The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-10-02

Chapter 81
Death

- al LEoA&Ht out OF
:, their sleep the next morning
py one OF Philip divers races. He
nap risen and knocked down q
Niagara servant who stumbled
s Eyer al nim 9PP his Yay to enliven
The boy Aayld 8g4himperins the
others had sat up iazedIy with
the exception of Sherwood. who
rose TO his feet a.. alert as a eat
Oliver chose to take the move as
an intended attack and backed
away snarling.
You're the cause Of all our
trouble" he shouted. and added
epithets to Sherwood's name.
You came between Anne and me.
You're trying to make . fool Of
Diana. You interfered with the
Chinese governor. You set the
Nagaras against us. You're trying
to wreck our expedition. YOU
and his TRADE branched off into
profanity.
Sherwood stepped forward an
griiy. You can't talk to me like
that. Oliver"
~~P A~AGd1C4 dIlOLlGT step
still snarling and his shoulder
struck Anne's Niagara belt.
I'll talk to you as T." sud-
denly he whirled and seized the
dagger. drew il from the sheath.
and turned on Sherwood in man.
iacal rage. The others were on
their 7feet3now.
And then everything happened
$50 q1lcklY that no two could
agree on what they had seen.
Except they were sure that Philip
Oliver had tripped on the belt
and fallen with all the force Of
his lunge, half-riser. and pulled
the dripping knife from his side.
before he sank again.
The doctor sprang forward.
Don't touch that knife" Anne
cried in terror.
II don't intend to-" he answered
grimly. Presently he stood up.
Phillip Oliver is dead. Miss VII
lard. remove the knife frora his
hand"
Il can't" moaned Anne. ap-
palled.
do you wish me to- asked
Sherwood in a low voice. mo,
no." said Anne.
The doctor interfered. Just a
moment. Did it look TO YOU folks
as if Philip deliberately turned
the knife blade in on himself
as he went DOWN."
Maybe when he tripped," sug-
gested Sherwood, sit dropped in
such way that the blade came
uppermost and he fell on II.
Larry shook his head. "Oliver
suddenly cracked Up and did if
deliberately. We've seen il COM
ing"
"Call it insanity if You wish, I"
agreed the doctor. Phillip was in
high-strung psychic state. He
intended to kill Sherwood. we
saw that at least"
Several Nagaras had come in
and remained near the door
BE caTefuli" warned Sherwood
urgently. Were being watched"
The doctor went on in his dry
voice. IF you, Sherwood. wish to
remove the knife"
mol" cried Anne again.
She bent down. steeling her
self to the ordeal, opened the lax
fingers and took the knife by the
handle. the only part free from
blood.
She rose and fumbled for the
belt in which to sheath the
weapon
THEY continued the journey
l. that day, the Nagaras in
exorable. The only concession
they made was that Philip Oil
Ver's body should be left lying
in the tent for future burial
plans, a guard keeping watch
against wolves.
'sIn case the rest Of US come
out of this alive" said DR.. Mar
tame.
1t was a hard. cold ride across
the steppe. In mid-afternoon they
stopped near water hole for rest
s and lunch. Diana continually be-
awailing the day that had brought
Aher father in contact with DR..
Willard and the promotion OF this
10 exped1ti6ffa IL s1is .
Anne felt a strange apathy
about it all. She watched Diana
rise and join the natives around
their fire and smiled YEARLY
when Beth murmured;
"She doesn't seem to like our
company"
Since divers death they had
all noticed a subtle difference in
the Nagara's attitude to Anne.
She had lost something while
Sherwood, in circumventing the
white outlaw had gained. Mac
key looked across the fire at him
admiringly.
you're the darnedest guy.
Something always turns up to
get you in good
They rode until dark brought
them to another camp, this time
the entrance to the underground
river cavern. Fortunate too. for
snow had begun to fall again. But
the tent set up for the white
people in the big cave was clean
and roomy, furs and felts were
plentiful. the native food hot and
nOurishing. Larry found bulb
bling warIn spring pool on the
sandy floor of the cave not far
y behind their tent. Warm baths for
everybody,
II was heavenly, thought Anna
sinking into the refreshing depths
when her turn came. Then By the
light of the brushwood torch set
in niche in the wall she saw the
folded pale blue paper. II was
lying beside the ledge on which
she had placed her clothes. One
of the other girls who had bathed
before her must have dropped it.
eha doridad Sha forget the ma