The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-01-10
Chapter AZ
Rehearsal
ct LIEUTENANT GREGORY doe

this" Mr.. Dodson went on. "He
believes the murders are the work
OF different people. If such is the
case, then more than one person
is behind what has happened
here since Mrs. Amber came
down those back stairs last night
to meet her death in the narrow
passage at the back of the house.
'In other words" Mr. Dodson
paused for moment before going
OIL repeat that | firmly be-
lieVe there is a connection be-
tween the two murders. and
therefore if more than one per-
son is guilty a thorough sitting of
the evidence in one case should
bring, to light evidence against
more than one person"
II think we are wasting our
time" Lieutenant Gregory re-
marked with more than little
show of irritation. After all. we
have a confession in one case and
in the other we have evidence
sufficient to justify an arrest.
What more can you want? Put
Miss Dunbar and Mr.. Stuart be-
hind the bars and this case will
break wide open. My job is done
and | have other work to look
after. I'm not supposed to spend
my life on an open and shut case"
"But you agreed to indulge me-"
Mr.. Dodson reminded, with an
ingratiating smile, land per-
haps you will not regret the
waste of time"
"All right, but let's get along
with it.
VERY we'll. Technically we do
not have an actual witness. We
have someone who heard, but
who did not see the principals in
the first murder. Andrew. will
you stand and repeat your story
of what you heard last night?"
"Yes-yes, sir" Andrew replied
in a scared voice. Eyes. sir"
Grasping the edge of the reading
table, Andrew tried to steady
himself and his voice at the same
time.
Il go on" said Mr.. Dodson kind
iy.
"Mr. Bill" Andrew looked at
Bill beseechingly.
That's all right. Andrew" said
Bill. Go on"
So Andrew told his story again,
haltingly and with many lapses
into silence, from which he had
to be prodded by Lieutenant
Gregory or Mr.. Dodson. and |
must say that it had the ring of
truth. nor did it vary from that
earlier version as | remembered
it and as Roberts had it written
down in his notebook.
When Andrew came to that part
where Aunt Maggie was said to
have cried out, Mr.. Dodson
stopped him. II want you," he
said. ITO initiate as nearly as pos
sible the tone and expression of
Mrs. Ambler's voice" And then
as Andrew hesitated. looking
vague and even more helpless,
Mr.. Dodson explained. "Say it as
nearly as you can like Mrs. Am
bier said it,"
Andrews face cleared. "Yes,
sir. Well. she say Don't you dare
lay hands on me. Willie" And
with the Negroes special gift for
mimicry. Andrews voice rose at
the end so that what had begun
as a command ended as an en-
treaty. 1t was, in fact the whole
gamut of emotion. from arrogant
self-confidence to desperate panic.
Something Wrong
MR.. DODSON nodded his head.
Ifi THAT Swill do. Andrew" he
said. and i wondered IL Mr.. Dod-
sons reaction in any way APP
preached my own.
For there was something about
that last utterance of Aunt Mag
gie's that seemed wrong TO me,
Il was moi In the words. | felt con-
hdent that they were her own.
Nor was il in the tone, exactly.
Whatever ii was eluded me. but
| felt that II | had the time in
some less hectic atmosphere. or
maybe possessed a little more
brains. | could figure il out
sri probably think Of il after
I've gone 10 bed tonight" | told
myself There would be plenty of
time for thinking If Bill were
taken 10 jail How would ever
sleep again with such q cloud
hanging over our lives?
Mr. DodSon's face wore a sort
of hooded look With sight. de-
eidea, he probably would have
made a marvellous poker player,
lie asked me 10 repeat my own
part Of the evenings performance.
which did, ! told of finding the
house deserted of seeing the
strange man In the driveway. Of
hearing footsteps in the kitchen
and o downstairs door Slam while
| was upstairs.
| told OF the telephone message
which Andrew said he received.
OF the green scrap of paper with
IFS sinister warning OF the guar
rel overheard between Aunt Mag
gle and Eve. or finding Aunt
Maggie dead and Of discovering
later that her body had been dis.
tQrbed
told Of seeing the red light
and Of the door which Kirk and
1 had seen open and close. I told
Of finding the second message On