The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-03-30
Chapter "a
Episode In the Night

Episode In the Night
THE room seemed suddenly
i warm and oppressive. couldn't
take my eyes from Richards thin,
pale face. 1t was very unpleasant
sensation, the thought that he
might be involved. But kept for
getting the others in the house:
Adrianne Wells alone in the front
apartment; Mr.. Kimball and Ishi
in the shop: Whitefeld in his room
up on the third floor. and Mrs.
Evans, with her long ears, in the
attic.
Dirck was examining the board
closely. Il wouldn't mention this
to anyone" he cautioned us, look
ing up with grave eyes. Someone
is evidently trying to brighten you,
Chris. 1t may be just a practical
joke"
Il wish l thought Sc" l said with
some aSperity.
what is this all about, any
way?" Richard looked at DirCk.
And briefly Dirck explained it to
him. Then he turned to me. DO
me a favor, Chris. This might not
do any good, but I'd like to eXpcr-
iment Before you go to bed to-
night make another list and tack it
to the board, just as you did be-
fore. Tomorrow we may have an
other visit from this person. And
try not to touch the board any
more than you can help. There
may be finger~rints."
II hate to be used as bait" said,
but finally l agreed with some re-
luctance.
It gave me a queer feeling to
have my apartment enlisted to
lure a murderer. And it was evil
rently a person who kept a close
watch on all of my moves. I'd been
out of my room less than ten min
utes to go down to the corner, and
in that short time the papeG was
taken. With someone so Watchful
/ dreaded spending another night
alone in my apartment on the fire
escape. My feelings must have
been pretty obvious because Dirck
smiled reaSsuringly.
II wouldn't worry if were you.
! hardly think anything will hap
pen tonight" he said. belying all
of those previous emphatic warn
ings. And I'm going to spend
the night with Richard, if he'll
let me-"
He turned to Richard, who
nodded.
''If you want anything, Chris,
Just tap on the steam pipe there
in the corner three times. I'll hear
il and tap back and be with you
Immediately"
what about me?" Mary Ann
asked in her high-pitched voice.
'You don't seem to be thinking
much about my safety"
Something closed back of
Dirck's calm blue eyes. Il think
you'll be safe" he said quietly
"And there are two of you in
there"
The assurance that Dirck would
be within call made me feel lit
tie better. But after the men left
with Mary Ann. who was pouting
childishly over Dirck'S remark. |
locked the door securely this
time. thinking what futile geS-
ture II was. Whoever got into my
room before would doubtless
manage it again even if the door
were locked.
/ undressed again. hoping that
il would be the last time for one
night. And then | sat down at the
desk and tried to think up an
other list of questions. There was
so much that didn't understand;
in fact everything and everyone
mixed up in the murder seemed
to have no rhyme nor reason, so |
had a hard time getting my
thoughts into any constructive
shape.
Finally, after what seemed to
be a long time, l Scribbled down
some questions:
Did the necklace uSed to Strun-
gle Joan Kent come from Tim
LGthrop?
HotD did the street door hap
pen 10 be unlocked at a quarter
of eleUen?
Are Adrianne Wells and Kim
caid telling the truth about the
quarrel in the hall?
Is there any III feeling betlCeen
Mr. Kimbdll and his sister?
And at the bottom of the sheet /
wrote:
Who took my list of questions?
A Crash
DY THE time I'd finished | was
ID exhausted and ready to go to
bed. The room was so hot that /
had to open a window, and of
course all of tn e m stuck. |
couldn't bulge any, except the
only one / didn't want to have
open, and that was the one over
looking the fire escape. The fresh
paint on the win dow castings
seemed to act like cement. So,
praying under my breath.
pushed the window up about a
foot. The night was clear and not
nearly as cold as earlier in the
evening. and there was moon
lighting an apparently peaceful
world.
A persons capacity for fear
must be almost limitleSs. AS
dozed off it seemed to me after
all that had happened / must. by
this time. be shock proof. The