The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1942-12-12

NldTh carried AeI d.4CO4IS- - -
body up the stairs and lad i,
gently on her bed. The little
eham berna'aTd broagh, water
whispering feaffully. frigntened
aplaek eyes fixed with guilt on
lRitsts faee.l is she dead?" a.u5
Winning-Again
II was almost dawn whcr
~ Gloria came into the room
Rita was sleeping. Clark was
standing by the window sta..na
out into the semi-darkr ess Clo! a
went to stand beside him Qu.etly
she sobbed.
Il feel so-horribly rcspors.b :
for all this"
He patted her shoulder :bsen.-
ly. "You needn't. Anyorc *
have sent for detect e
"You think Rita did lt?" Shc
held her breath waiting for h,'
answer.
"The evidence is against NJ
at the moment" Clar': sac
heavily, His mind was swim gin
back relentlessly to Rila's owr
words, Il think I've found a quick
solution"
In her moment of triumph
Gleria's emotions were. sensitized
SO keenly she could almost nfeeI
the thoughts of his tortured mind
Dad used to belieYee time wousc
cure Rita's father, of hiSrqpeel
business methods" she whispered
"But it never did" She could al.
most feel the vague hope dyina
in him. Her game was practically
finished-she had won her mos
exciting campaign. Her petulan
lovely lips curved in a smile a:
she pressed her face close agains
his lapel and sobbed afresh
"Take me back to Frisco-please
Clark dear" Her arms crep
around his neck.
A Friend In Need
| a ND, at that moment the dool
opened. A big. broad shout.
dered man stood for a minute
silhouetted against the dim ligh
of the hallway. Then he crossed
to the bedside and bent to take
one of Rita's slender wrists in hi:
fingers. Clark frowned. You're
not the doctor saw yesterday.
The big mar gently lifted one
of Rita's eyelid-. Rita called me
yesterday" He Strengthened then
and gave Clark a long scrutiny
You're Clark Pasquin," he sale
bluntly. eff this collapse of Rita!
means what I'm afraid it does
nerve prostration - it's your
fault"
Clarl: could only stare at the
stranger in complete amazement
Gloria cried Indignantly, "Whc
are your" What are you talking
about?"
The broad shouldered mar
turned TO look hard at her. "Yol
must be the Cunningham girl
he. stated. 81 was--un fortunate
ly-delivering a baby when you
were at that ranchers' meeting
My name is Doc Burrows-ol
Blossom Valley"
Clark slowly followed the doc
tors accusing glare towards
Gloria. But Gloria's eyes were
fixed on the open door behind
him, their pupils dilated with
fear! Suddenly she ran to the
door to disappear into the hall.
Doc and Clark were still peer
ing stupidity after her, when a
shrill scream of terror split the
morning Stiffness! With one ac-
cord they ran out into the hall,
Gloria had disappeared as il
swallowed up into a voidl
Clark and Doc Burrows. ran
down the hall and into Gfdria's
room, It was empty. They took
the stairs three at a time down
to the lobby. The desk clerk was
surprised at 6 their odrgentbddes-
tons. No, he'd seen no one leave.
''But she hseaaA S6fnesV4ffre!"
cried Clark. "She- couldn't lust
disappear in that ffallt"
Infected with their excitement,
the clerk went with them back
through the grey kitchen, the SER
wants quarters, even down into
the store rooms All was bare and
empty, ominous.
To be continued