The Coolidge examiner., 1935-03-29


occupation. Presently he stuck the
point OF the pin In the center OF the
table. and pulled al II by the thread
be had fastened Apparently he was
satisfied. He uuwound a further
length OF cotton. and when he had
sufficient he threaded the key upon
II. carrying II well outside the door
The end be brought back into the
vault. and then pushed II out again
from the inside through one OF the
airholes. Then be closed the door
carefully. lie had left plenty oi
slack for his purpose and Tab
heard the click OF the lock as II was
fastened. and bis heart sank. lie
watched the door fascinated. and
saw that Lander was pulling the
slack Of the cotton through the air
hole. Presently the key came In
sight under the door. Higher and
higher came the saEging line OF cot.
ton and the key rose untll II was al
the tables level. slid down the taui
cotton. and came 20 rest on the
table. Tighter drew the strain OF
the thread and presently the pin
came out, passed through the hole
In the key. leaving II IN the exact
center OF the table. Tab watched the
bright pin IS II was pulled across
the foor and through the ventila-
tor That's the way the author
worked bis locked door"
But" objected Markham. There
was an open yeniilator In the door.
and space beneath the door. These
conditions are not true here"
~Yes-of course" Vance returned.
'Bu, don't overlook the fact that
there was q string and a bent pin.
AZ least they are common integers
10 the two problems +. Now. let's
see II we can combine those Int.
gers With certain common integers
% another case" lie opened the
other book. "konrad.~ Vance ex-
plalned. was a truck driver in Bcr-
lin nearly City years ago. Ills wife
and rve children were found dead IN
their cellar room and the door-a
ponderous AFFAIR without even a key
hole or space around the moldlng-
was securely bolted on the Inside.
The case vas az once pronounced
one of murder and suicide on the
part of the mother: and Konrnd
would have been free 10 marry bis
lnamorata twhom be had 10 the 81.
fngl had Il not been for an exam
lining magistrate of the criminal
court. named Holman. Holman
FOR 10 tangible reason. did not be-
lleye In the suicide theory. and set
10 work 10 figure out how konrad
could haze bolied the door from
without Here's the revelat'ry
passage-lf you'll forgive my rather
skeichy sight translation of the Ger
man: 'Hollmann determined, as a
last resort. 20 give the entire door.
both inside and outside. a micro
scopic examination. IL required
hours OF labor. bu, In the end he
was rewarded Just above the bolt
he found on the inside. close TO
the edge OF the door. n very small
hole which was barely discernIble.
Opening the door he inspected the
outside surface directly opposite 10
the hole on the inside. But there
was no corresponding hole visible.
Holman did find on the outside
of the door. however. a small spot
on which the paint seemed fresher
than that on the rest of the door.
He borrowed halpln from one OF
the tenants OF the building and heat
Ing II. ran IL through the hole on
the inside. With but little pressure
the heated hatpin penetrated the
door, coming out on the outside ex-
actly In the center OF the newly
painted spot. Moreover. when Holl-
mann Withdrew the hatpin a piece
OF tough horsehair adhered 10 the
pin: and on the pin was also dis
cernible a slight film OF wax.
II was obvious then how Konrad
had bolted the door from without
He had first bored a tiny hole
through the door above the bolt,
looped a piece OF horsehair over the
bolts knob. and slipped the two
ends through the hole He had then
pulled the bolt-knob upward until
the horsehaIr loop was dIsengaged.
Withdrawing the horsehair through
the hole. a piece OF the horse
hair had. however, caught In the
hole and remained there Konrad
had then filed up the hole with
wax and painted II on the outside.
thereby eliminating practically
every trace OF his criminal device. a"
Heath. as Vance finished read
ing. leaped 10 his feet.
That's a new one en- me-" lie
stood scowling at the door. THE
cases in those two books are easy
enough 10 understand but neither
Of 'em viii work here"
Maybe. the two together viii
work. suggested Vance. LOOK at
the wall just TO the right on the
jamb and opposite TO the bolt. Do
you see anything?"
II don't see much" he grumbled
Right in the crack of TIE jamb