The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1942-12-28
Mr.: zIII;;;I!|'5l,si
IS 81
by George
Harmon
/ Coke

Look" he said. and Smoothed
the slip out on the table.
Murdoch bent over it. Four
names had been scrubbed here.
The first was Hestor. Opposite
was a dash. followed by 100000.
Next was Raeburn and the figure
$4,000. Below this WERE two
names followed by question
marks. The names were Allen
and Mason
Bacon removed his cigar and
worked his lips around. Hmm"
he said. This could be something.
Hestor's that first wife of yours
isn't she? Who's 2aeburn?"
Murdoch said he didn't know
Was he at the party?"
Didn't I Just say l didn't
know"
AS soon as he heard his voice
Murdoch was annoyed for letting
so much irritation creep into his
reply. Seeing Aliens name on
that paper had given him a solid
jolt because the implication OF
the question mark which fol-
lowed it was so obvious.
IF he was l didn't meet him.
l don't know anybody OF that
name"
"Okay," Bacon said. you don't
know him. Maybe Hestor does.
What's her last name? LoSado?
Hmm. Well it looks like this lad
was lining up some customers:
Maybe we can find out for what"
He summoned the fingerprint
man. How you doing. Harry"
There was a dame up here
sometime" Harry said. a round.
sad-looking fellow with rimless
glasses. Il got slice of a print
on the bedroom doorknob and I
think it might match with the
ones on that glass"
He pointed to a tray which
stood in one corner. A cheap, lac
quered affair. it held a bottle of
Scotch. partly full. glasses. a
bowl of ice. mostly melted now.
and a pitcher of water.
He brought somebody a
drink" Harry went on. His
prints are on both glasses and the
bottle. but there are a couple of
others on one glass-a woman's."
That's always a help" Bacon
said drily: then bending a brow
at Murdoch: How do you figure
it,"
Il don't figure it" Murdoch
said. I'm going home-after I
stop by the office"
Lucky you"
Yeah" said Keogh. eff I
could be a photographer"
I'VE haven't got a hell of a
lot" Bacon laid. But maybe we
will after we've checked I'D on
your cocktail party crowd Well
probably go calling in the morn
ing. Maybe you'd better figure on
being there; you'll have plenty of
company"
Murdoch stopped. his hand on
the doorknob. his grin wry and
without much humor.
Whatever you say. Just as long
as you don't forget who gave you
your start tonight"
New Problem
Joyce MURDOCH put aside the
- telephone. Della had finished
with her coat and was putting on
her hat.
who was that?" she asked.
''Kent?"
"Yes." Joyce sat down on the
divan. Come here a minute" she
said. and when Della stood in
front of her: "Sit down"
II really should rum" the girl
said. land I've decided about
those clippings. I'm not going to
translate them. Now anyway. But
you'd better keep them for me
until-until we know what we
should do with them"
She spoke thoughtfully, and
without seeming to realize it
perched on the edge of the divan
Joyce reached out and took hel
hand. She still felt weak from
Kent'S announcement. and for al
the icy hollow at the pit of her
stomach. her mind was smoth-
cred by the hot flood of doubt
and dismay. She wanted time to
get a grip on herself, to be alone
until she could think things out
and yet, in the light of what Kent
had said. she had no choice.
TO be continued