The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-06-11
Chapter 20
CRANK LETTERS

XsNFASNhN - - -
HsTHIs man came IN with a Pic
1 ture." Paglintti added. "a clip
ping from q newspaper. showing
man with q beard. He said It was
friend Of his and that he wanted to
make himself up like him as joke.
We studied over the picture and ]
myself trimmed the beard and nous
sache to match az he wished"
"Was there a name printed under
the clipping? Would you recognize
the picture again?"
Pagiiotti shrugged HIS regrets. II
do not remember. would have for
gotten all. except for the clipping
Harper pondered q moment. "Can
you recall anything else about this
man? Was he well-dressed? Did he
come In an automobile? Was his
manner nervous or seeretive?"
There was nothing out OF the way
about his manner. The other ques-
tions ] cannot answer"
The detective took a long pull on
his pipe. zone more question. Mr..
Pagliotti. You know the man who
bought that disguise from you has
been killed. It has been suggested
that he was crazy-a dangerous ma
MAC. What do you say to that?" /,
Pagliotti's answer was immediate.
explosive. "0h, no, no. ! do not be-
tieve It. Not that man."
Harper smiled. am inclined to
agree with you. Thank you. very
much. Your information should be
helpful to us"
The Italian bowed politely, shook
hands. and departed with the alert
Mr.. Harris, leaving Harper with a
new and puzzling addition to his col
lection OF data concerning this mys-
terious affair. The detective began
to look through the packet Of crank
letters which Dufresne had turned
over to the police.
There were eight OF them in all,
the earliest postmarked November
9th, a little more than i've weeks
after the purchase Of the disguise.
What had the masQuerader been do
Ing those Eve weeks? Why had such
q long interval elapsed before his
alleged letters began .bombarding
his intended victim? Dufresne had
not even been back In the city from
his summer vacation when this man
had appeared at Pagliotti's.
II this nameless man had really
intended to kill Dufresne. why had
he not done SO without all this fan.
fare pf threats and hard language?
His course had certainly been that
OF the coMardly crank" not that OF
the determined killer.
The butler appeared. MRS. Croy.
den thought you might like bite Of
lunch, sir. It can be served in here.
so that 1t will not interrupt your
work. IL there anything special you
would like?p
"That,s fine. Andrews. Anything
you happen to be serving will be
quite all right Thank Mrs. Croydon
for me, please"
"It win be ready in half an hour.
sir"
Zine. In the meantime, will you
ask Mrs. Whitmore to come here?"
MRS. WHITMORE took at least
IVA ten minutes to make her APP
pearance. The detective wondered
what the servants were saying about
the murders, for he knew that in the
sanctity OF their own quarters every
tongue would be wagging unrestrain-
eddy. A great deal OF the talk would
be mere idle gossip and conjecture.
but mixed with this must necessa-
rily be many items OF flrst-hand
knowledge that would be invaluable
70 him. could he bu hear them.
When Mrs. WhitDIore did make
her appearance. her attitude and the
expression OF her face left no doubt
a. to her persona. stand. The bel
iigerent CLEAN in her eye. the twist
OK her tightly shut lips promised 1T
tie aid and no sustenance for the
poliee processes.
Mrs. Whitmore. have some ques-
lions 70 ask. As all OF you now know.
there was double murder here last
night To withhold information Of
any kind 10 Q serious natter. In o
eaae like this Il can mean-prison.
iwank Jon and all the others to IN
aaEstnhd that clearly
Harper paused. feeling that this
prOaogne was wasted on the de-
tsrmiDed woman. Mrs. WhItmore
npadaa cartiy. Il understand that
one I didn't hare anything 70 DO with
u cd ! d0n't know anything abouf
u aAs answered hanghtilg.
.0t course not Deaf misunder.l
stana ny purposs n sending for.
Wnra. E.nk ma mfMrA : affffa mrne kneks