. Evans. but he
seemed to have made little. prog
ress. Adrianne Wells was still
looking out of the window. He
stopped talking and turned to me
when | sat down by Mary Ann. so
/ told him about the lighter. was
so upset that my voice was shaky.
and the Sergeant didn't help any,
cycling me as though I were hav-
ing Authorizations.
Can you describe the lighter?"
he finally asked tolerantly.
l hesitated. Perhaps it wasn't
right to involve the girl - she
seemed to be in pretty deep as
il was-but after all. there had
been a murder.
1T was silver, and the initials
on it were A.J.W."
If I expected Adrianne Wells
to scream or faint again was
disappointed. In the most apathe-