The Key West Citizen Newspaper, December 27, 1939, Page 3

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1939 by Frances Shelley Wees YESTERDAY: A check-up re- veals that the letter dated after Murchison’s disappearance was sent to Chicago General Delivery in a larger envelope, held, then taken out and mailed to Mrs. Murchison. Duncan asks Michael why he is being followed, Chapter 32 Duncan’s Story ‘7? better start at the begin- ning,” Duncan said. “It might be better.” “It sounds utterly fantastic. That's one of the reasons why I haven't confided in you before. You must believe me. It was like this—when my brother told me he ‘was going, he said too that he had a very definite reason for leaving his wife as he did. He said—well, it wasn’t what he said particular- ly. We needn't go into that. But he did tell me that he was leaving something for me, the only thing of real value that he Possessed. He said he wouldn’t want it where he was going, and he didn’t want: his wife to have it. He said he’d put it away in a safe place until he decided just what he wanted to do, and when he wanted to go, and then if he made up his mind very suddenly, I could go and get it. It sounds foolish until you think it over. You might say, why didn’t he give it to me then? Well, because he didn’t have it then. He couldn’t get it. She—Marie—had it, and she wouldn’t give it up. She said it belonged to her.” “May we know what this thing ‘was, Mr. Murchison?” “Yes. It was a diamond neck- lace.” He looked at Michael un- happily and made a hopeless ges- ture with his hand. “I know it sounds most unreasonable,” he said. “It was n-entioned that night at Deanes’.... I don’t suppose any of you noticed. Marie said she’d never had a diamond necklace, it was only one made of brilliants. That is not true. When she said that I knew for sure that he’d gotten it away from her at last, and put it away for me.” “Why didn’t he put it in a safety deposit vault for you?” Michael asked quietly. Duncan put a hand over his eyes. “I knew you'd ask that,” he answered. “Don’t you see why? Because—even if he left me the key to the vault—the transaction of hiring a vault might be traced. The question would arise — how did the key come to bein my pos- session? Unless he left a signed paper to say that the diamonds were mine, I might be accused of . stealing from him. He didn’t want to leave that paper. He wanted to drop out. And he was afraid, too, that she would dis- gover about the vault and have her lawyers attach the contents in her name. I may as well say right now that it might just be possible for her to prove that the diamonds are hers, rather, were at one time given to her.” “They were hers then? She had a right to them?” “No. This is the part I am not at liberty to explain. It wouldn’t be fair to . . . a certain person. But that necklace . .. it was worth over fifty thousand dollars... . Edgar paid for it. It took all of are of my grandfather’s He didn’t want to buy it . well, we won't go into bought it. His wife al- ways insisted that it was hers, that he gave it to her. His point of view was that he held that fam- ily inheritance in trust, to a cer- tain extent, and that if he had no children it was to be mine, I don’t want it. I don’t need it, but since wanted me to have the dia- and under the circum- stances, I’m going to have them.” There was a grim set to his jaw. “There'll have to be something arranged for her support,” he went on. “I'll have to do that, I suppose. And that raises another point. We discussed that, Edgar and I, and he said he’d leave pa- pers for me which would guide me in that. I don’t know of what nature the papers are.” And what can we do about all this, Mr. Murchison?” Michael asked. ‘The Truth’ UNCAN looked him in the eye and flushed. He turned to Tuck. “Perhaps you'll remember the first day I came here, after you moved in,” he said. “When had been here only a few I came one afternoon and ked at this door rather than at the front. I had a purpose. I thought I knew where Edgar had left the stones for me, and I want- ed to get them. You came in too quickly, and I’ve only now mus- tered up enough courage to tell the truth, and ask if I may hunt for them in your presence.” There was a silence. Michael's | ¥ eyes were on his cigarette. Bunny gazed stonily out into the garden. Tuck looked miserably at Duncan Murchison’s face. “Haven't you a key to the house?” she asked. “Couldn’t you have come in for the diamonds before we came, when the house was “a eK ft the morning after Edgar did. I gave my key to Marie then.” He turned to Michael. “You will give me permission to look for my property?” “You say the diamonds and the Seeccccccees Today’s Birthdays S. Senator