The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-07-02

mock anxiety. "Sartorially perfect
as l an--she glanced down Al
her rumpled skirt, which had not
been improved by Mrs. Jackson's
mlnlstrations = I'D hesitate to
spoil the effect by a misplaced
i You'll do" Brett said soberlv
but lets put il little more over
one eye--like this He tweaked
the Hover down well over. one
eyebrow. That's it, perfect!"
Eve was oddly contented as he
helped her over a deep gully
winch the rain had washed out
~ the path. They made their way
along the narrow beach in the d.
rectlon of a headland formed az
rocks that served as a bulwark
against the sea.
Maybe we've gone far enough !"
Brett conceded. Apparently it's
Just what it looks like, a LOT of
mysterious old rocks. Certainly
there's nothing to explore out
mere. except the bottom of the
ocean, and we're getting too close
to that for comfort"
| They retraced their steps along
the beach. Jim Droissard had long
since disappeared, Except for
themselves the beach was de-
serted.
The coast is clear. Now is our
chance to explore the boathouse,"
said Brett.
Maybe l could fall through the
iiiiocor. or something really serious
like that"
ives voice was chilly.
Tell you what I'll do. Won
stand outside while / go in snoon-
ing. II there is anything to see
and it's safe. I'll shout for YOU to
come in. If ! fall through a trap
door, I'll shout for help. You can
run back to the house and give
the. alarm. Or, if you prefer it,
go back quietly to the house and
say nothing. We'd be even then,
wouldn't WEI"
Eve could not resist his appeal
and smiled at him. mo, I'm GO
ing with YOU" she said.
They rounded the curve of the
beach in silence, approaching the
front of the house again.
That ocean looks unusually
full of water" Eve broke in. "In
fact, it looks as if it could swallow
the. whole island. if it had mind
to-"
st could. but the chances are it
won't, il it didn't night before
last" said Brett. "That was some
terrific storm last night. Did you
hear the wind? The sea looks an
CRY yet, doesn't it?"
It certainly did, Eve agreed,
looking out over the vast expanse
of gray, rolled water. Underfoot.
the beach was seggy beneath the
stones that overlaid the sand. Bits
of foam hecked the shore far
above the water line, tossed off
when the storm had lathered the
sea into fury. Eve caught some
Of the bubbles on the toe of her
shoe.
'Just like soap bubbles" she
observed.
New Puzzle
RUT Brett was staring hard al
- the outlines of the boathouse
Just ahead. 1t was not as decrepii
as he had thought it would be. In
fact, the foundation seemed 10
have been repaired at fairly re-
cent date. He said as much to Eve.
Maybe somebody used the
house as summer camp" she
suggested. Cor maybe someone
used the island for picnics, rum
ming boating parties over here"
They h ad reached the long
ramp that led from the shore to
the building itself. built out over
the water.
"Do you want to wait here
while go see if it's safer" asked
Brett.
"Oh. want to come. too. If it
wobbles, can stop any time"
But the ramp proved fairly
steady, and when they entered
the boathouse a moment later
they found it in surprisingly good
condition.
The building consisted of one
large room from which steps led
down to the boat landing below,
at the waters edge. What sur
prised them most was to find the
room furnished after a fashion.
There were chairs and a table,
and on the shelves along the walls
were dusty dishes and rusty pans.
as if somebody once. not so long
ago, had lived there, or at least
STAYED overnight
A bunk stood in one corner,
with few worn blankets heaped
upon it. An oil stove was half
hidden behind a pile of boxes. Be-
side it stood an empty oil can.
''This place looks as if it had
been occupied recently" observed
Eve.
Brett strobe across the room
and picked up a paper bag that
lay on the shelf, He drew out
from it the remains of sandwich
wrapped in waxed paper.
''This sandwich is no relic of
early Colonial days." he admitted.
Il think somebody brought 1t here
this week"
sWhat does it, mean?" asked
Eve.
"That's what I'll have to find
out" said Brett grimly. "And /
thing when do find out it will
be matter for the police. Let's
get going"
'Where2" said Eve.
Brett took her arm firmly. pro-
pelling her through the door and
back across the ramp. The trip to
1.-THE house was made in silence.
Brett walking so fast that Eve
was half GREATNESS. 1t had begun