The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-07-01

she wouldn't say to me-" Ham went
on unhappily. Il know I'm not
much to look at" he added hum
/ bly,, compared to Neil or to Brett
Rodman, And | don't know much
about anything -even houses. But
I've loved Gina for so long
Il understand, Ham," Eve
could not trust herself to say
more for the moment. She her
| self had noticed the increasing
amount of time Gina and Brett
managed to be together. But if
Ham were noticing Gina's be-
havior, too, perhaps it was more
serious than she had thought. She
felt the cold of the night wind
suddenly and pulled her coat
more tightly around her shoul-
ders.
I'll talk to Gina, she prom
ised the disconsolate young man
/ at her side. Il know she likes you.
Ham you remember she protest
ed against you coming out here
tonight"
That's right, she did" In
Hams voice was all the wonder of
an explorer finding a new world.
While | led you on" Eve con-
tinued with a remorseful laugh.
But come on-we must get back
noW-and certainly the beach is
quiet enough.
Run For Life
THERE was a soft swishing
4 noise and a popping sound that
mingled with the beat of the sea
on the shore. Eve wouldn't have
been quite sure she heard it, ex-
cept that Hams hand was against
her !. elbow and hes urged her
%"Lie Downright oh The sand.
Here-Lordyi Down.
But what what was it?" Eye
asked. The sand was cool against
her fingers, and damp from so
much rain.
Somebody shooting at us,
think. Keep down" Again there
was soft. popping noise and this
time Eve saw little squirt of
sand snoot up toward the sky. All
at once she began to tremble vio-
! lently.
STEADY steady It's just some-
one up at the house--trying to be
smart. Nevertheless his arm was
around her shoulder, and he
didn't sound too reassuring. For
! how long they crouched there,
Eve could not tell.
But there were no more noises
and finally Ham asked her if she
thought she could run for it. Eve
agreed, with no feeling one way
or the other.
Ham locked her arms in his and
with the same gesture that
brought them to their feet, he
started to run. They did not stop
until they reached the front porch
and pounded up it, bursting in the
front door The others came out
of the living room hurriedly; Julie
ran over to Eve,
Oh, my dear! You're as white
as a ghost. What is it?"
Eve could only bury her head
| ir jules comforting shoulder. but
Ham with Gina clinging to his
arm. managed to say:
"LetE all get back in the living
room. they turned and followed
without objection, and then Ham
said suddenly. "Has any one left
this roorn?"
For a minut no one answered.
Then Neil cleared his throas ana
spoke.
Yes. | did. ! went upstairs to
get my pipe and to have a look
around for Eve. I was uneasy
about her-I tapped on her door,
but she didn't answer. And I came
down again. / was about to speak
to Mrs. Emerson about it when
we heard you running"
Il went outside for a breath of
air, and to see if it was raining"
Jim DroisSard put in. But there
was such a heavy mist Ifdidn't
stay long"
"No--you came right back, I" Mr..
Howe agreed. Whats the trouble,
Willard? You haven't told us
eget."
I'VE were shot at - Ham
paused and was gratified by the
astounded faces of his listeners.
Eve and / decided to give Lordy
Mac a run on the beach," he con-
.fessgd We didn't think ali this
hush-hush business was neces-
sary. Well" he admitted grinlly,
I'VE were wrong. Somebody shot
at us-not once but twice, and
the shots came uncomfortably
close.
I'VE know now that there's no
one on the island except ourselves
and the Jaeksons. If you were all
here in this room or accounted
for, it must be the Jacksons."
odd we didn't hear the shots"
Mr.. Howe said. HBut the Ere is
cracking so. we might have con-
fused the noises" He glanced at
Jim Droissard and as quickly
glanced away. "Well--anyway, it's
over. Now the question is-who
did fire the shots?"
"One of the Jacksons," said
Julie positively I've never liked
that woman. And she said she
didn't want us around. If we could
have got away the first day, it
might have been all right. But as
it is, she may have decided to do
us in, one by one. ~
''But don't you think we should
have the Jacksons In here and
question them?" asked Mrs. Mar
bury. @Really-if they don'tswant
us
You'd ask them il they shot
at Milliard and Miss Frentice?"
the lawyer interposed smoothly.
aOh, no, my dear Mrs. Marbury.
If they really have got to the
point where they will stop at
nothing to get rid of us, we must
remember one thing"
n -. 4I.rAoU q