The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-12-26

impossible"
"Sit down, my DEAR" said Mr..
Marshall gently, "and let me get
you glass of water"
mo, no, I'm all right. I must 90
to Bill"
But I'm not sure you can see
him yet" Mr.. Marshall protested
uncomfortably. They hadn't fin
ished when 1 cameout. II want
ed to prepare you"
But they are crazy" I told him.
'fBill didn't do il. He couldn't
have. On, Mr.. Marshall, you know
Bill well enough to know it is i'm
possible"
eyes, yes, my dear, of course.
Now try to calm yourself. Wen
take care of Bill Well get Wade
Allen to defend him"
But am calm" I insisted.
"You-you know it can't be as
bad as all that" Even I knew
Wade Allen is considered the best
criminal lawyer in the South.
mo use taking any chances"
Mr.. Marshall told me soothingly.
Il am afraid you are going to
have to make up your mind that
all this is going to be pretty-dis-
agreeable, and try to keep a stiff
upper lip"
"All right" I said, but right
now I'm going to see Bill"
Il don't. know that you should
try to just yet" he objected, like
an anxious mother hen, but / was
already knocking on the door.
Roberts, opening it a mere crack,
admitted grudgingly that Mr..
Marshall could come back in, but
otherwise he assured us that they
positively could not be disturbed.
l said will you please tell
Lieutenant Gregory that I wish to
speak TO hina?"
About to object further. Rob-
erts- was interrupted by Lieu
tenant Gregory himself, who
came to the door and, motioning
Roberts out of the way, stepped
into the breakfast room. pulling
the door shut as he did so.
Il want to see my husband"
told him.
The Evidence
MRS. STUART" he said not
4'I unkindly, at would be much
better if you would wait until we
have finished our questioning. |
did not know Mr. Marshall had
gone out to see you or I should
have objected"
am afraid I rather lost my
head at that, for l said, This IS
my house and my husband. Lieu
tenant Gregory, may I paSs?"
He opened the door and stood
aside. You are only making this
harder for yourself" he said.
My eyes flew to Bill, sitting in
a chair by my grandfathers desk.
his red hair tousled nd his blue
eyes full of a sort of belligerent
beWilderment. 1t was astonishing
how much more blue his left eye
dark circle caused by the bruise.
l;neW the expression on his
FIRE 50 well. 1t is always there
when Bill comes up against STU
pidity. He finds it so difficult to
believe that people are not all as
honest and decent and straightfor-
ward and intelligent as he is him.
self.
He came to his feet when he
cav me and we met halfway
across the room. ooh, Bill" said,
Jas we gripped each others hands
tightly. "this is so silly"
Very silly" he agreed through
set teeth, "but l can't seem to
convince Lieutenant Gregory of
the fact"
/ looked around that small, in
innate. friendly room which has
stood for hundred years of FAM
lily security and gracious living.
I looked at Lieutenant Gregory,
waiting to resume his seat at my
grandfather's desk. And for a
dreadful moment the room ceased
to be a part of Wisteria Hall and
became the close, cramped quar-
tiers of a storm-rocked boat, with
great, angry waves, dashing hum
grily against its sides.
Here, here" said Bill quickly,
''sit down" And as I collapsed in
a chair. "Are you all right now2"
ooh, yes" / assured him, trying
| to smile. then, turning to Mr.. Dod-
son, l asked in a voice that ]
somehow could not raise above a
whisper, you don't believe any.
of this foolishness. do you2" Z
what do you mean foolish
neSs?" Lieutenant Gregory inter-
rupted gfiRly.
Don't upset yourself too much,
Mrs. Stuart" said Mr.. Dodson,
and his calm, kind voice steadied
me Immediately. "You never can
tell from the way a case starts out
just how it will end"
"But what's it all about?" de-
manded. "Why does anybody
think Bill did this terrible thing?"
Andrew" said Bill testify.
Something Andrew thinks he
overheard, just before you went
out to the back passage and found
Aunt Maggie"
Andrew" / repeated stupidity.
Il questioned your butler as he
served our lunch" Lieutenant
Gregory explained. "At first he
denied knowing anything at all re-
motely connected with the muir
der. / accused him of trying to
shield the family and saw that ]
was on the right trail He finally
broke down and confessed that
last night while in the breakfast
room he heard voices in the pas
sage outside. and what sounded
ike an argument He recognized
Mrs. Amblers voice, but while he
knew her to be talking to a man,
he was unable at first to identify
the mans voice. Or rather, he
says he did not pay much attention