The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1943-01-04
MRS 1gAgSy32
by George
Harmon
Coke
But I'm not dressed
spll yyait"

DuI IL m NOT dressed
"Pn wait"
Della hesitated, conscious of a
rapidly growing sense Of alarm.
What could he mean by that ref
erence to "last night? She could
feel his eyes boring into her and
suddenly he no longer seemed
small and nondescript There was
something menacing in his very
presence and as much as she
wanted to shut him out she dared
not slam the door.
Cant you at least tell me what
it's about?" she asked hesitantly.
About guy named Clarke"
he said. go ahead. get dressed.
I'll wait"
Della closed the door, the cold
ness creeping up her legs and
sapping at her strength as she
hurried back to the bedroom and
began to dress. trying to think
and then trying not to when she
found the result so frightening.
She did not bother with the de-
tails of her appearance, nor stop
to primp before the mirror. She
donned underwear and slipped a
green wooden dress over her head.
AS soon as she had her stockings
and shoes on she went back to the
hall door and opened it.
Thanks" the man said, and
entered.
He took off his hat, stopped in
the center of the room.
Della put on what she thought
was a smile and tried to be po-
lite, to keep her voice and man
ner composed.
won't you sit DOWN."
Until Noon
THE man did so and she crossed
l. to the sofa. He sat on the edge
of the chair, leaning forward a
little. studying her, holding his
hat so that it dangled between his
knees. His face was round and
shiny and unworried: his hair
was thin and straight. Only his
eyes served to warn her that for
all his outward complacency
there was something about him
that could be hard and shrewd
and ruthless. Small, and partly
hidden by their fieshy setting
those eyes were steady and faith
omless, revealing nothing.
"Now." Della said. what was
"You went to see Clarke last
night. You went to his apart
ment."
Della drew a breath. did II"
"A little before eleven. You
weren't the only one, understand,
but you were the first"
She waited. trying to keep her
smile, fighting hard to meet the
announcement calmly. knowing
all the time that If this man knew
she had been to see Clarke, he
must know that Ward had also
called.
"And Clarke had some papers"
the man went on. Somebody
took them. The police didn't find
them"
You're from the police?"
Then I don't understands
"You will Clarke had some pa
lpers. Som body lifted them.
Either you or somebody else"
Della had control of herself
now. "But if you're not from the
police" she said. "how do you
happen to know so much about
it?"
"You were there, weren't your"
Della surveyed him coldly and
said nothing. The man punched
his lips and stood up.
"Okay." he said fatty. 'T'll put
it this way. You've got until to-
morrow noon"
sim afraid don't follow YOU"
Until tomorrow noon. I'll tele-
phone you here. Either you've got
those papers or you know who
has: Get them. I'll tell you what
to do with them when I call"
But suppose"
"Tm not supposing anything. If
you don't deliver the police get
tipped off. I think they'd like to
know where you were at eleven
o'clock last night: ! think they'd
like to know who else was there"
He put on his hat and went to
the door. opening it before Della
could reach him. In the hall he
turned.
you've got until noon. Play
ball with me or I'll turn you In"
To be continued
----- --------~---- --------------------------