James M. Mead of New York, born at Mt. Marris, N. Y., 54 years ago. Dr. John M. Thomas, president of Norwich University, Vermont, college president for the fourth time, born at Ft. Covington, N. Y., 70 years ago. Gen. Peyton C. March, U.S.A., papers are hidden in the study?” “T think “Where?” “Somewhere in the floor, Ij think. I’ve come to the conclusion that there are loose pegs in the parauens and I imagine it would e near Edgar’s desk.” “He told you that?” “He was rather indefinite, but that is the impression I gathered.” this?” { Duncan considered. “I’m not | sure,” he said, “but I think we; were on the porch here at the time. Why?” He was a little im-{ patient. “I'm sorry if I appear inquisi- tive,” said Michael as if he were not in the least sorry. “Do you mind telling me what Miss Lissey said to you yesterday afternoon?” At once the familiar dark sullen look came over Murchison’s face. “Why do you ask me that?” “I can explain, but I don’t care to at the present moment. Will you tell me?” ‘No, I will not. It was in con- nection with a Subject I do not care to discuss.” “Oh, very well,” Michael sighed. He crushed out his cigarette, and went into the study. He came out in a moment with the gray tin box in his hands. Tt will save you. ie little trouble,” he said lightly, “ I give this to you now. We Mand it some time ago. Not in the floor, but in the cold-air register. Would you say it held what your brother promised you?” Duncan looked at it eagerly. “I should certainly be inclined to | think so,” he replied. “But it’s been opened! Don’t you know what's in it?” “Oh yes,” Michael answered. “Sorry if you don’t approve. We had to, you know.” ‘Practical Joke?’ UNCAN did not answer. He took the box, set it on his knee, and lifted the lid. Inside were the thirty pebbles, once more wrapped in the little pieces of‘ paper, and beneath them the sheaf of letters. Duncan stared at the contents of the box in amazement. “They aren’t diamonds!” he said. He picked up a pebble and un- | wrapped it. He stared at it as it Jay _in his hand. “No,” Michael said. “They don’t seem to be, do they?” “What have you done with them?” Duncan demanded an- grily. “Is this some practical joke, Forrester?” “No. I will take my oath that the box contains exactly what it did when we found it. My wife and Miss Temple will support me in that statement.” Duncan looked at Bunny. “That e quite true,” she said very quiet- y. He pushed the pebbles to one Side, and seized the sheaf of pa- pers. He glanced at the letter at the top of the pile. His face crim- soned. “You read these?” he asked. Their silence answered him. He stood up and shut the lid of the tin box. “Thank you very much for restoring to me my property,” he said stiffly. “You're quite welcome,” said Michael in an easy conversational tone, and went straight on. “I sup- pose you know that Miss Lissey was murdered? It wasn’t heart failure as was given out?” The crimson in the young man’s face receded swiftly. He stared at Michael with horrified eyes. “Murdered?” he repeated. “Mur. dered?” Duncan left. The two Forresters and Tuck still sat on the sun porch. Michael picked up his tea- waited. “Oh Michael, Michael,” wailed as soon as Duncan was through the gate, “Why were you so beastly to him? So dreadful?” “Was I, honey? Please give me another lump of sugar.” “Michael,” said Bunny quietly, “are you going to condemn Dun- can without asking him for his side of the story—just because of what Alix Lissey said?” He set down the cup after a mo- ment and turned to her. “If you must have that .question an- swered, use your head, child. That story he told; does it hold water in your eyes? It sounded like nothing ‘but a string of melodra- matic nothings to me. Not very well hitched together. I don’t think he really made it up him- self, or it would have strung along a little more smoothly.” “You mean he was deliberately trying to deceive us? What for?” “Well—we thought there were diamonds in the tin box, didn’t we, Be we opened it?” “So aid he. If there had been diamonds in it, they’d have been well worth the "trou! le of concoct- ing... or memorizing ... a story like that, wouldn’t they?” 2 Bunny did not answer him. She thought it over. “Michael, you're mistaken for once,” said Tuck. “Miss Lissey hadn't finished her story and any- way she might have been wrong. Duncan’s a nice poy if there ever was one, and he’s telling the truth. Tf he were telling a lie it would sound better, like your excuses when you can’t come home to dinner.” Continued tomorrow jretired, wartime chief of stat, born at Easton, Pa., 75 years ago Marlene Dietrich, screen star, born in Berlin, 35 years ago. | Louis Bromfield, noted novel- ist ,born at