The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-05-17
Chapter Eight
CRIME SCENE

Ell us go back short time and
follow the adventures OF Bandit
Chaser No. IS.
With HiIleary driving and Con.
DaIly calling the turns. the speedy
little car headed for Oflicer Ham.
IFS territory. They had to drive
slowly. for the headlights could moi
cut very deeply into the teeth OF the
storm and the automatic windshield
wiper Just about held its own against
the ferceIy-drIven snow.
connalIy kept a sharp lookout. but
In vain Al every street intersection
Hilieary sounded the whirring siren
call. familiar to every patrolman.s
ear as the signal Of the Flying
Squad
Hlileary brought the car to d halt
beside the call-box from which Ham
III should have reported Ii bore a
conical cap OF snow. leaning crafty
TO one side from the force Of the
wind All around was white wilder
ness inches deep and gaining stead
lily Unbrnken In its smooth. wind
dlifted reaches. only a gentle bulge
showed where the curbstone was
set
GoHnaiiy borrowed the heavy
hashlighf from the cars eduiument
and got out OF the machine. The 20
liceman turned on the beam and
flashed Il III circle Here and there
were nnmIstakable ridges and filled
IN hoIlows which roughly outlined
the imprints shoe had left earlier
In the storm.
by going little farther afleld he
could distinguish Two sets OF The old
tracks. presumably made by Ham
ilfs camine to the pillar for his
earlier pill and his subsequent
departure
There were few tire.marks 81
the street, but no other tracks along
The sidewalk. and. having struck the
scent. Connally automatically start
ed alpne tl1eirA. lilIleary drove The
car Al snaIl's pace on parallel
line For i've blocks they continued
so. when. apnn crossing an inter
v&ning sireei, Connaily found hat
he had lost The trail
Retfaclng his steps. he found thar
radical alteration had taken place
- damiil's course. The old tracks
showed that liamill had crossed
about a third az the width or the
street. when something had induced
him 70 set on at q sharp angle. The
almost oblIleraied footprints led
along the Intersecting street.
The traiIers Followed this tangent.
but had not proceeded very Ear be-
fore they became aware Of hpom.
lpg sound Puzzled. they came 10 q
hall. awaiting q repetition Of the
npise. When II came again. they rec.
0gnlsed the sound al once. The
froni donr o. one of the houses near
the Tar end Of the block was un.
laiched and the wind was banging
ia 70 and fro with lhunderons force.
COVE prompting OF Instinct In
- aueed Connally to break into
run ne pulled up. painting, al the.
entrance 70 the front lawn. hat.
deselate level Of virgin snow. bound.
ed hy bare hedges and skeleton
bushes fne iashlight showed that
the footsteps bad turned In there.
4 also picked out the bronze nn.
mefals. "a. on one Of the stone
pillars o. the gate. The massive
front door after It's htful boomlne.
stood epen ineitIngiy. due to lnil
70 the Wind
Hilleasy SO. oul OF the car. and.
side by side. the two policemen
naked up the path and scanned Inc
front 81 The hoase. i three-slory
tfons hl&asl0b Aandfhg ia IT'S own
gruanas There was no Hight. no
sign Of TIE anywhere about the
p;ace. The hall beyond the yawning
deer was merely i black cavity lead
ins INTO the unknown
= gness we followed the wrone
ira rs. Elnleary suggested: these
are tast from somebody going
homie
What about that slaorf~ CpnnaIig
coautersd People don't leave their |
trout doors banging IN 4 storm. Wed |
better hook into this Come on
ceanally pulled 90 glove and |
pressed the alerlrie nell button.
hoiding Il dawn wlsh his nneer
1lefe was be answering sound Az
ltf easlsnR i suitable time, Cunnal
= sseaned gingerly across The
ltfeshold The inner sesgtSale doors
urfs blessed
lie taFned rue knob ard peeFed
lnla . ssiil aeepst neil ~ darkness
etieilo. tlelln. Ne shouted. aud |