The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-07-12
METHOD OF ESCAPE

METHOD OF ESCAPE HARPER went on digging out the contents of .he tire. Out came a worn pair of mans suede gloves, a leather wallet with the golG in itials I'll. D." stamped inside. a key case holding three keys, a pocket handkerchief with the initial "D'' in one corner, thin gold watch with a link chain, cigarette lighter. and a mans signet ring with the same in- itials intertwined.
 Busting off his hands, he took stock of the collection. The use of that thin, tough rope with its ringed ends came readily to his mind. He looked through the snow-trimmed panes toward the big house. That baffling escape from the scene of the crime had been simple affair after all. once one had a glimpse of the modus operandi. He put down the rope and went over to the finger print man. How does it stack up?" he asked.
 The man lookel up. They're smeary," he replied, "and there's not perfect print On the gun, but there's no doubt about then. check ing, f that's what you n.ean."
 Harrer approached the police sur geon. Find anything. Doc?"
 The Coroners man shook his head. Not thing. It's a good, clean suicide" he concluded with callous humor, Everything according to Eoyl.."
 Harper made cursory examina- tion of the other rooms, then gath cred up the articles retrieved iron tho old tire, wrapped them in a towel, beckoned to O'Connell, and left the garage.
 Sending the policeman a h a d with the bundle. Harper made a complete circuit of the walls of the main house, with occasional digres- sions over the snow-covered grounds. When he had finished he understood exactly the use which had been made of that browEish yellow rope with it's ringed ends He was just about to re-enter the house when he saw Lafferty's spare figure hasten ing in at the gate. The tall detective was greatly excited over this latest development and piled Harper with questions as they proceeded to the breakfast-room, where O'Connell had put the recovered evidence on display.
 Lafferty seized on the skein of rope at once. Hello, what's this 9" he queried.
 "YoH are holding in your hands the answer to the great puzzle-how did the murderer get away without leaving any traces in the snow? With five minutes practice you or or any one could do it as well.'
 He pointed through the window.
 
 You know the small porch on this side of the house? We'll, there's a sturdy iron hook driven into the wall right by the porch. And do you see that tree, just on the other side of the boundary wall? Another hook was driven into that.
 "The rings on each end of the rope hooked on to those. leaving the rope seven or eight feet above the ground. This miraculous escape was made by the murderer going along that rope. hand over hand, with the feet drawn up clear of the snow."
 The big detective pumped down in a chair. Well, I'll be damned!" he exclaimed.
 "It certainly was a neat stunt" Harper resumed. Not nearly as hard as it sounds. A man of Don- aghy's build and vigor would find it child's play"
 "DUT wait ninute," Lafferty in- ID terrupted, what happened to the rope afterwardf It wasn't there when we took charge. When was it put up and who took 1t downT
 "The hooks could have b n driven in any time. but I think 1t was all done recently. The rope was strung across late that afternoon. after dusk, before the snow was heavy on the ground. After the mur- ders the killer swung over the porch rail. went hand over hand until he reached the boundary wall, then swung himself clear over the top and dropped in the adjoining grounds" !"
 But how was the rope removed?" Lafferty persisted.
 "Oh. that was easy. The end hooked to the tree was taken down, and by sharply twitching the line upward and shaking 1t at the same time the end at the porch slid of the