The Key West citizen., 1940-11-29

Against my will, my mind went
back to the man 1 had seen leav-
ing the place that afternoon.
Could 1T have been Kirk? Could
he be mixed up in this? Was he
now trying to cover up by call
ing attention to the fact that he
was unfamiliar with the neigh
borhood?
'I'Il telephone" offered Bob.
"I don't know what the usual
procedure is" said Bill, "but if
Aunt Maggie has been choked to
death"
"Choked to death?" shrieked
Alice. do you mean to say she
was murdered?"
I leaned back against the wall
as Alice's words brought home
the sweeping realization Of what
had happened. Icy fingers seemed
to stop the breath in my throat.
Opening my mouth, I tried to
speak.
But my teeth were chattering
so that the words refused to
come. Anyway, nobody was pay
ing the slightest attention to me.
They were all staring down at
Aunt Maggie, their expressions
ranging from blank amazement to
horror, and on Alice's face was
sheer, naked terror.
Bill got himself to his feet. Il
was just going to say" he began
again, "that if Aunt Maggie has
been Well. that maybe we
should not move her until-un-
til the proper authorities have
made an examination"
Then his eyes caught mine and
he moved quickly to my side,
putting an arm around my shoul-
ders. "You shouldn't be standing
here, Sally, after such a shock.
You are all right. aren't you?" he
asked anxiously.
And as l nodded dumbly, with
the tears burning my eyeballs,
he added, "Claire, take her into
the library, won't you? All you
girls 60 on in there and let us
try to figure out what to do"
l said, swallowing hard, 81
don't care what the usual pro-
Aunt Maggie lying here on the
floor. think we should take her
into the drawing room"
No Telephone
lust at that moment Bob re-
y turned from the telephone. 81
can't get the operator to answer"
he announced. ''The line seems
to be dead"
"But it was all right this after
noon," / insisted. 81 talked to At
lanta from here"
Somebody's cut the wires"
gasped Alice, and keeled over in
a faint. Both Bill and Kirk caught
her as she went down and Bill
said, somewhat irritably, 81 told
you girls to go on into the IL
brary."
AS we were bringing Alice to
en- the sofa, Eve said, 81 can't see
why she should be fainting about
ehe telephone"
'It was close in there" l
pointed out. 81 felt a little faint
myself"
"Well, of course, there might
have been some excuse for your
fainting," Eve agreed. with more
tact that one usually expected
from her. "After all. it was a
nasty shock. finding Aunt Maggie
like that"
bad enough for Sally" agreed
Bill, "but, even so, not quite what
guest would expect as the usual
thing, either"
what nobody seems to real
ize," said Alice, Strengthening up
and brushing a struggling lock
of tan-colored hair away from
her pale hazel eyes, sis that a
murderer is loose around here.
With the telephone out of COM
mission. what are we going TO
do?"
at was probably only the wind
and the rain that put the tele-
phone out" said Bill placatingly.
''You know how these rural lines
are As soon as we move Aunt
Maggie, we will see about gets
ting in touch with somebody.
You're all right now. aren't you,
Alice?" he asked on his way to
the door.
But Alice was not all right. for
she almost gave way to hysteria
when Bob rose from his place at
her side. 'No. no. don't leave" she
begged. "One of the men at least
should stay here with U.s."
II was only going to see if l
could help" Bob patted her hand
reaSSuringly.
We'll" Bill admitted, 81 don't
think it would be a bad idea for
Bob to stay in there. 1t would
make Alice and the rest of you
feel better. Kirk and I can take
care of-of Aunt Maggie. Then
we will see about getting in touch
with the doctor or coroner. or
somebody"
That picture of Aunt Maggie,
crumpled up on the floor, all her
proud assurance gone, and with
the marks of the killers fingers
on her throat. was little too
much for me at the moment. She
had been part of my background
ever since l could remember.
Thinking Of all this. ] could not
help saying, who on earth could
have wanted to harm poor Aunt
Maggie?"
A tumble Of questions an
swered me. How did you happen
to find her? Was she already
dead? Did you see or hear any
thing stspicious2 How do you
think it could have happened?
And SO on.
Then Eve asked out Of a clear
sky. Aren't you her sole heir,
Sally? OF course, l know how