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

Inc JuQge was SILL Vlruperatlng.
"Impudent young whippersnap-
Ipers," he sputtered. "Like to have
them come up before me in court.
| All, Sally, my dear, such distress
ling news. Such distressing news.
We came to see if we could be of
any service"
| "Such terrible thing to hap
lpen in your grandmother's house"
said Mrs. Warren, who is quite
deaf, yet never raises her voice.
II cannot believe that it is true.
Have you really had a murder.
my dear?"
"Two," I said, automatically
holding up two fingers and mo-
tioning her into the drawing
room. The judge followed, leav-
ing Bill to deal with the gentle
men of the press. who seemed
pleased enough to see the judicial
coattails turned in their direction.
Dear mel" Mrs. Warren ejac-
ulated What have you done to
this room? Or am I seeing double?
There certainly are two fireplaces
in here"
explained to her as fully as I
could that we liked the idea of
one long room instead of two
square ones and that ! thought it
gave a beautiful effect of spa
ciousness.
"Spaciousness," she shifted.
Looks like the state apartments
| at Windsor Castle to me-"
"Oh, no." Bob objected with
one of his whimsical smiles, mot
nearly enough gilt for that"
Calamity
THE men, of course, had risen
L and had to remain standing
while each name was repeated
twice for Mrs. Warren and she
had got everybody's family rela-
tionships straight. She insisted
upon calling Kirk Mr.. Price and
asking if he was related to the
Prices of North Carolina. "Glad to
hear it," she said inexplicably
when it was finally dinned into
her head that he was neither a
Price nor a North Carelinian.
"And how is your dear grand
mother?" to Claire. 1--WE went to
school together in Switzerland,
you know. You are really Just
like her, except that her hair was
dark while yours has that lovely
Titan shade"
"Can't see what the young men
can be thinking about to let such
a beautiful girl stay SINGLE" the
judge rem ark ed with intended
gallantry.
MAY I give you some tear"
asked, as Roberts came in to say
that Bill was wanted in the IL
brary again. Mr.. Marshall hastily
arose and made his excuses, and
SO did Mr.. Dodson, both glad to
escape the callers even though it
meant session with the police.
The judge, learning with some
thing akin to horror that the po-
lice were actually encamped in
the house, was instantly on his
feet, insisting that he would speak
word to whoever was in charge.
II knew your father and your
grandfather" he told me benig-
nantly. II will see that you are
not inconvenienced any more
than Is necessary, my dear.
That's very sweet Of you,"
acknowledged, knowing that It
was useless to try to stop him.
could imagine him telling Lieu
tenant Gregory, with great dig
nifty, that the charges against Bill
were absurd because he had
known Bills wife's grandfather.
Of course, he was right in a way,
but 1t wasn't a way that went
very far any longer.
AS Mrs. Warren slipped her tea
she piled us all with questions, to
which most of the answers had
to be shouted several times. II
should think you could not bear
to think of staying here after all
that has happened" she told me,
her keen old eyes watching my
every expression. .i--
"Oh." I said. 81 love the house.
| spent practically Ill my sum-
mers here as child. you know"
eyes. of course. but how do you
feel about 1t now?"
looked her squarely In the
eyes and said, well, Pm still
planning to have little Sally make
her debut here. This room Is per-
feet for it. The receiving line can
stand between these two fire.
places"
'How old is she now7" she
asked.
'Only two" admitted. II hope
all this will be forgotten long be-
fore she's old enough for a debut.
Anyway. I just plainly do not be-
lieve in haunted houses. Some
human agency is responsible for
what has happened this week
end. Not the house itself"
Roswell has never had such q
scandal" Mrs. Warren observed
with relish. / could picture her
serving it up to her bridge club,
choice morsel equal TO breas.
Of guinea under glass. "You are
sure, my dear. that you have no
suspicions?"
"Oh, WELL" I answered. 'Tm
getting to the point where ] sus-
pect my own shadow. Take care
I don't start suspecting innocent
callers
She met my inane smile with a
Shrewd look from her bright old
eyes, stirred her tea and slipped
again. Glancing around at the
group, she said Unexpectedly, Il
can see where il does rather place
you in a delicate position. No one
10 suspect but your guests"
Andrew came in softly, made a
pretense OF raising the lid Of the
hot water kettle and whispered.