The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-01-08

wish to speak to the servants"
II should think it would be in
a state of confusion" told her,
little maliciously. That's where
Eve Benedict was killed Just
few hours ago."
"Oh, she said. well, would
Mt let the servants be getting
slack. You have to keep right be-
hind them, you know"
stood there, feeling completely
baff1ed. Of course, it was the ma
tural thing for her to come to call
when she heard that the grand
child of an old friend was in
trouble. 1t was possible, l knew.
that her upstairs tour could have
been prompted by nothing more
than curiosity to see an old
friends room and incidentally to
pry into my housekeeping and
whatever changes we had hap
pened to make on the second
floor.
But my grandmother's room
was at the front of the house and
she had come down the back
stairs.
It was relief to have the judge
appear OPPORTUNITY and say he
thought they should be starting
homo. And it was then we dis
covered that Alice had not es-
capped in Bob's car; but in the one
Edriven by the Warrens. which was
an identical model.
This meant more daShing
about and more telephbning to
headquarters. 1t meant too, that
Alice had more than a head start
on her pursuers. And it meant
that we had the Warrens on our
hands indefinitely.
Bill offered to drive them home
or to have Andrew do so. but
Lieutenant Gregory would not al
low it. Looks little funny" he
grumbled, ''that key being left in
the lock-"
But people often do that in
the country" Bill reminded him.
Besides, they'll be in every
body's hair, including your own"
"Can't be helped"
Outraged Gentleman
NOR did he relent when the
~ judge went to him and threat
ened TO have him discharged.
Sorry, sir. | didn't meant to give
you the idea you yourself were
not at liberty to go. But | do not
wish anyone who was on the place
at the time of either of the muir
ders to leave. | am sure your car
will be returned shortly and you
will then be free to 60 or remain
as you like"
I've been trying to get the
judge to trade in that car" Mrs.
Warren mourned. Nov it will
probably be wrecked and we will
be accused of manslaughter or
sued or something"
Mr.. Marshall inquired of Lieu
tenant Gregory if he might use
the telephone long enough to tell
his butler to keep the dinner
warm, but that request also was
denied. Got to hold the line
OPEN" he was told.
''Ee funny, if it were not so
damn serious" Bill whispered in
my ear
Lieutenant Gregory drew us
both aside, What about our little
test?" he asked me. Were you
er, approached by anyone on the
subject of our conversation with
Mrs. Benedict"
"By practically everybody.
Alice asked me about it while we
were having tea and Claire
backed her up. But. of course.
women have so much curiosity.
| never did say definitely, though.
thanks to Mr.. Dodson breaking
into the conversation at the psy-
Geological moment
"Then Miss Dunbar may have
gone away with the impression
that you had definite informa-
tion?"
Perhaps, but her brother knew
differently. At different times.
both he and Kirk warned me that
such knowledge put mesonl the
spot. | told them both that / knew
nothing whatever" ora gs~
"I'm a little sorry about that"
he said. ''It might not have been
a bad idea to let everybody
think" A1e' a"t} aaa
''And have something happen
to Sally" Bill cut in Indignantly.
mo, thank you. | didn't care for
the idea in the beginning"
Lieutenant Gregory again took
up his individual questioning in
the library and | took up the
white woman's burden in fhe
drawing room. Aunt Maggie muir
dered. Eve murdered. Bill sus-
pected. Alice off on a tangent. And
must sit still and shout small
talk ta two elderly bores who, so
far as | knew. might be the dia-
bolical cause OF ii all
No prosecuting attorney could
have thought of more questions to
ask about the murders than Mrs
Warren fired al me. And with
clocklike regularity her mind re-
verted to the subject OF the mis-
appropriated automobile ! could
only hope that she did not visual
ize Alice as | did At every curve
or turn Of the road. rushing head
long 10 disaster. The car a mass Of
ruins. Alice herself thrown clear.
but lying still and white. her lips
never 10 open again
Vaguely noted when Claire
came back from the library and
sank Imply into a chair little
removed from our group. Kirk
left us then, and Bob moved over
70 sit by Claire. II they spoke az
all. il was in whispers but any
way. they could not have talked
above our own hullabaico. Bob