The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-09-27

Il 6OAA 6OaSN GE-C AAG4C 0G4
think / was in love with him."
she said Indignantly. "And there
was nothing I could do about il.
He avoided me as if I had small
pox. He never came to our house
any more except to see Sandra,
and as she got in her work he
went more and more TO New
York. You can see how he would
feel He couldn't go on and marry
Julia, be brought into closer con-
tact than before with me, the
wife of his friend and superior
officer. He would have been
scared to death of the whole sit
uation."
Then you don't think she; OPEN
ly blackmailed him into marry
ing her? l mean, by threatening
to 60 to Colonel Pennant?"
"I've no way cf knowing; but
think she was clever enough to
play on Jeff's conscience, and to
make him think she was saving
him from something pretty awful.
He changed-you've no idea how
he changed, Kay. And I've
thought. or tried to think, that he
really did love Sandra-"
We were back again to JEFF, who
hadn't loved Sandra. l knew that
now, after seeing him for that one
defenseleSS moment with Julia
in the prison ward. And all that
learned only served for worse to
| incriminate him. He'd had reason
to hate Sandra, too.
/ said what I could to Mimi,
and it was little enough. l did
not recount the case l had made
out against JEFF, for l could see
that she had enough on her mind
without that. And presently,
looking weary but a little more
at peace with herself, she went
to her room to dress for dinner.
Coldly AIoof
lGERALD BEAUFORT was with
othe colonel when l went down.
YOU'RE staying here tonight"
ne asked me crisply. That's
good" He grinned suddenly, with
a return to his former manner. 81
promised Adam to look after you.
but | can't say I've been howl
ing success I'll be glad to dele
gate the responsibility"
you're very fattering."
That's me-" he said cheerfully.
"Fringy the fearless fatterer they
call me"
/ caught my breath. but he did
not seem to kno-7 what he had
said. He turned back toward Col
onel Pennant.
Its very kind of you and Mrs.
Pennant to ask N to stay TO din
ner, but you see how It is. sir.
I'll be at your Office the first thing
| IN the morning"
l left him taking his departure
and went on into. the living room.
Fringyi Then he tDGS an imposter.
He had known that man at the
inn. / would ask Julia at dinner
if she didn't remember the man
calling him that.
But Julia sent word by Mimi
that she had q headache and
would not come down.
There was no opportunity for
me to bring UP the subject of Ger
aid during the meal, for Colonel
Pennant took the conversational
reins into his own hands and con-
Quoted a tour. Murder and kim
dred subjects were. l quickly saw.
as taboo as naughty stories at
missionary meeting.
/ divided my attention between
the dinner. for which I had no
appetite, and the conversational
display in which l could summon
no interest. But my thoughts
! dwelt unhappily on Julia and the
manner in which I had betrayed
her.
As soon as dinner was over I
asked Mimi to find out if Julia
would see me- I followed her up
stairs and waited n the hall until
Mimi came out. looking depressed
and sorry.
"She doesn't feel well enough
TO talk" she said apologetically.
But l think she'll be all right in
the morning, Kay. It's probably
better just to leave her alone.
don't you think SOP"
/ went to my room and looked
indeciSively at my overnight case.
packed and ready to travel. II
mentioned going back to. the club
now there would be no end of
stir
thought Of Gerald again and
went out Of my room and down
the stairs
Colonel Pennant was in the IL
brary. He rose as l entered. Per-
hapS il was a trick Of the Igh
| from the green-shadeCl desk lamp:
perhaps Minis story had colored
my view of him: perhaps he was
only tired. Whatever the cause,
he seemed less human, grimmer,
coldly aloof
I'm sorry Julia is so rude" he
said. She's behaving like a
spoiled child I've told her there's
no reason for her TO resent your
telling what you knew and no
occasion for her to rush to Jeffs
defense. II he is acquitted / shall
be the first TO rejoice"
I felt chilled You're going TO
charge him with murder. them"
Naturally. The evidence all
points to him"
But what motive?" I asked
desperately.
The most sOrdid motive in the
world. I'm afraid. Greed. Sandra
was alone in the world. He will
or would-inherit everything.
There were cold anger and con-
tempt IN the words. Ny heart
sank
To be continued