The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-08-13
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4 OHIeSS ne really IS scared That
White saw him there then"
"But White wasn't there then,
that's the whole point; he didn't
get to the house until well after nine,
we know that"
mo. that's right Inspector~I won.
der If White has hac any dealings
with Durley beforehand him up for
vagrancy or anything?"
HE didn't say so last night, but
it's possible"
do you know, Inspector, l can't
help thinking that fellow is telling
the truth. somehow"
who. Durley?" Hylton laughed.
We'll, to put your mind to rest I'll
go straight back to White and see
what he says about the whole thing"
well, maybe that's best Shall I
order the car for your"
Hylton stopped the car at the
Hoops and sent It back from there.
He was feeling so raVenously hum
CRY that he decided his interview
with Sergeant White could be post
poned for twenty minutes. This in
terval was put to excellent use in
the back room at the Hoops and it
was more cheerful Hylton who set
out on foot later for the Police Cot
tage.
Reflection during his meal time
had made it more evident than ever
to him that ALI Durley's tale (for
some inscrutable reason best known
to that strange Individually must be
tissue Of lies. Men usually lie from
vanity or fright, the Inspector knew.
Vanity is a quantity so incalculable
that it admits Of no reasoning: but if
ALI Durley was lying from fright,
what was he really frightened Of?
Hylton sincerely hoped that White
did know something about the man,
for more, certainly. would have to
come to light before they could be
satisfied. ALI this went forward on
the surface of his mind; underneath,
aided by the feeling Of ease conse-
quent upon good food and tobacco,
was the comfortable thought that
when the Durley business was dis
posed of game of chess with Ser
geant White would be a very pleas
ant thing.
No light was showing in front so
the Inspector made his way round
to the back. ALI this, too, was in dark
ness, rather to his surprise-sur-
prise which was increased consider.
ably when on making to knock on
the kitchen door he found it to be
ajar.
LIE FELT certain that the house
l. would hardly be left unlocked
with nobody in it and pushing the
door wide open he stepped inside
and called white"
His voice ran round the little
kitchen and died away in the dark
interior of the cottage. There was
no answer; but the Inspector stand
ing there on the threshold of the
dark kitchen got the distinct i'm
preston that something moved
near him.
Once again he called out white"
and once again there was no an.
swer; he took an undecided pace
into the kitchen to investigate and
then abruptly stopped. His step had
brought his face into contact with
something twixt floor and ceiling
which gave at his touch. In complete
bewilderment he put up his hand to
examine this unexpected object, and
found that it swung away from him
with ponderous facility. His fingers
encountered the roughness of serge
cloth, the smooth roundness of a
button.
What the devil" he muttered to
himself and then suddenly stopped
in cold sweat of horror and fear.
God" he swore stupidity to him
self and without more ado backed
away until he hit the kitchen wall
and his hand stumbled on the cleo
trio light switch.
The merciless yellow efficiency lit
up the small kitchen. The table had
been pushed. or kicked, to one side,
and what now adorned the centre Of
the room was the body of Sergeant
James White dependent by a stout
piece OF rope from tie rod that ran
close to the ceiling.
Sergeant James Whites face was
not a pretty sight to look at; it was
the face Of man who has deliber-
ately choked himself to death by
slow. straightforward is what
even the most skillful Of self hang
ings amounts to. His hands were
handcuffed in front of his body. On
the kitchen table. weighted down
by long, sharp bread knife lay some
sheets Of paper, the top one in
scribed,
Detective Inspector Kingsley
Hylton."
(cesrisAs. 1885. LsErsxes ". KsyssllJ