The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-07-21

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Howe said. after minutes ST
Hence, I'VE are waiting for your
explanation. l may say, too. that
lit should be a truthful one. We
allowed you to remain silent
about your extraordinary be-
havior when you returned to the
house yesterday. but you may be
sure that we are now going to In
Sist upon q full statement OF your
| position"
Mrs. Jackson's voice matched
his in its lack of infection or
drama, as she started to reply.
Her tone, in fact, seemed almost
incredible when contrasted with
her plump, neat figure and stern
expression.
IT. was my sister who was the
caretaker here" she began. "That
was twenty-odd years ago; she
was hired by the estate. My hus-
band and me came to live here
about ten years ago. Agnes that's
my siSter--was ailing then and
needed someone to look after her.
When she died no one came near
the place and we had nowhere
else to 60. So we Just stayed ]
| guess it didn't make no difference
to the estate, anyway, whether
Agnes or me and my husband was
caretaker,"
"But they must have sent
checks to your sister--they must
have continued to send them"
interrupted Brett.
Agnes wasn't able TO sign her
name for six months before she
died. The estate never questioned
any of those checks and guess
they were used to my handwriting
by the time she was gone"
1t occurred to Eve that Mrs.
jackson said estate" as If it were
a large fat man with whiskers,
and gold watch chain. The es-
| tate had become a personality to
| her and Eve could family SYM
pathize with Mrs. Jackson's point
4 of view-that everyone else in
the room was an intruder.
There is d legal aspect to that
/ point, which we can discuss
| later" The lawyer had evidently
| no sympathy with the woman
Please get on with your story.
Why did you try to brighten us
| away?"
Explanation
@CHE came here to buy the place,
" didn't she2" Mrs. Jackson
glanced at Mrs. Marburv. Prob
ably she didn't want to live here
anyway. but she'd stir things up
and then the estate would get to
inquiring about Agnes. and we'd
get fred" Her voice became a
! whine. "We didn't mean no harm
and we didn't hurt nobody
1T sounds very touching" Brett
said sarcastically you're Just q
Door, innocent couple afraid OF
losing your job. But it's a little
late for that now There is the
matter Of these sailors tonight and
their story that YOU had been or
! the boat In fact thing Mr. Jack
son might find it a good time tx
/. explain that mysterious two hun
!. ired dollars
"She can tell you. Jackson saii
from the corner.
81 can tell you this" Mrs. Jack.
: sons face was bitter as she turned
to Brett Two people can't live
! on twenty dollars month. We
didn't never inquire why the boa
put in here sometimes The mer
| didn't bother us and they never
!. STAYED but an hour or So"
"Just long enough to get rid d
: cargo of stolen goods" Neil pu
! in. "Gee. what an ideal spot fol
: itln
'eWe didn't know who they
were nor what thew did," Mrs
jackson reiterated. "As long as VIZ
minded our own business there
. was little extra money handed
1 to Mr. Jackson twice a year. I
was never the same-two hun.
: dred's as high as we ever got
!, Once in a while it would only b,
!, fifty. but it kept us alive. if yoi
Z could call bein' here Twin"
"But surely you must hav,
found out something about thi
Z boat when YOU went off on it tht
Z other night" said Julie quickly.
! II didn't" the woman repeated
4 firmly. II Just wanted to ask tn,
1 captain to let these two boys wht
|. were here dress up and look likt
I the ghosts we'd been talkin
! about. They were just goin' to sliI
! away quietly afterward."
: Gina leaned over and patteC
! Hams hand as an expression o
!, her approval for his part in un.
covering the scheme. Eve saw
: his other hand clasp firmly owe
the girls.
"We'll accept your explana
ton" the lawyer said with an ali
of finality, "until we can tax,
: further action" But Mrs. jackson
had not yet finished.
you'll be wantin' us to move
!, | SUPPOSED"
! 'sMercy, not" Mrs. Marbury
! frankly yawning, pulled hersel
Z together long enough to make thi
! statement. 1--WE already told Mr.
Howe that have no intention
whatever of buying the plac,
, now"
: Mrs. Jackson's face was a masl
: Of fury ais she looked at the so
: ciety woman. For a moment sh,
could not trust herself to speal
. and the others, watching her
! waited in silence to hear what sh
: had to say.