The Key West citizen., 1940-12-23
Chapter q
SfYnlied

Stymled
EVIDENTLY Andrew hau talked
Il good deal, or maybe the
news had just got around. for Mr..
Jameson knew Of the fake teIe-
phone call and the fact that the
rest of us did not arrive until late
afternoon. He described the man
as being dark-haired and dark
eyed and said that he believed he
would recognize him. UnfOrtu-
nately he did not take the license
number. Mr.. Jameson seemed all
too willing TO continue the con-
versatiOn, hoping, no doubt. TO
learn further details of the morn
ing's events. but l thanked him
and hung up.
The description fitted Kirk,
even TO the convertible coupe,
Though. of course, there are
plenty of dark-haired and dark
eyed men and convertible cOupcs.
l called DR.. Grace and. after
offering his services in any way
that they might be needed, he
gave me the telephone number Of
his young assistant. DR. Martin
Bates. But this gentleman was not
at home and his wife had no idea
when he would return. He was on
an obstetrical case out in the
country, she said, and there was
no nearby telephone. but she
promised to have him call as soon
as she heard from him.
Next l called my own home
in town. wanted to ask Bills
mother. who had come over to
spend the week end with little
Sally and the nurse. whether she
had talked to anyone who might
have called me on the telephone
Saturday morning. But Julia, the
nurse, had taken all calls, she
told me. and Julia was accord
ingly put on the wire
"Yes'm." Julia remembered.
"Thsy was a man called. He
wanted to know where you was
and | told aim you was goln' to
the BlltmOre TO get your hair
fixed and he said he would call
you there. Nom, | didn't reCog-
nize his voice. Andrew most Svn-
orally answers the telephone a5.1
he might know"
But since Andrew had not been
at home 10 take the call. this
naturally did not get us very far
Were there any other calls?"
"A lady wanted % know where
you Wes. too. and | told her. but
She dI:'nt give no name"
do you think you would rec
ognize the voices if you heard
them again?"
Il couldn't say for sure. Miss
Sally. i might remember the lady.
She talk in a sort o dreSs-up
way"
Eve. OF course Talking to a
servant after what she imagined
to be the manner Of a great lady.
But who could the other call have
come from?
Bills mother had already noti-
fed the servants at Aunt Maggic's s
house of what had happened the
night before. | waited on the line
while Minnie. her maid. went to
make sure about the pearls.
'Yes'm. they IN her little safe in
the wall, she reported Miss
Maggie always said it was bad
luck when she forgot 'em On.
Miss Sally. seems like | can't
stand it with Miss Maggie gone. "
Then Andrew was at my shoul-
der, saying. Miss Sally. the dead
wagon, | mean the ambulance.
done come for Miss Maggie"
| forgot all about the piece of
wire and left it hanging on the
telephone.
Eve AT Her Worst
WHATEVER else had happened
w or might happen, the lunch
gong sounded the same. l sat
down at the table, wondering
whether I had been taken in too
easily by Thomas and his story
Of Ephraim's illness. How did ]
know Ephraim was as sick as
Thomas made out? Even now he
might be making good his escape.
II had only been able to reach
DR.. Bates by telephone. If | had
only had an opportunity TO speak
to Bill, who now sat the length
of the table away from me. sepa-
rated by the Pickering flames OF
the candles which had been lit be-
cause of the all-pervading gloom
of the weather.
There were candles burning on
the SideboardS too. with their sill
yer dishes of food. but Andrew
would not be there to pass these
dishes. Lieutenant Gregory had
asked if he and his assistants
might be served separately in
the breakfast room. This will
give US time to check up on where
we stand" he had said, "and l car
question the servants. I'd like to
start with the butler After lunch
I'll interview the guests individ-
ually."
l thought If little unfortu-
nate that he should choose this
particular time to put Andrew
through the third degree. Andrew
was not only needed elsewhere
but goodness knew what might
happen to my cherished old Spode
If Lieutenant Gregory tried to be
too casual in his Questioning.