The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-07-03
Chanter 42
METHOD or ESCAPE

NSlatllGf TO
METHOD or ESCAPE
HARPER went on digging out the
- contents Of he tire. Out came
q worn nair Of mans suede gloves.
ia leather wallet with the gold in.
itials III. D. stamped inside. a key
case holding three keys. pocket
handkerchief with the initial ''De in
one corner. thin gold watch with a
link chain. a cigarette lighter and. a
mans signet ring with the same in.
itiais intertwined.
busting on his hands, he took
stock OF the collection. The use OF
that thin tensh nape with itl ringed
ends eareadily 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 a 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 II stack up?"
he asked.
/ The man looke.. up. They're
smeary. he replied. 'and there's
not a perfect print en- the gun, but
there's no doubt about then. check.
ing, I that's what you nsean9
Harper approached the police sur.
geon. Find anything. Doc?"
Tne Coroners man shook his
head. mot thing It's a good. clean
snicidei" he concluded with Gallons
hnmor. everything according to
l,oBla"
/ Hafper made 4. cursory examina.
ton of the other rooms. then gath.
cred up the articles retrieved fro,
tho old tire. wrapped them in a
towel. beckoned to O'ConnelI, and
LEFT the garage.
Sending the policeman ahead
with the bundle. Harper made a
complete circuit OF the walls of the
main house. with occasional digres.
sionsove he snow-covered. grounds.
When he had finished he understand
exactly the use which had been
made OF that browEish yellow rope
with It's ringed ends. He was Just
ahont to re,enter the house when he
saw Lafferty's spare figure hasten.
ing In at the gate. The tall detective
vas greatly excited over this latest
development and piled Harper with
questions as they proceeded to the
hfeakfast-room. where 0'ConnelI
had put the recovered evidence ON
display.
Lafferty seized on the skein of
nope at once. Hello. what's tfis?"
he querled
You are holding in your hands
the answer 10 The great nuzzle--h0w
did the murderer get away without
leaving any traces in tile snow?
With FIVE minutes practice you or
lar any one could do it as WE'LL"
lie pointed through the window.
"Youi know the small porch on this
side Of the house? Well. there's
sturdy iran lio0k driven into the
waA fright by the porch. And do you
sks that Tree, ling other side
Of the bonndarjhe j Aother hook
was driven intol
THE rings oeaGh 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 rupe. hand over hand. with the
feet drawn up clear Of the snow"
Tie big detective pumped down
IN a chair. 'Well. I'll be dainned!"
he exclaimed.
1t certainly was neat stunt"
Harper resumed. mot nearly as
hard as 1t sounds A man of Don
agIH.ss build. and yigor would find
Il rIild's play
'Il.lfIs wait q minute" I.afferts in
- terrupted. what happened to
tie rope afterward? 1t wasn't there,
when we tsiak charge When was 1t
pul up and who took 1t d0wn?"
'''fhe hooks could have be en-,
driven In any time. but | think il
Was all done recently The rope was
strung across late that afternoon.
after dusk. before the snow was
heavy on the ground After the muir
ders the killer swung over the porch
rail. went hand over hand until he
reached the boundary wall. then
swung himself clear ever the top and
dropped in the adjoining grounds"
but how was the rope remoyed?"
rafferty, persisted.
"0h. that was easy. The end
hooked to the tree was taken down.
and by sharply twitching the line
inward and shaking II at the same
time the end at the porch slid off the