The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-07-15
Chapter q
Almost An Explanation


Almost An Explanation
MRS. MARBURy gasped, and
- Mr.. Howe made her an old
fashioned ierky bow and hurried
on before she could interrupt:
mr.. Marbury felt that his
wife's eagerness to find an island
home for herself and Gina was
unwise. He felt that until Gina
was married il would be better
Il she and her aunt did not live
IN such a remote spot.
You understand now why Mr..
Drolssard came along. He was
engaged by Mr.. Marbury to Gre
ate a few unpleasant incidents
nothing serious, OF course, but
enough to change Mrs. Marbury's
mind, should she have happened
70 take fancy to the place. Mr..
Droissard thought he needed more
time than just one night, so he
asked the plane not TO return.
may as well tell you that there
were three incidents which were
created by Jim Droissard.
First, it was he who shot at
Mr.. Milliard. when he and Miss
Prentice were out walking on the
sand. Of course he made sure
that he would miss them.
Second. Jim did not hurt his
arm on the back porch stairs. He
purposely sawed through the
plank and then declared he was
hurt.
third. Jim was really trying
to reassure Miss Prentice that
night when she thought a ghost
touched her, but he lost his head
when she screamed and ran back
into the hall where we all saw
him.
"All this was done only for the
purpose, ! assure you, Of provid-
ing q little mystery. And Of maxi
ing Mrs. Marbury feel that the
house was undesirable.
''Well, Mrs. Marbury has al
ready told us that she no longer
wants the house." continued the
lawyer. 'But, so long as knew
the origin and harmlessness of
these little incidents, was pre-
pared to carry out my part of the
program. Now there are an in
creasing number of--shall we say,
accidents?--for which some out
side and probably unfriendly per-
son is responsible.
For example, ! naturally
thought that there would be a
rowboat or launch of some sort
which would 60 to the mainland
and arrange to get us off within
q few hours II necessary. ] made
use Of the opportunity we had
since we were mar0oned, but
have been puzzled, and disturbed
BY our continued lack Of contact
with the mainland.
ALSO, when we did sight 8
ship, although ii must have seer
our signal, il turned and sailed
away. The incidents of last night
Mr.. Jackson receiving such ;
large, unexplained sum of money
and the disappearance of hi.
wife, leave little doubt in my
mind but that we have stumbled
onto a hideout for some sort o
gang operating outside the law
/ shall not be at ease until w,
are all safely back home. Ant
/ do apologize. and regret mor'
than can say, having unwilling
" aided these unknown malefac
tors
There was barrage Of ques
tons, which mostly went un
answered, when the lawyer hat
finished. For the first time Evl
began TO be really frightened.
Somehow, through all Mrs
Jackson's talk Of ghosts and tn
incidents which the lawyer ha,
mentioned, she had not been a
uncomfortable as she had tn
first day, just before they landed
Living in the house, even unde
such bizarre circumstances. hal
so accustomed her to the plac
that It no longer frightened he1
Now she saw that her mrs
premonition had probably bee
correct; there was a possibilit
that they might be in real danger
Some of the others began to fee
as she did. Eve thought, as Tn
day wore on and there was n
sign Of the plane, a boat, or Mr..
Jackson. If the gang" was de
termined TO hold them on the is
land still longer, for inexplicabl
reasons OF their own, there wa
certainly nothing thew could dc
This feeling of helplessness grad
ualiy took possession OF them q
and. losing their gaiety OF tn
morning. they became peevisl
cross or irritable by turns.
Eve had still another worr,
The conviction had been CROWN
upon her ever since last night ths
she could not continue this en-
Rageuent to Neil unless she toll
Fin the exact circumstances un
der which she and Julie ha
come TO the island.
Her feeling Of loyalty towar
Julie had prevented Eve tror
telling Neil all about 1t when h
first proposed. But she began I
see more and more clearly ths
she owed q certain loyalty to her
self. AT the moment she fel
ashamed and out of patience wit
herself every time she looked !
the mirror.
That night, after a sketchy din