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

Neil did not even glance in their
,5;ra.&tsnt, hiat sfarfad Mt once to-

Neil did not even glance in their
direction, but started at once to-
ward the living room.
There, Eve and Brett came to-
ward the door. Brett, still holding
one candle high and a pale and
shaken Eve, leaning against him,
were the picture of two who had
Just shared a narrowing expert
ence. Gina's eyes narrowed slight
~. She had come downstairs in
company with the others and now
caught sight of Brett's arm firmly
around her friends slight waist.
But there was no doubt that
Eve was unconscious OF it, and of
everything else for the moment.
AS Brett glanced up and saw the
others, he eased Eve into a nearby
chair, where she quietly tainted.
In the ensuing confusion, Julie
ran over and clasped the girl to
her tightly, effectively preventing
Ham, who had procured glass of
brandy. from getting anywhere
near Eve. Mrs. Jackson, returning
with an oil lamp which bright
ened the dim room considerably,
brought the first practical note to
the gathering. Eve slowly became
c onscious of her surroundings,
and gazed at the circle of faces
in wonder.
''Who frightened you" Julie was
demanding fiercely. "Just tell us
who it was"
I'll don't know" Eve Stun
hled.
Where were you. Rodman?"
Neil asked icily.
I'D gone to look at the under
ground passage" Brett was ohvi-
,ously puzzled. Il was on watch
II mean, / was alone in the room"
he corrected himself, under Mrs.
Jackson's cold glance, when I
thought about the story. ! took
the book down from the shelf, and
found button! / pressed it, and
a part of the bookcase opened,
showing an entrance to a passage
inside that wall there. behind the
fireplace. Z"
Ham, intrigued, walked over,
and shouted confirmation. "The
place is still open!"
Il went on in" Brett continued,
"and / had gone only little way
when i heard scream. The pas
sage slopes there, so couldn't see
who it was. Then / ran back and
found Eve fainting on the steps,"
"Steps?" said Mrs. M arbury
vaguely.
"They must lead to the secret
room upstairs" Gina explained
impatiently. you know, the room
where they found the skeleton of
Marguerite"
With small "Oh!" Mrs. Mar
bury subsidized into a nearby chair
and took no further interest in the
proceedings.
No Explanation
JULIE, chatting Ewes cold hands,
- had brought the girl back to a
realization that she was safe. But
almost the first person Eve saw
was Mrs. Jackson regarding her
with z contemptuous and know
ing expression. Eve Strengthened
instantly.
IL came down for a glass of
milk, she explained haltingly.
"TEcn, as | was passing the living
room, | saw only-only a candle.
No one was around"
Eve felt Gina'S quizzical eye,
and added, Il came in Intending
intending to put out the candle,
If no one was around. Then-then
| saw the secret door open. and I
picked up the light and went on.
couldn't decide which way to go,
SO | waited minute and-and
called. :"
IF you had called up the stair
well, we would have been glad to
aid your search" the lawyer put
in dryly.
II didn't think of that" Eve
said, wishing that he had not in
terrupted.
OF course you didn't" Julie
soothed.
when III didn't get an an
swer, started toward the room
upstairs. :"
you might have called me-"
Gina exclaimed.
Let her finish!" There was an
odd note of triumph in Mrs. Jack
sons voice. But, for the moment,
Eve was grateful for her interview
ton.
Then, just as I was trying to
decide whether to open the door
or not, my candle went out! And
Il think it was almost the same
minute, | felt something--a hand.
:. Oh, it was horriblen
Eve leaned back against jules
comforting arm once more, her
eyes seeking Brett's. She could not
recall where he had come from.
but she remembered the sudden
expression of concern his eyes had
shown, and the gentle support of
his arm But now he merely
looked puzzled.
There was no one there by the
time 1 got back" he said SLOWLY