The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-09-15
Chapter AZ
HOUSE OF DEATH

= shadows OF the lane ana, silent
ly now, made their way along 1t
with Sergeant Mulyey in the lead.
Somewhere ahead, Colin knew,
was the rear of the Wine Press and
the alleyway that fianked Michael
Barney's specious tobacco store.
but it was so dark that ne could
scarcely see Sergeant Mulvey's
form in front of him-so dark, In
fact, that when finally Sergeant Null.
vey halted suddenly Colin bumped
into him.
Here we arel" cautioned Ser.
geant Mulvey under his breath.
It was much like last night. much
like that other door-whieh could
not be many yards away-only that
tonight, instead of Buck o'Mara, the
big shot Of the Masks murder
squad. it was Detective Sergeant
Mulvey of the Homicide Bureau who
acted as guide.
Sergeant Mulvey opened the door
soundlessly and closed 1t behind
them soundlessly-and then for a
full minute they stood motionless,
listening.
Then Sergeant Mulvey spoke.
"Kint OF force OF habit" he
grunted, as the ray from his electric
torch stabbed suddenly through the
blackness, 'even though | know
there amt anybody here" He
thrust his wrist watch into the fare.
Twenty minutes yet. Lots of time
for look-see around"
The rooms were comIortIess,
scantily furnished, containing
scarcely the bare necessities-no
one giving them a single glance
would question the status OF old
Keppelstein as miser of the first
degree.
Sy contrast. the mural decora.
lions. untouched. obviously. except
by age. since the days when the
Wine Press had been in its prime.
were ludicrohsIy grotesque: here a
pointed jungle scene. there group
Of nymphs dancing In the moonlight
above rickety kitchen table! But
Sergeant Mulyey seemed little con-
cefned with these details. His flash.
light poked persistently and in.
luisitiyeIy into cupboards and cor
ners and out-of-the-way places.
Nothing Gown here in the shape
OF any private wires or that sort of
stun" he announced finally. Gun.
less they're damn well hidden"
THAT trick door opens on the
floor above" Colin reminded him.
Eyes. know. Force OF habit again.
Well. let's go up"
There was only one room on the
second floor, and Collins eyes fol.
lowed the round. white circle OF light
as Sergeant Mulvey's fiashlight
travelled from the threshold slowly
around It. The room ran the entire
depth Of the house and had once, It
was quite obvious. been the caba-i
ret's combination dance floor. bar.
and main dining room.
Little alcoves. where tables for
two. Inviting tete-a-tetes. might
have been placed. still punctuated
the walls at irregular intervals
while the walls themselves were
adorned With huge plaster casts. de-
plotting scenes even more fantastic
than those painted on the walls OF
the rooms downstairs. The only
windows In the room looked out on
the street. and the shutters of these
were tightly closed.
At the rear Of the room and
stretching across almost its entire
breadth were the remains OF bar,
a decrepit and woebegone affair
now. the mirrors above 1t streaked
and blistered until they were almost
beyond recognition. There were no
furnishings whatever-jnst filters OF
rubbish piled. or rather thrown. In
heaps mere land there about the
fi0or-.a 9yeritable catch!all = old
packing cases, chairs. and various
pieces Of furniture broken beyond
repair. and all now covered thick
with dust.
u CAN'T say this listens good to
= mel" exclaimed Sergeant Null
vey obviously. at looks like this
was Just another way out. without
anybody knowing Il. through Keep
pelstein's front or back door,"
Colin shook his head stuhbornly.
IF that's all 1t amounts to-" he
answered tersely. why did Buck !
O'Mara use It last night--when he
didn't have to? And tonight-there's |
nothing 10 prevent him from max. |
Ing a bolt down that private stair. /
case. II he does that. Of course. the |
only thing that's left for Us to do |
then win be to so home and begin
ali over again.
well. we're here--and we'll see"
returned Sergeant Mulvey crisply. |
Where would you say that hidden /
door wass"
Ran your light along the wan |
over there again. Not so fast. |
There, Allowing for the stairs on |