The Key West Citizen Newspaper, May 10, 1951, Page 11

(eR or eenyp TY RARE RR RSET ar AP Newsfeatures Chapter 12 I WENT back to the building on a tered Na without any nite plan. I rapped briskly on Mrs. Ross’ door — ignoring the buzzer button—and, after awhile, that fat old nurse opened the door. She gave me a quick up and down, then started to close it again. “Hey!” I cried. “It’s me.” “I know it,” she said grimly. “Good day!” “Just listen for a minute,” I pleaded, polishing up my best smile. “I’m not a copper—really, I'm not! I’m Dr, Caldwell’s secre- tary, and he’s a friend of Professor Thomson who lives below you and on whom the cops are trying to pin the murder.” I talked as fast as I could, trying to get it all in before the door closed. “If I can talk to Mrs. Ross for only a minute, I may be able to figure out who really killed Straw, and—” ‘ “Mrs. Ross don’t know nothing about it,” the nurse stated flatly. “I know that,” I assured her earnestly. “All I want to find out is whether she knew Lawrence Straw was stealing money from her.” The door opened a little and she peered at me. “What'd you say?” she asked. “You heard me. Straw was stealing money from her. I want to ask her if she knew about it.” “You wait right there!” the nurse commanded, shutting the door. I waited. The door opened abruptly. “Come on in,” she di- rected shortly. “Mrs. Ross is a-bed. Come this way.” Mrs. Ross was wizened and old. Her head was in the center of a large pillow, looking like a wrin- kled old pear, and her voice, when she spoke, was as thin as nickel beer. “Come here,” she whispered, raising a bony arm and motioning me nearer. “I want to see you,” she moved her eyes — alert, piercing eyes—over my face, my clothes, FIEND IN NEED By MILTON K, OZAKI ' my hands.' “What’s this about Lawrence?” she asked weakly. I felt self-conscious, the way a strong, healthy person always feels on meeting an invalid. “I’m sorry if it’s bad news, Mrs. Ross,” I said. “You know, of course, that Lawrence Straw was murdered last night.” She nodded almost imperceptibly. “I’ve just come from his apartment where I ex- amined some of his papers and I’m afraid he’s been embezzling large sums of money from his aecounts. I don’t know what your business interests are but your nurse mentioned last night that he was your auditor, and I thought you might want to check on him.” Her bright, piereing eyes watched me emotionlessly. “Why?” she asked, almost audibly. “Because as soon as the cops} find out about this, they'll be around like a pack of hornets and they’ll turn your affairs upside down. You know how cops are. I don’t think you can get your money back, but if you’ll tell me a few things about Straw, I may be able to find the murderer and save you a lot of unnecessary worry and turmoil.” N eral times before words came. “I didn’t like Lawrence Straw,” she managed finally. “Why not?” “He was neurotic. Fidgety. He irritated me.” “Then why did you hire him?” A withered arm rolled helpless ly. “He took care of things for my husband. My husband died. I kept him, but I didn’t like him.” “Your husband was in the coal business, wasn’t he?” “Yes. Lawrence had nothing to do with- that.” She gestured feebly. “Lawrence took care of a restaurant my husband owned— on Oak Street. Ruby Lunch.” Her breath rasped in her throat like wind blowing through a hollow in-} RS. ROSS’ lips twitched sev-| , tube. “Told him not to buy #. He did anyway. “Did you know Straw was fil- ing fraudulent tax returns?” ‘T'm too sick ... to care... about business.” The words were jtiring, halting. “Money’s mo use any more.” She gestured weakly. “He brought the papers every ;month; I signed them.” “Did you verify them before you paid them?” “No. I signed’ them—gave him the check—to get him out of here.” “Why did he irritate you?” I asked curiously. “Was it the way he acted? The way he talked?” was neurotic.” She moved her arms restlessly. “He’d bring the books. He'd sit there’—she turned tap with his pencil.” Her eyes rolled to indicate despair. “It drove me crazy;” “I see what you mean,” I said. “It'd drive me nuts, too.” “He did it_all the time. Neu- rotic.” Mrs. Ross closed her eyes for a moment, opened them | tiredly. “I’m sorry he’s dead—but | I didn’t like him.” “When was he here last?” “Two weeks ago.” ‘Bnd... of... month.” “T see.” I tried to think of all the things I'd been intending to ask her. “How much did he charge | for his services?” “Ten dollars.” “A month?” I asked incredu- ! lously. | She nodded silently. oo was extremely reason- able.” The corners of her wrinkled lips tried to smile. “Maybe,” she | said. I reached over