The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-04-06
/ Chapter 80
Afternoon Adventure.

"T'M certain that Macdonald COM
L mitted suicide, but l can't
prove that he was here at the time
of his sisters death, said the Ser
geant.
'How about Miss Rogers?" I
asked tentatively, expecting to be
demolished with look.
But the Sergeant apparently
didn't resent the question, or per-
haps it was because he had a soft
spot for red hair.
THAT poor little girl" he said.
"She was afraid to tell me that
she'd been with him the other
night. Protecting him, she was. l
told her after this to tell the truth
always; it was better in the end.
But she didn't know if he came
back to the house or not"
With difficulty I restrained
smile.
'Tl never get anywhere if some
one doesn't come through. I must
prove that he was here at the
time" s
II think you've done very well,
Sergeant" Isaid, trying to be tact
full. How IS your ankle this morn
ing?"
"Still hurts. Didn't have time to
look at il"
''Tll be glad to help you bind it
again"
Wanting to strangle me, too?"
he said wittily. Cor are you just
trying to stay on the right side of
the police?"
I smiled. do you still suspect
me?" I tried to sound disintereSted.
The Sergeant leaned back in the
chair and looked at me with half
closed eyes. II do and l don't"
Then he opened his eyes and stared
at me curiously. Mrs. Evans told
me about your goings-on last
night
brow.
'Umm. She seems to think you
had the lawyer in here all night.
He paused expectantly.
mdo lloL u 1ilB W
self with an alibi," said.
He shook his head and growled.
81 can't get it," he said. when you
bring a bunch of supposedly re-
spectacle people together and start
to question them, the things that
come out would floor a respectable
crook"
Before l had time to defend my
honor, Mr. Kimball put his head
in the door to ask the Sergeant if
he could take some of Joan's books
downstairs.
They are too valuable to leave
here" he said.
There was some argument, but.
it seems she hadn't left will, so
finally Ishi dragged up several
large boxes and the Sergeant went
into the apartment to superintend
the packing.
/ hadn't forgotten that Dirck
told me to be careful, but there
seemed to be no reason to keep the
door locked while Ishi carried the
boxes down to the shop. Besides,
the Sergeant was in and out of my
apartment several times. Twice he
went downstairs to telephone but
he didn't say anything when he
came back. Before they'd finished
with the packing Mr.. Kimball
rushed into my room.
Have you seen anyone taking
things from Joan's apartment" He
was very much excited.
! shook my head.
Then the Sergeant followed him
into my room. you are Sure?" he
asked Mr.. Kimball.
II know it, Sergeant. Her collec-
ton of books is as familiar to me
as my own. There are half a dozen
missing and they are the most val
liable ones.
The officer rubbed his chin re-
hectively. what would they
amount to in cash?"
WELL" Mr.. Kimball said after
a moments thought, "this is bad
time to sell books. They bring low
prices now as a rule. In good times
they would have been worth close
TO a thousand dollars"
SPECIFICS
THE Sergeant's jaw dropped.
Il How in hell did she happen to
have such expensive books?"
When her father died, he left
her some. They were all first edi-
tions and very old. I'd given her
some, but not as valuable as her
others. Of course, they wouldn't
bring that much now. About five
hundred dollars or perhaps little
more" His face was strained. ''The
door has been locked" he an
nounced. 81 don't see how anyone
could get in"
Well, Sarah had been in there,
of course, but I was sure neither
she nor Mrs. Evans would have
taken the books. It would never
occur to them that they would be
worth so much.
Anyone could have gotten in"
] said, cor at least the person who
found the keys"
didn't know whether Sarah
had mentioned it to Mr.. Kimball,
but If she hadn't ! thought both
men should know about it.
'The keyS?" They shouted ST.
simultaneously.
] told them what Sarah had said.