The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-07-23
Chapter Is
NEW PUZZLE

NEW PUZZLE
THOSE two clubs always did
hang from that top NAIL" Lums'
dale went on. There used to be a
plate on this bottom one, but it got
broken a bit ago."
Howl" asked Hylton.
"Well. IL you must know, the old
fool threw it at me-"
Hylton was too much interested
In the queer business of the clubs
to enjoy this much.
"Were the two clubs on that top
nail on Monday?" he asked.
"Ah'm certain they were"
"Why didn't you tell US about this
before?"
"Ah never realized it till this
morning. There's folks as wouldn't
think it likely, Mister, but in rum
sort of way All reckon Twas fond Of
the poor old man. ! never gave a
thought to that other club being
on it's wrong nail, but this morning
suppose I was more normal like
and all of a sudden L. thought to
meself why dom 1t. Lumsdale, but
that clubs on wrong nail and got
a chair and put it up in it's place"
All Hylton said then was, "If
you've got any other bits of odd In.
formation tucked away you better
give 'em to us, Lumsdale."
"Ay."
"Come on. Sergeant, we must be
getting along" At the doorway the
Inspector turned suddenly on Lums-
dale. and said casually.
Lets see. how much is it you
get under Mr.. Burdett's will-the
whole lot?"
Lumsdale shook his head. "The
lawyer II tell me that, Mister"
Kingsley Hylton looked at the
stubborn Northcountryman for a
moment and abruptly turned away.
He was beginning to take an acute
dislike to Mr.. Andrew Lumsdale.
When they had left the Court about
a quarter of mile behind Hylton
stopped in the road to light one of
his thin black cigars. Then he said
abruptly. do you realize, White.
how extraordinary that business Of
the clubs is?"
well. It does seem bit rum sir"
Rum? In a way it is one Of the
FUNNIEST things I've ever come
across. Just think for a minute: our
hypothesis Is that someone. almost
certainly known to Burdett, comes
to the door and is admitted. Now.
think, a quarrel: in the middle OF it..
the stranger says excuse me one
moment whilst / put this chair
against the wall and get down some,
thing to hit you with It's hardly
likely is it?"
"P'raps Mr.. Burdett went out of
the room for a minute"
And left someone behind with
the safe open? Not likely. And any.
way. supposing he did. why on earth
did the man (if it was a MANI get
down two clubs to do a murder
with?"
We've only Lumsdale's word for
where the clubs usually are SIR"
"No we haven't. When | got up
on the chair to see how high that
nail is distinctly saw slight dis.
celebration of the paper-you know
the unfaded bits behind pictures"
"Well, can't say that / do under
stand it sir"
"No more can |. In the middle of
quarrel | stand up on a chair to
reach a weapon. That's odd enough,
but it is just understandable. a.
Having killed man. 4 then goto
the trouble of standing on the chair
again. getting down a second club
which is no earthly use to me and
deliberately hanging it in it's wrong
place. That doesn't make sense,
White, to me-"
THE Inspector hired a motor car
l. from the Hoops and was back In
Morechester by tea-time. He went
straight to the Post Office where
he was delighted to find that all the
assistants were girls. In one respect
women are supremely useful to a
detective, almost unconsciously q
woman takes notice of a face and
remembers it.
In turn all five were brought into
the Postmaster's office and there
confronted by the Inspectors most
charming smile and a photograph.
Four failed to respond. and Hylton
was beginning to lose faith In wo-
men, when Enquiries and General
Delivery revived it handsomely by
IT, kAJ,