Mansfield, Ohio, 43 jfour hits and one run | Labor Temple nine of Tampa) defeated the local Blue Sox ag- | |gregation 11-8 at Trumbo Field! | yesterday afternoon in a _ slow game of baseball. The visiting club hopped on | “Do you rémember exactly |Diaz, Sox starting pitcher, in the | when and where he told you | first inning to put over four runs! on five hits. Yanked before the | stanza was over Diaz was relieved jby Molina who held the Tam- | panians down until the third Manager Ray Bush's Pi- | rates will play the Tampa baseball team tomorrow aft- ernoon at Trumbo Field, the game starting at 3:30 o'clock. | Criginally not scheduled to | meet the visitors from Tam- pa, fans of the city will be | pleased to learn of the ar- rangements made to match the Pirates with the visiting team. poled out safe hits all over the lot at the cork-arm hurler’s ex- pense. Howard Gates, who fin- ished the inning and the game, did better work for the locals, holding the visitors in check to in five rounds of work on the mound. Tampans’ start of four runs was never overtaken, although the Sox threatened to tie the score lin the eighth inning when they! jstaged an unexpected balls, an infield error and a home on board. to the rubber pan. Comparato, 2b _ 4 Orihuelay ss _.. 3 Pizolatto, “PIRATES PLAY TOMORROW |Schiro, ¢ 5 Longval, rf-cf-p 6 Morgado, Prietojpit 3 jLopez, If aang f |Rodri’uez, 1b-3b 5 | Hill, \E. Acevedo, rf 5 \Av. Acevedo, 2b 3 |J. Garcia, If ... 4 nmi. |. Acevedo, ss 2 round when the Ybor City boys |G. Garcia, c _. 3 |Artman, 3b Molina, cf-p Castellano, 1b - |Diaz, p . Steve, cf - Gates, p Tampa - Blue Sox rally by|Longval 2, Morgado 2, Prieto, | scoring three runs on a base on FSctito: Artman 2; two-base hit: ,Comparato; run by Norman Arman with two Garcia; home run: Artman; dou. ble plays: Pizaloto to Comparato. | For the visitors, Schiro, Pizo-'Av. ijlatto and Morgado were the hit- Castellano; passed ball: ting stars, the latter connecting | cia; bases on balls: off Hill 4, off! safely five times out of six trips |Longval 1, off Diaz 1, off Molina | 4, off Gates 1; struck out: by Hill Armando Acevedo’s home steal- |4, by Molina 2, by Gates 2; bat- ‘ing in the fourth inning, Norman ter hit by pitched ball: Prieto (by | Artman’s running catch of Rod- | Gates); THE KEY WEST CITIZEN § (Tampa Nine Evens Up Series With Victory Over Blue Sox 8 By OSCAR L. MILI L. MILIAN on Trumbo Field, the ball rolling |far beyond the 357-foot mark. There will be no game played | |this afternoon. Today’s scheduled | contest with the Trojans was can- | |celled-on. account of the home! team being short of players. Box, score: 4 Tampa ABR Player— ° ROCOBH HE END ef-Ib 5 3b-p 6 NOSHUNNwWONM HoCCORNNEN RAROONNWONH'D SCOSCCH RR ONES 2 Totals— 41 11 Blue Sox Player— ABR HPOA HNOoWNUO RHEE ROCHWASChROHOS Totals— Score by innings: 400 241 000—11 | 010 120 031— 8) Runs-batted-in: Pizolatto 3, three-base hit: G.| to A. Acevedo to G. Gar- | Acevedo wild pitch: Molina; hits: riguez’ long foul drive in back of }off Diaz 5 in 1-3 inning, off Mo- the third base foul line territory |lina 5 in 3 and 1-3 innings, off in the seventh and his line smash 'Gates 4 in 2 and 2-3 innings, off; four-base hit to left center with | Hill 3 in 4 innings, none off Mor- | two men on in the eighth were|gado in 2 innings, 2 off Longval | the only thrills enjoyed by the!/in 2 innings; losing pitcher: Diaz; | fans the whole afternoon. Art-| winning’ pitcher: Hill; time of| man’s homer was the longest hit'game: 2:05; umpres: Acevedo, | and cleanest circuit clout seen |Griffin and Vidal, ORANGE BOWL BASKETBALL LOOP | GETS ATTENTION | GAMES SCHEDULED’ OF WHOLE STATE | wnciihce axven CONTESTS AT HOME; WILL TRAVEL TWENTY-ONE CITIES OUT- \ SIDE MIAMI AREA TAKE DI- | RECT PART IN PROMOTION | OF NEW YEAR'S DAY EVENT |High School today released the FOUR DAYS Coach John Offutt at Key West | cup and sipped at his tea. He | Tuck | 1940 basketball schedule for the |school team as follows: (Special to The Citizen) | January 18, 19 and 20—Out-of- | MIAMI, Dec. 27.—Starting from ‘town games at Ponce De Leon, | modest beginnings in 1933 as a Homestead and Riverside Mili local attraction under the name (le ASA ‘a1=Home coe jof “Palm Bowl”, Miami's New tects with Ponce De Leon and Day football contests, ‘Redlands schools’ teams. |known since 1936 as the Orange! February 3—Miami Beach at Bowl games, have become the, home. fastest growing gridiron classics | bs etd in the country. | February 12—Hazelwood Boys Not only that, but the annual |Club,t{Hazelwood, Pittsburgh, Pa., jevent has become genuinely of (Ih a game here. state-wide interest and partici-; February 17—Miami Beach at pation, and the play by play of; Miami Beach. ‘the game is broadcast each year| February 24—Jupiter at home. jon a coast-to-coast CBS hookup| February 27—Riverside Mili- | with Ted Husing, famous sports! itary Academy at home. announcer, as narrator. Team officials will Indication of how widespread!book games for is Florida participation this year open dates: Away—January 11, is given by the fact direct part} 12, 13 and February 15, 16; home is being taken by organizations | |january 26, 27 and February 5, from 21 cities, aside from Miami, (6, 19, 20, 21 and March 1, 2. Miami Beach and Coral Gables.