The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-01-14
Chapter As
Interloper
MEMRERED Alice ha,

Interloper
I R ME Erred Alice had
L thought she heard him when
she went to the basement, but
Andrew had not been able to find
him in the coal chute. How was
it Plutarch was always escaping
from the office? Because someone
had opened the door, of course.
The office-I sprang to my feet.
Perhaps-perhaps there was an
entrance from that room to the
secret room.
An drew had economically
turned off the light in the office.
AS / touched the switch button
and the interior of the small room
sprang into being before my
eyes, Involuntary stepped
backward, sitting a scream.
A strange man was standing in
the middle of the floor. Apparent
ly he found the encounter as awk-
ward as did, for we both stood
there silently, staring at each
other.
My first wild conclusion was
that there at last was the sus-
piciouS character we had all been
looking for. But even in that
moment of initial shock and sur
prise, | was conscious of a feeling
of anticlimax. inspired no doubt
by his commonplace appearance.
Here was no movie villain.
Here was no devil with horns and
tail. Here was no gorilla or hairy
ape. Here was only a stockily
built young man of perhaps thirty,
a little on the hard-boiled side
and rather fiashily dressed, it is
true, but otherwise not at all re-
notwithstanding.
But appearances are often de-
ceiving, and I told myself that l
must be very clever and engage
him in unsuspecting conversation
until | could pull the bell cord
and summon Andrew. I could
scream, if necessary, but it would
be much better to be calm and
take him unaware So / said,
somewhat weakly. Il didn't know
there was anyone in here"
He grinned, disclosing an i'm
pressive gold tooth. "Place is
lousy with police"
WHAT" I asked stupidity.
"Plain- clothes man." he ex-
planned, Tipping his coat lapel.
"Oh," said. not quite con-
WINGED, but remembering that
Lieutenant Gregory momentarily
expected someone from the solicit
tor generals Office. 1t could be
true.
"Then," suggested. trying to
keep the doubt out of my voice"
you'll want to see Lieutenant
Gregory"
ments. Just doing a little recon-
noitering. Like to 60 over the
ground and form my own conclu-
sions, you know"
oh" l said again, namely.
"'S'right," he treasured me.
Call Gregory if you want to.
Just delay things is ALL" As |
hesitated, he went briskly on,
But you can help me if you will.
You want to get this cleared up,
don't you? Now. l gather the bed
rooms in this shack are on the
next floor. How about sort of Civ
ing me the layout of who has
which room?"
IF you'll wait a moment"
offered, "I'll have the butler show
you around. Wouldn't that be
better?"
He hesitated. then said. "Okay,
but I could do better alone"
I rang for Andrew, and as we
waited ! led the way into the back
passage and explained that the
bedrooms on the right Of the back
stairs were occupied by Bob and
Kirk and Bill respectively and
those on the left by our feminine
guests, one of whom had been
murdered that afternoon.
pretty wholesale slaughter
around here. looks like" he OBJ.
served.
As Andrew did not appear i'm
mediately. | said | would step to
the kitchen and ask the cook TO
locate him. "Oh. never mind" my
visitor told me airily, "I'll get
along all right"
"Tll send Andrew along later.
promised as he vanished UP the
back stairs.