The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-01-17

Thanks" said Michael. That's
the way ! doped it out"
And now its my turn" said
TICK firmly. Michael, do you re-
member what you said to Bunny
about Duncan. days and days ago2
When you told her that she mustn't
even be decent to him? Not speak
to him? What did you mean? Be-
cause obviously you have nothing
against him now. Bunny under
stood you the other night when you
took her to see him. but | didn't"
do you remember exactly what
| said. Bunny?"
Bunny smiled. Eyes. You said if
! knew as much about this case as
you were absolutely sure of, I'd
never speak to Duncan again."
That's it. Don't you see, Tuck?
Duncan, you know, vas doing a
bit of sleuthing on his own. If Nc
Balm thought we had joined forces,
if Duncan were always hanging
about here, he'd be in very grave
danger. He was already in danger.
That's why we had him arrested
when we saw how desperate Nc
Balm was getting. He wasn't safe
for moment from our clever
friend"
But why didn't you tell u.s.?
We could have pretended = we
didn't need to make him feel like
a worm of the dust"
"You couldn't have pretended"
Michael leaned over and kissed the
tip of her nose; you have a very
nice face but it's as open as clock.
Don't look. so bitter. That's COM
pliment. And Bunny's no actress.
Anyway-you trusted McBain and
he could see it. That was a safe
guard. I'd have had to tell you to
beware of him, and he'd have got
it. Too big a risk. If / could keep
you all hating each other it was
much safer"
Duncan looked across at Michael.
81 haven't said Thank you proper
ly." he said quietly. II don't seem
to be able to. Perhaps Edgar will
when he gets better. He's my
only brother. You know how !
feel"
Romance
COMETHING in his voice made
~ Tuck bite her lip and swallow
hard. Since that dreadful night the
tears seemed very near the brim-
ming point. Duncan went on.
You know" he said more light
ly, Il never could figure how you
got united and got at that E. at Nc
Balm, just as you did. 1t sounded
impossible to me. So last night /
dropped a knife into my pocket
got one of the boys to tie me to a
ring in the gym and twisted about
trying to get loose. 1t took long
time. but / did it. l was tied only
with heavy cord. Those broad
bands of bandage certainly must
have been the very devil to cut"
Michaers jaw frightened. They
were" he said grimly. 1T took a
million. years and then my wrists
were numb. had to wait for the
blood to get to them, standing there
watching him. afraid he'd notice
what I'd done. The binding about
the ankles wasn't so bad. crouched
there as | was: but the awful part
was getting the knife out of my
pocket without rafting coins :.
and getting the thing open with
cramped fingers"
at sounds like part of a night
mare" Bunny said with shudder.
Duncan drew a deep breath and
Strengthened in his chair. He looked
across at Bunny, and the blue eyes
held the gray ones for long mo-
ment.
"Oh, dear" Tuck sighed. ITO
think it has come to this. All the
mystery dissipated as. what was
it you said. Michael? AS the dew
heeth before the coming of the
sun. and | said after, which is
right There's nothing left but the
love part. and that's so overdone
nowadays" She propped her
round elbows on the table and
brushed the honey-colored curls
olt of her big brown eyes. She fell
silent. muSing.
Agamemnon came into the room
maiestically. He put his paws up
on MichaePs chair and his chin was
duly tickled and his whiskers
pulled. He got down and stalked
over to Tuck.
Charlotte Jean came in for the
empty plates. AS she put her hand
down in front of Tuck the sun
cleaned for an instant on great
pink pearl whose. near-authentic
luster almost put to shame the
sparkle in her eyes as Tuck looked
up.
Tuck gasped. "Why, Charlotte
Jean Soames! Isn'tthat an engage
ment ring?"
"Yes'm, Mrs. Forester" Char
lotte Jean said with fiery blush.
"Ain't it beautiful"
MY Sainted shoe buttons" Mi
chael looked at the ring. Higgins
has wonderful taste. Congratula-
tionS, Charlotte Jean. Best wishes
and all that, but hope you decide
not to get married for twenty-five
years"
'Oh, Mr.. Forester, don't say
that, sir. And it amt Higgins after
all, sir"
mot Hggins?" Tuck said in be-
wilderment. "Then who who
on earth is it?"
Charlotte Jean blushed again
and Strengthened the silver. II owe
it all to YOU" she said. "Its Dono-
! van. Mrs. Forester, ma'am. Mr..
Hall was married"
THE END