The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1943-01-30
Mr.: IIg1;lslsla
CASE
by George
Mormon
Coke

/ from the others was explained by
| the compact little Mauser he held
in his right hand.
The tension hit Murdoch all of
sudden and he was aware only
of Raeburn ana that automatic
until the door had closed: then he
| realized that something had hap
pened to Jack Fenner. and looked
at him.
The detective was standing be-
side him. poised and alert. His
thin mouth was disdainfui and
his eyes were cold and sleepy
looking.
Well" he said. Surprise.
huh?" He spoke to Murdoch with
out looking at him. This Rae
bu-n?"
Don" Hestor said.
Her cry made Fenner turn.
You'd better sit down." he said.
"You. too. Mason"
Raeburn had lie ane d back
against the door, the gun steady
in his hand.
THAT IS good advice. May |
suggest that you two gentlemen
follow it as well?"
Fenner's topcoat was open. He
had his hat in one hand and with
the other casually famed out one
side of the coat by putting one
fist on his hip.
"Put it down. fella!" he said.
"Stay where you are!" Raeburn
fgT 1hAtEl1 Etn - chonf
with all these people here"
Fenner took slow. forward
step. you're not going to shoot"
Easy. Jack" Murdoch said.
Joyce Murdoch came forward
in her chair. She remembered all
those things Kent had told her
about Jack Fenner and knew, that
they were SO. His jaw was like
rock and his Notwithstanding
eyes were thin and mean.
mo, Jack!" she said. please"
Fenner moved again. Raeburn
called to him, but the detective
kept coming, slowly. with short.
shutting steps. He was scarcely
six feet away now and Raeburn
set his lips. His fingers frightened.
Then the gun roared and jumped
upward in his hand.
Fenner stopped. For another
second his eyes remained fixed
and he made no visible reaction;
then he took his fist from his
hip and held up the tail of his
coat, inspecting it carefully until
he found a hole in it. He put his
finger through it and looked back
at Raeburn.
Called me, huh?" he said.
"And this coat set me back sew
enty-five bucks"
"The next hole" said Raeburn,
Twill be in you."
The Party
MURDOCH broke the spell that
INI gripped him and took Fem
ner's arm. est down, will you?
want to hear what he's got to
say" He turned and went over to
Joyce.
She looked up, seeing the
graveneSs and censure in his eyes.
Il couldn't help it." she said.
Il asked you to keep out of
! this"
81 know, Kent. But really was
coming here to see Ward and
Della. just as l told you on the
telephone. But he"-she glanced
at Raeburn-"was waiting for me.
l got in the car"
There was nothing else she
could do" Raeburn said.
Murdoch looked at him and
then let his eyes touc.l the others
in the room. They all watched
Raeburn with varying degrees of
uncertainty and alarm; all except
Fenner. Murdoch sat on the arm
of Joyce's chair and waited.
Tive gone through a lot of
trouble" Raeburn said, land
much unpleasantness since I left
San Baria. I was desperate this
morning. I got the idea that /
must get Mrs. Murdoch out of the
way-a stupid idea, must admit.
She convinced me of it although
at the time / thought that if |
could hide her some place so that
she could not identify me I might
be able to finish my job"
what job?" Murdoch asked.
perry Clarke had some papers.
I wanted them"
"You had them," Murdoch said.
"You mean that envelope? You
"a -