The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-06-07

cit cannot be. The bullet that killed
this maniac came from the police,
mans gun. It was found right here
In the ROOM"
| The detective held up the steel
jacket. why was this bullet hidden
away so carsfnlly?" He stood the
roll OF carpet By the table. why
does this carpet have q bullet hole
through e? We tested our theory OF
concealed murder by hnnti1gS Coz :
concealed evidence-and We found
tit. And we're going io.fnd more OF
lit!"
"But these are. not proofs,r DG
fEesne continued. "A stray bullet.
hole In some old carpet"
There are traces, The substitu.
tion OF bullets Is one. II IL true there
are no fingerprints but this criminal
was too astute for that. No doubt be
wore gloves. The murderer sat In
this room with his victim, They
even drank together and perhaps n
was at that moment the killer chose
| to IRE. After the murder the extra
glass was washed. dried. and put
back In the cabinet. But We have
found tho glass. with traces Of its
recent use still in the bottom.
"The murderer's FIRST thought was
to melt down the bullet By holding
It IN the flames Of the log fire with
these tongs. A systematic effort was
made to hide the victims Identity
q ring was forced from bis finger.
an emblem from his oatfapel. what.
ever papers. keys or other articles
he had were rified from his pockets.
Even the labels were ripped from 7
his own clothes. None OF these
things has come to light In the
|hopse-we assume that the murder.
er carried them away"
THAT Is all guess-work. Harper"
! Dufresne rebutted. III there
was third person. as you insist.
how did he escape from this house
after the crime? I'll admit finger
prints can be wiped away but you
can't wipe away tracks in the snow"
II can't answer that question.
yet" the detective replied. Il don't
know how 1t was done. but know
that It happened. We've had men
murdered in locked and sealed
rooms and the solution turned out
to be quite simple. n the murderer
planned a way to escape without
leaving tracks In the snow I'll ind
how Il was done before I'm
through"
Harper looked directly at his com.
manding officers. Il have other evE
dence that cannot be divulged In this
house without seriously iniuring our
chances Of success"
Dufresns sneered openly. "lt's for
tunate was under your own police
guard last, night. Harper. or you
would crown this brilliant fantasy Of
yours By accusing me Of being the
master mind behind THE affair."" :
Harper,s face Redeemed at the In
sulting tone which barbed these
words He stepped forward 90 thar
be stood fac !, TO face with Dulresne
Those two men we're murdered.
be repeated. sand I am sure thai a
least one person In this house could
Identify the man who masqueraded
In your likeness. TN 90 even furthet
| believe that you. Mr.. Dufresne. art
helping 10 shield that person from
us and that Il dangerous game 10
play"
The master OF the house threw
hack bis head and laughed tauntlng
". Now know you're craxyi.
mr. Dufresne.. Harper purred. q
little while ago you told me that you
had only one gun In your possession
ian automatic"
year
"perhaps you'd be interested to
know that you own another weapon.
q revolver OF large caliber. This was
usually kent 10 the upper figAkhand
drawer Of the hIghboy In your dresa.
ing-room. Early this mQrnine that
revolver waa still In itsxplaeA a haaf
since disappeared Can you teit us
anything about that?"
Dnfresne looked at him out Of =
face suddenly sohered. II own no
snch revolver" be stated firmly.
@yeur butler. Andrews. says that
Iyou do
.alRg for him. Wen soon get to
the bottom Of that Dufresne re
piled, sharply.
They waited IN an uneasy silence
until the butler made his appear.
ance. Andrews stood looking from
one to another inqulringly under his
tnfted white eyebrows.
"Andrewa what 10 the devii have
you been saying to the polieei Go
%. Harper. you started this
Harper faced the old man. "A 1T
tie while aso ron told me that Mr.
Dutresne kept q revolver In .
drawer ot the hlghhoy IN his room.
Mr. Dulresne denies that
Andrews lifted bis head Il nessR
saw snch z revolver" Vas his calm
slatement.
fcopSviaAt. 1881. ~ Waiter q. nrewnI
Il -