The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-05-28

we searched 1t, there's an end Of the
matter"
Harper smiled doggedly. "No,
that's not the end OF the matter. I
already have hints OF certain things
that require explaining. We're going
to sit down in this room and recon.
struct this affair. movement by
movement. II It really was an nm
foreseen and aimless business, then
every single bit OF evidence we have
gathered will fit into place-if it
does not. then something has been
tamrered With"
But who could have tempered
With it? This room has been under
guard every minute since Hilleary
first looked In and saw the bodies"
Exactly. But what about the in-
teryal between the shooting and
Hilleary's arrival?" the detective
asked. dirty.
Certainly. but you've Just nm
Ished proving to me that no one
could have left here after the shoot
Ing without leaving tracks in the
snow and J know that no one was
hidden in the house. What are you
driving at"
simply thistle visible evidence
tends to show that these two men
were absolutely alone In this house
and that they killed each other. But
II the evidence leads US to impossi.
bilities. then the evidence must be
wrong"
Lafferty gave his superior know
ing look. "Then you have got some
thing up your sleeve" he accused.
"No. | haven't. except an instinc-
tive feeling that we're going TO run
into some mighty queer things.
Now. lets have a look at Jackson's
surprise package. Perhaps wen get
some help from It"
IuARPER began 70 open che sealed
a envelopes marked with bis
name while get these sorted and
arranged" he suggested. suppose
/ You step outside and check over my
work on the footpfihtss There was
only one mark anywhere insths SNOW
that couldn't account for"
The detective put down q little <
on his sketch. There 1t q. Ascarved
cash In the snow about twenty feel
from the side OF the house. Just the
one solitary mark and not taote than
an inch below the top surface It's
the sort OF mark that would be made
by bent twig. except that there q
nothing buried there IN the snow,
Il IL about eight or ten inches long.
I can't see any Significance. BUT
you'd better take 4 look and see n
I'm can explatd Il. Va may s. vel
be thorough
Laiferty took the sketch drawn by
Harper and left. while the latter
spread out on the table all the ma
lerial that had come mp from Head
quarters. But. before he had
chance to delTe into this. there was
discreet tapping at the door and
Andrews grave face appeared In re-
Spouse to the detectives invitation
to enter.
There Is q Mr.. Howard Doyle 10
see you, SIR" the butler announced,
-but the ofiicer won't let him In IN
less you say So"
-That's all right. Andrews. let hin
come In"
The butler gave his stiii. jerky nod
and withdrew. anG shortly after
ward the Daily Ledgef's crime re
porter entered. -How are tricks
Sergeantf" he asked In hls ASIA
breezy way. For minute iin..sh
| was persona non srats ,ta4in
here. "
Pull over q chair boyle. I've neen
wanting to have Few words with
you and I may as vii get them on
my chest right now
The reporter brousht 4 chair over
to the table. and sal down anbutton,
ing his overcoat. "l.i,san. Harper.
before ron start taking. answer me
one question. nld you say anything
about what did last nightf Just an
swer res or no. and no hard feelings
either way"
n did not.
"How about Captain Macklinf-
Harper shook bis head. I'm IN
fun charge OF this case. Doyle.
Macklin wouldn't do anything ike
that without consulting me FIRST.
The chances are he doesn't even
know about 4.
Doyle nc Q cigarette and took sev.
eral pufls Ii. silence. his eyes fixed
on corner OF the ceiling. get this,
Harper. I've been pulled OF the case.
What does that sound like TO your
1T sounds to me- Is Il Dnfresna
has had something 70 say % yoar
front once" Harper replied prompt
IL. -and after that Donehead play DC
yours I'm not surprised
-Bcnehead play. ron can itfs
Doyle grinned implshly. Listen,
Harper. you'n Be plenty glad made
Il before ! leave hera.s
fcopsrssAf. 1854. ~ Weltsr q. Brscnl
4
:. oay, l: ssn ,..Il ssms Imese.