| On March 8 to 9 the District This participation is taking va-|Tournament is scheduled at Mi- rious forms. In some instances ami and the State Tournament Orange Bowl committees have for March 15 and 16 at Orlando. been formed, some of them with Key West will be represented at 100 members, and these commit- the District meet and on to the | Year’s 9—Homestead ~ at strive to the following | tees have been in close touch with | the general organization, advis. ing on, various events in the pro: gram, helping in selection of con- testing teams and managing sale | jof tickets for the game in their | localities. The 21 cities assisting in ee program by direct steps are Bra-' denton, Daytona’ Beach, Fort} Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Fort! Pierce, Gainesville, Hollywood, | Homestead, Jacksonville, Key! West, Lakeland, Lake Worth, | Melbourne, Orlando, St. Augus- | tine, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, | Stuart, Tampa, Vero Beach and/ West Palm Beach. Special cars busses and trains | are being planned from many | other cities of the state to bring | roups to the football game. j From some of the cities en- | trants will come for the Pageant years ago. Dr, Samuel M. Shoemaker of New York City, noted Protestant : Episcopal clergyman, born in | Baltimore, 46 years ago, of Beauty, in which Miss Orange | Bowl will be selected, bands‘ will be sent to take part in the! King Orange Jamboree _ street parade and in providing music during the game. jstate finale if successful. LP MILI MT ET BASKET LEAGUE CONTINUES TONIGHT | Island “City | Basketball League resumes tournament play tonight at the High School gymnasium. Games originally scheduled for Mon- day night will be pared to- | COITLEIIMS Dceearecpeneeeicor tee SP ee PAGE THREE "lapse ier cers IP POPP LEL LL POPLELLLE LLL Le Leh YOU’LL FIND IT HERE! FRIGIDAIRE SALES AND SERVICE See them now—on display at 1212 VARELA STREET Complete Line To Choose From ALL SIZES OF REFRIGERATION BELTS E. 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Let us tell you how the low cost will be justified many Here’s a Representative List of Key West Merchants that Sell Practically Everything of Interest to the Average Family or Businessman. _ The Shoppers’ Department IS OF INTEREST TO BOTH VISITORS AND RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY Merchants Represented Here Have Been Carefully Selected and Dealings with Them will be Satisfactory in Every Way. PERMANENT WAVE SPECIALISTS For Quality and Service—SEE US! All lines of Beauty Culture > RAIN WATER USED EXCLUSIVELY PARKER-HERBEX SCIENTIFIC HAIR AND SCALP TREATMENTS—by licensed operators oe FOR APPOINTMENT—PHONE 870 e ARTISTIC BEAUTY SALON New Location—1116 Division Street NEW DELUXE DAYTON WATER PUMP G. C. ROBERTS General Merchandise Nothing like it for the money! PIERCE BROS. Fleming and Elizabeth Sis.. SOLD ON EASY TERMS FOR QUALITY PRINTING Call 51 THE APT MAN PRESS The Citizen Building For All Laundry Services including Linen Service for Hotels and Rooming Houses DRY CLEANERS 617 Simonton Street In Every Town —THE— REXALL STORE Is The Best Prescription Store! Your Family Deserves THE BEST and WE SERVE THE BEST! PHONE 177 Gardner’s Pharmacy 534 Duval Street R INSURANCE Office: 319 Duval St. PHONE NO. 1 THE PORTER-ALLEN EAD THE KEY WEST DAILY CITIZEN g CORTESE | Seu Drink— Wholesale and Retail Galvanized Roofings Ship Chandlery Carey Cement Roofing H. B. Davis’ 100 Per Cent Paints & Oils William and Caroline Streets PEPSI-COLA Healthful and Invigorating MANUFACTURED LOCALLY Contributing to the welfare of this at sid employing Key West labor exclusivel, -JOHN C. PARK PRITCHARD FUNERAL HOME Dignified Sympathetic Courtesy Licensed Embalmer Ambulance Service Lady Attendant PHONE 548 Never Sleep 328 Simonton St. PLUMBING Duro Pumps Plumbing Supplies PHONE 2-1896 1351 N. W. Tenth Ave. PHONE 348 MIAMI. FLA. TRY US NEXT TIME When your Bill Heads run low or if you are in need of Business Cards, Letter Heads or En- velopes, phone 51 and a representative will call. THE ARTMAN PRESS N) : : . ) ° ; K a . N ‘ q N \) \ N) \ & 4 } i. i) X) ) \ N) & \ \ & % & a : . N . 3 : : N