and touched her hand. It was like touching a paper bag. “Thanks,” I said. “I’m sorry if I’ve tired you. I'll be leaving now.” (To be continued) FOR A BETTER ALL-AROUND JOB Go All-Electric A HOUSE DIVIDED Between Electric and Non-Electric Methods ‘Really Costs You More .. Because It Doesn't Earn the Low, QUANTITY ELECTRIC RATE But a house united through the exclusive use of modern. time-and-labor saving electric ap- pliances, costs you less. Enjoying the advan- tages of low, quantity-user rates, a house that’s All-Electric can freely use electricity for every job ... and thereby do every job BETTER and CHEAPER. Millions of fami- lies will buy electric Refrigerators, electric Ranges and electric Water Heaters during the next five years. THERE MUST BE A REA- SON—AND THERE IS—Electricity does the : job, ANY JOB. Better and Cheaper! THAT'S S WHY America is GOING ALL-ELECTRIC. ‘ GO ALL-ELECTRIC The wisest way to use electricity at its cheapest is to start IN THE HOME and work outward... for this earns you the lowest rate at the outset. THIS low rate, in turn, becomes the rate you pay on ALL your electricity thereafter. And it's sensible, too: because the SOONER you use efficient. convenient. flameless, electrical equipment to simplify time-consuming work. the soon- er you release time for other. more profitable work or relaxation. Make YOURS A House United, An All- Electric House: It Pays---in Less Work. More Pleasure, BETTER HEALTH!!! The More You Use, The Loner The Rate her eyes toward the desk—“and | | | | | reining ; ! | j more. also while in fi A j the Coast and Geo “Things he did. Mannerisms. He | eset abe are Cs eee you must pay back to the Gov- draftees enroute to their induc ; ernment the reserve on the policy| | tion stations, | (roughly the cash value it will! | Permane nt Forms of the Old/ have if you keep paying on it).| Service nelud®, same rate you were paying be-| | Ordinary “Life” fore you cashed it in. i | plans, nt and; (4) To surrender your old! other . If you = are not u_ have, the | permanent forms of NSLI for a} Your Grocer SELLS that Good } man ge. 25 }(monthly, by SS | |in active service: who have perm- GI Insurance j anent forms of USGI or NSLI the ; & following courses of action: Free: What's cK , v—| | Paying all the premiums as before! = ‘ | eens ‘ gs } A) }and keeping all its advantages] To Do Now? | includinel uelaeeta). By ROGER BROOKS, | Ny To Beep the old policy but! Captain, USN (Ret.) jas the Government to pay | part of the premium which is pro-! a agen 1 boigang eost (presumably the cost! mong Key Westers coveredjof an equal amount of term in- by free insurance under the Ser-} surance). As with the old term in- vicemen’s Indemnity Act of 1951,! surance, application for the Gov- are the Reserves when in active} ernment to pay these costs causes} the] when ordered to active duty or jstop. And since dividends on| for fourteen days or} permanent plans are generaliv; These groups are covered | larger than on term policies THE, Govern-|DIVIDENDS YOU GIVE UP] 1 ion with} MAY BE LARGER THAN THE! (whether with or! PROTECTION COSTS ment plane their traini THAT] y). Also included are} ARE PAID FOR YOU. i med office of: (1) the] (Exact amounts of these pro- Public He » while €N-|tection costs that the Govern- , titled to milit: | and (2)| ment offers to pay will be given} ATVEY! as soon as they are released by| while assigned on 1 or 1" the Veterans Administration). / porens determined to be of military | (3) To surrender your old} | hazard. ; ,.{ Policy for its cash value and pick} Even persons who are enroute} jt up again when your active to places for en clive! servicé ends. To pick it up again covered, as we 1} You then pay premiums at the 2 cost follows | allotment): STAR * BRAND © For each $1000 of ance—) MER | ‘Life’ plar 35 to ‘En-| anid res COFFEE | dowment’ $1.65 to $3.43. ! aa | The new Act offers to persons| TRY A POUND TODAY. | (1) To keep the old policy—| service, and the National Guard | dividends on your old policy to] as PAGE ELEVEN! policy for its cash value, but take > plan ou must higher premiu then. newly dated policy of the en your active ser- pay the m rate for your age (3d To regain your old permanent Plan inst ice as in either or (4) you need not pass a medic must apply amination, but you ithin 120 days after your active service ends. No more insurance will be you previously cashed in. granted than Among the above choices, and ming your present policy your needs, (1) is surely good, but is better an (2) only when dividends greater than pro- tection costs. 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