The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-07-11

What with? Told man never let
anyone have a key but hisselt. And
there was always only one way TO
come in, and that was the front,
everything else was kept as tight
shut as the Bank of England. And
the front door was always on a
chain. couldn't let meseif ia any
more than you could. rang once or
twice, and l thought it was fanny
that didn't do any good becaues old
Burdett had ears like a cat. Then
banged in the door a bit and nothing
happened. Ten minutes | must have
been ringing and banging. went
round to the back; all shattered up
and made fast and locked it was,
just like it should be. | put my fist
through the coal house window and
undid the catch and was inside in
a couple of minutes"
Inspector Kingsley Hylton was
watching his man keenly. go on"
he said quietly.
81 thought better come and see
IL the old boy was all right, SO came
here-this was the only room he
ever used bar his bedroom and
there he was lying over the table
with his head Dashed in and this
club thing on the floor.''
"Dead?"
Dead as door nail"
WAS there much blood about?"
"Well. you can see most of it now.
these stains dried up here"
'Was it dry then?"
"No. Well. not as dry as it is now
anyway. Thick like"
What did you do them"
81 was bit put about at first
Then | saw the safe open"
where's that?"
"I'll show you that in a minute if
you like. sir" Sergeant White put i'll
"Righto. Carry ON. Lumsdale."
+ SAW the safe open. and thought
i by gum the old DEVILS COPIED ii
at last; someone's got the money. ]
went over to the wall there and
looked in the safe-it's locked again
now. the police are afraid I'll steal
1t. reckon-just out of curiosity
There seemed to be a tidy bit o
money still in it. let that be just as
it was and | went and fetched Ser
geant White here"
"Why didn't you telephone tc
him?"
Lumsdale actually laughed. thin,
sarcastic sound. what with? You
didn't catch old Burdett paying to
have telephones put in Enderton
Court"
what time did you get to Ser
geant White's?"
Round about half past nine, or
quarter to ten | suppose"
"Um. Do you know of anybody who
had any grudge against Mr.. Burdett
Lumsdale?"
scores on 'em. They all hated him
in the village because he never spent
anything"
But you don't know of any quar-
rel with anyone actually?"
II can't say as do"
What about this safe?"
"It's over here, Inspector" Ser
geant White said, "let into the wall
by the fireplace Papered to look like
the rest of the wall, see? 1t was open
when got here with Lumsdale."
"Um. Well, we can see inside that
tomorrow, no doubt, if we want to.
I'd like to look over the rest of the
house."
For an appreciate moment Lums-
dale was silent then he answered,
What. now. Mister?"
eyes. Why not?"
Lumsdale shrugged his shoulders.
well, don't mind, if you DON'T" he
said.
why should l mind?"
Lumsdale looked doggedly away.
Some folks might" he said.
Kingsley Hylton's tiger-like curl
osity. which was always pacing up
and down the inadequate cage of his
mind. was instantly aroused.
"You interest me immensely,
Lumsdale," he said. You don't
mean to tell me that you are afraid
of ghosts?"
Andrew Lumsdale turned and
faced him squarely.
'Ill tell you this much, Mister"
he answered quietly, "and you can
get all the laugh out OF it you've a
mind to, but there's rooms in this
house l wouldn't sleep in. not if you
doubled my money"
A queer silence fell on the three
men for moment and puff of wind
from the dark house playfully lifted
a corner of the white sheet that COW
cred the thing on the table.
Kingsley Hylton was intrigued.
Come on" he said. fetch one of
those lamps. Sergeant, and we'll all
have look round"
fceSyrisAs. 1880. Lawrence ". KeyAeHJ
Their inspection proves fruit