Figure Away by Taylor Phoebe Atwood

Author:Taylor, Phoebe Atwood [Taylor, Phoebe Atwood]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Pulp
Publisher: Foul Play Pr
Published: 1937-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

The couple who had been diving from the wharf took an intense interest in the shotgun Kay had salvaged.

“Gee, Sammy,” the woman touched the trigger with her finger, “isn’t it funny, huh? Isn’t it funny? You know, I said I seen something down there, don’t you remember? But I didn’t think it was anything but a stick, maybe. Sammy, didn’t you see something down there too? Didn’t you think you seen something? I thought you said you did.”

“Yeah,” Sammy said. “I seen something. I didn’t think it was a stick. I knew it was a gun. I was just going down for it when she come.”

“See?” the woman said to Asey. “We knew it was there, all the time! Now, I don’t want to get sore or anything, but we knew it was there, and we was going to get it, so you—”

“It pierces my heart,” Kay said. “It shatters me to small bits, but neither of you possibly could have seen it. I didn’t see it myself. I felt it. Therefore, if any claims arise—”

“Well, now just you look here!” the woman raised her voice. “I guess we did see it too! I guess we knew it was there! I guess, if anyone’s going to march off with that gun, we are. Do you hear that?”

“I think,” Asey said, “they heard you over in Weesit Centre. And I rather think that you—”

“Fresh, huh?” Sammy demanded. “Want to start trouble, huh? Well, listen! We seen that gun, and it’s ours, and who do you think you are, to—”

“Who do you think you are, you?” the woman chimed in. “My God, I never seen such a town as this! You hicks, you seem to think you—”

“And what’s more,” Sammy continued, paying no attention to the woman, “I lost a gun here in this lake last fall. My boat tipped over, and I lost—”

“Fiddlesticks,” Kay said, wondering why Asey didn’t make any more of a stand. He was fishing around in his pockets, handicapped somewhat by the shotgun firmly clutched under one arm. “Fiddlesticks, and pooh. I don’t believe a word of it. You just think you can bully us into handing the gun over to you, that’s all, and it’s the most nonsensical notion I ever heard tell of.”

“Listen!” Sammy shouted her into silence. “That gun is ours, see? It belongs to me. And we’re going to have it, and take it—take—oh.”

He and the woman stared at the two badges Asey was nonchalantly fixing on the lapel of his jacket. One said, “Chief of Police,” and the other was a state police badge.

“Oh, well,” the woman said hurriedly, “maybe it ain’t your gun, Sammy. Yours was a bigger gun. It was a much better gun, too. After all, if they’re going to get sore, why what’s the use of raising a rumpus, I always say—”

“It’s been nice,” Asey said, “havin’ this little chat with you. Any time you feel like continuin’ it, you’ll find me at my offices in the Town Hall.

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