The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-07-12
Chapter 81
Mysterious Rribe

Chapter Il
Mysterious Bribe
I'VE went slowly upstairs to
IL face jules barrage of ques- !
tons, and her fearful congratula- |
tions.
II wonder where youth live"
Julie said musingly. Il suppose
you'll have a small apartment in
town--and perhaps place on
Long Island. 1t seems to me that
the Bewrons had an enormous
estate on the north shore, but of
course they may have sold it,
when his mother went away"
well, no matter where it is,
you'll be there" Eve said affec-
tionately.
Indeed l won't. I'll bs, happy,
Eve, just TO know that you are.
Now don't worry about me-"
They argued vigorously about
that until Julie declared that it
could not be settled that night. In
the morning, they'd talk about it
again, and Eve Wou1d see that
Julie was right.
But Eve was not satisfied. Long
after Julie was asleep, she lay
awake, thinking. Perhaps if Neil
made it clear that he would well
come her-and of course he would
Julie might change her mind
She would ask him in the morn
ing.
At that moment she heard the
stairs creaking and the mems
hushed voices as they came up.
On sudden impulse. Eve got out
of bed and slipped into her house
coat. She almost ran into them as
she opened the door.
Whats the natter" Neil
asked, alarmed. did something
brighten your"
''Shh-hh-come down here by
the back hall. I'm not frightened;
just wanted to talk with you for
a minute"
"Well-Pm off to bed" Brett
whispered. Good night"
But as he turned to go, Eve
said quickly:
''No-wait a minute. Did YOU
hear sound, just then?n
Both men listened, shaking their
heads. But, as Neil was about to
speak again, all three heard it
distinctly--the sharp creak of a
protesting hinge as a door was
opened. They looked at each other,
startled, then glanced around the
gallery. All the doors We're shut.
Neil tiptoed to the railing and
Squinted down at the front door;
he came back shaking his head.
Brett, as if remembering some
thing, turned to the back hallway.
This ran in back of the gallery,
just over the hall outside the
kitchen downstairs. Eve, followed
the men with a queer, breathless
feeling that almost cfioked her,
saw that they had approached the
back stairs. TheEe ended right in
front of a ittle-used side door.
She could not remember ever
seeing it ofsan, but the draft that
came up the stairs made it evil
dent that it was ajar now. A
faint light came UP to them, too,
and Eve, peering between the two
men, saw that it came from an oil
lamp which Mr.. Jackson was
holding high above his head.
As they watched, hand
reached out toward Jackson, hold
ing a large white envelope. Jack
sons thin hand grasped it and
whisked it out of sight at once,
He said nothing, but closed the
door softly on whatever figure
stood outside, and slid the bolts
home. Then, as if relieved, he
Strengthened and started back to-
ward the kitchen. ,T
"Jacksoni" 20
Caught /,
DRETT'S voice was as sharp as
- the crack of a pistol The
caretaker raised the lamp again
and looked UP at the three Of
them. Brett was already halfway
DOWN the stairs. For a minute,
Eve wondered if Jackson were
going to run. But he seemed to
think the better of it, and waited
tYuculently as they descended the
narrow stairs.
"Who was that at the door,"
Brett demanded.
"That's my business" The face
of the caretaker was as surly as
his tone.
That's where you're wrong"
Neil assured him. "Its our BUSH
Iaess. Ii someone can come to the
island--he must have means of
getting away. You've been lying
to us. There's boat hidden some
where"
Have it your own way" Jack
son shrugged, continuing on to-l
ward the kitchen. Brett followed
closely, and motioned for Neil and
Eve to come with him. AT the
door, however, Jackson halted and
turned on them nlenacingly.
"Are you going to follow me
around all night?7 he demanded 4
& Possibly Brett agreed. 4untifI
you decide to tell us what this, IS
all. about" q
cts, none Of your business"
Jackson repeated again. He set
the lamp on the kitchen table,
where it threw a warm circle of
light around the old-fashioned
room.
Brett and Neil, with one accord.
walked over and held the mans
arms. The caretaker seemed about
to resist, but although he was
taller than either of them. he was
no match for their muscular
strength. His lips curled in what