The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-04-12
Hl eeEgz
~ By Ann Demaresf
By Ann DemaTesf

about 1t so the police wouldn't get
on to this picture business. He car
ried on all of it over at the other
apartment"
Then Dirck rushed in very much
excited. at wasn't suicide" he
said. He sat down on the stool by
the fireplace.
(Which wasn't?" asked, a lit
tie tired.
Richard"
Mary Ann stood up slowly.
"How do you know that?"
"The autopsy. There's a contu-
sion on the side of his head that
didn't come from falling out of the
window. 1t came from a blow. a
blunt instrument"
Then he leaped off the stool. "Sit
tight" he called. "I'll be back"
I had no intention of ever get
ting up again. The last shock
seemed to have left my legs per-
manently weakened.
We could hear him run upstairs,
and this time he went to Rich
ards apartment. The Sergeant, !
thought, must have given him keys
to all of the apartments.
Dirck didn't come back for al
most an hour. We waited. 1t was
pretty awful Mary Ann and gave
up any pretenSe at conversation.
We just sat there and smoked one
cigarette after another. And tried
to figure out just what connection
she'd had with Joan and Richard.
Then finally Dirck came back in
again. 81 believe I've found that
blunt instrument" he said as he
sank into chair. Richard had a
pair of heavy brass candlesticks.
One is marked with his own and
Sarah's fingerprints, but the other
has been wiped clean. The Ser
geant let Norton help me. ! think
it's pretty important"
Dangerous Came
MARY AIMS face was white.
1fI as that what killed him?" she
whispered.
Dirck nodded. ''They are pretty
sure it did. The rest Of it was just
a cover"
I bit my lip. "Then he was-he
was thrown out of the Window"
EYES," Dirck said quietly, his
blue eyes on mine reaSsuringly.
"And the same person who did
that frightened Mrs. Evans to
death"
Sometime during that night
while we were sleeping the body
Of that boy had gone hurting past
my window. It seemed more than
! could bear. There was no use
being melodramatic about the
things that had happened. I'd
tried to avoid that, but now il
seemed a little too much for me.
With a SILVER | buried my face
in my hands, trying to get that
horrible picture out of my mind.
Somehow Richards death seemed
worse than Joan's. suppose it was
because we'd become fairly well
acquainted with him.
Then Mary Ann gasped. "T'm so
glad"
/ looked up and Dirck was eye
ing her strangely. ut was worry
ing your"
She nodded. / hadn't the slight
est idea what either of them were
driving at.
Then Mary Ann got up and
walked to the window. II thought
it was my fault. l thought he'd
committed suicide on account Of
me-"
"Skip it," Dirck said in a hard
voice. You played a pretty dam
gerous game, but you have the
Sergeant buffaloed and no one else
knows about it. I'd keep out of his
apartment, though. He hasn't any,
thing valuable up there" He got
up again. Il must see Mr.. Kimban
now"
Mary Ann followed him out of
the room, leaving me, as usual,
without the remotest idea of what
was going on. was very glad to
be alone for awhile. ! took a hot
shower and dressed slowly, Won
dering all the while what would
happen next. | had just finished
dressing when a knock sounded
at the door and Dirck rushed in
again, still very much excited.
an a few minutes everyone viii
come in here" he said.
Twas annoyed. why doesn't the
Sergeant rent hall?"
STEADY there, Chris" he said.
'This is important. You don't
mind. really, do you? This room
is the largest. I've asked all of the
people in the house to meet here"
''1'm delighted" l snapped.
But he paid no attention to me
and left again, turning up about
FIVE minutes later followed by the
entire household, or what re-
manned of If. They came in like
sheep, herding together uneasily.
These inquisitions were getting
tiresome. / didn't think | could
stand up under another one. Dirck
was the only one who seemed to
have any energy left. He walked
around, drawing up chairs, his
eyes darling about the room.
Mary Ann and Adrianne seated
themselves on the couch with
James who had followed them in.
He was whimpering dismally.
When Sarah came in, she held
him on her lap.
who's going to look after him
now" she asked in loud whisper.
Everyone shivered and no one
answered her.
Mr.. Kimball took the large chair
by the window, but he jumped up
Immediately when Tim Lathrop
came IN. He was looking a little
better, though his head was still
bandaged. Il seemed too bad to
drag the poor man in on Mrs.
Evans, death. He took the chair
by the window reluctantly and
Mr.. Kimbal sat down on the stool
nv fha f3FeDiace