The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-01-06
Chapter SO
Sally's Assignment

IT LIEUTENANT" Bill asked,
l. "why do you think these
murders are the work of anna
teurs?"
Lieutenant Gregory gave Bill
one of his deep, probing looks.
well" he said finally, take
those two notes left around for
you to find, Mrs. Stuart. No pro-
fessional crook would be guilty
of such old-fashioned methods"
'If he has committed two muir
ders and eluded detection, he
can't be such an amateur now"
Mr.. Marshall observed.
there's more than one person
mixed up in this" Lieutenant
Gregory insisted. Wouldn't sur
prise me to find the whole house
party involved. Lots of things
they are all going to have trouble
explaining when the case comes
up for trial. SIT
"Oh," I asked, suddenly re-
Numbering, were there finger
prints in Ewes bathroom"
@"Who's conducting this inquiry,
anyway" Lieutenant Gregory
asked, with dry grin. i've been
answering too many questions
and getting nowhere. What
want to ask you to do, Mrs. Stu
art, is to let me know if anyone
shows undue concern about what
Mrs. Benedict may have said to
you this morning"
"You mean--if anybody tries to
find out whether she really told
me anything definite?"
Exactly. If anybody wants to
know whether she named names
or anything of the sort, tell them
anything you like but report to
me Immediately. And by the way"
he added, II wouldn't wander off
alone. May not be too safe for you
il anybody suspects you know
something"
"But, Officer" Bill protested,
do you realize what you are let
ting my wife in for?"
Never mind" said, don't you
see this means Lieutenant Greg
DRY admits the possibility that
someone else may have killed
Aunt Maggie?"
We'll, now, wouldn't 60 as
far as that" the officer remarked
cautiously. "But will admit that
this second killing does compli-
cate things considerably"
Just keep bodyguard handy,
my dear" Mr.. Marshall advised.
"You and Bill can sort of stick
together. you know"
Except that would probably
prevent any questions being
asked" l pointed out.
The arrival of an ambulance
and police doctor made it neces-
sary for Lieutenant Gregory to
declare another short recess. Mr..
Marshall, Mr.. Dodson, Bill and
joined the others in the drawing
room, which in spite of battle,
murder and sudden death still
smelled family of dried rose
leaves in Sevres pot-pourri jars,
just as 1t had ever since | could
remember.
The lights in the crystal chan
deliers had been turned on and
Andrew had made fires in both
fireplaces. In my grandmother's
time one room had been a yellow
parlor and one a green. the ola
mahogany furniture upholstered
IN yellow and green silk damask,
respectively. 1T makes such a
nice contrast with the double
doors open on days wher I re-
cefve. she said.
What a strange contrast was
offered by that serious faced
little group huddled at the fire..
place nearest the front OF the
house and farthest from the black
and gold Coromandel screen
which still concealed the sofa on
which Aunt Maggie had been
placed after her death. | knew
that my own face was Just as Seri-
Gus. What all our minds were
filed with dark thoughts and
dread suspicious.
Curiosity
MY throat was as dry as though
IVA had fever and all OF us
looked as IL we needed a pickup
OF some kind. Lets have tea" |
suggested to Bill. who rang for
Andrew, instructing him also 10
bring whisky and soda.
Everybody frightened percep-
tibly az the appearance of re-
freshmentS, even Mr.. DodSon.
The English certainly had the
right idea" said Kirk as he de-
cided on tea. Bob mixed himself
a whisky and soda with the re-
mark that he had been taking
too many straight drinks lately"
Claire refused the thin bread
and butter sandwiches. but Alice
took a second, apparently with
out realizing that she Lad not
touched her first one. by the
way, Sally" she said. with as.
Sumed nonchalance, you never
did tell us what Eve told you"
! almost strangled over my tea
when Claire seconded the motion.
That's right Sally" she said.
YOU didn't tell us"
This was certainly going
straight 10 the point. OF course,
il might be no more than FEM
ining curiosity. but | decided TO
make things a little difleult. I
could feel myself the censeS Of
all eyes as I heSitated. Even Mr..
Dodson's face was turned toward
me and l had q sudden. foolish