The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-10-12
Chapter 80
Buckles Talks

DUCHESS aAkB
THEY went aboard. The lights
i were off. Their electric torches
revealed that the doors of the for
ward hatch the dining saloon and
the after companionway had all
been forced. Down below, the
yacht was scene of wreckage. At
: first glance it appeared as if some
body had wantonly torn and
smashed dis way through the cab
ms, bit Upon closer examination it
was clear that there had been a
painstaking search for something.
Neill thought: Bucklessl
what was he looking for?"
asked Wilson.
Some loot that Tanning had or
that the murderer thought he had, !"
said Bonniger. Judging from the
general ruin, he didn't find it.
That's all to the good"
Bonniger was only one step from
the truth.
'He was scared of on the night
of the murder" Bonniger went on,
sand tonight he came back TO look
again for It.
Forsythe said: II think I scared
him off this time too, sir. When I
was rowing out heard oars up the
inlet. But by the time I had got
aboard, he had landed"
Longcope, Wilson and Trueman
rowed back to the shore, the SER
geant to spread what men he had
to search through the village. Bon
niger and Neil remained on board
to make closer examination. It
was evident that the man had worn
gloves because there were no fin
gerprints to be found anywhere.
He had torn up the carpets, slit the
mattresses and cut open the pill
lows. He had even gone down into
the bilge under the cabin floors.
Here he ran into some grease, for
they found the print Of a whole
hand under hatch cover.
HE was wearing gloves, sure
enough" said Bonniger examining
it. sPigskin gloves Of all thingsw
There was nothing more to be
done aboard. Forsythe put Bonni-
ger and Neil ashore in the dinghy
and returned to his post. The news
had spread around the village and
a small crowd of men in various
stages of undreSs was waiting on
the wharf. Newspaper men and
villagers. They fired questions at
Bonniger. He led them across the
road and into the store to look
them over under the lights.
Kettering was in the thick of the
crowd and on the edge slouched
the uncouth figure of Ira Buckles.
Neill edged around behind the lat
ter without attracting his notice.
Buckles was closely attending to
the questions the reporters were
asking and Bonniger,s answers,
Nein took note Of a bulge In the
righthand pocket of his jacket.
and with delicate fingers pulled
the pocket open little. Inside lay
grease-stained pigskin gloves.
Neil moved away from him. He
had no intention Of passing on the
tip 10 Bonniger. He could not risk
a showdown until he had proof
that Buckles was the killer.
However, Bonniger' keen glance
picked Buckles out as the only
completely dressed man in the
crowd before him. "Hey you,
whatever your name ISL mean
the big fellow there" he said stern
~ I'D like 20 ask you a few ques-
tons. Come back into the Office
with me. viii you7"
Buckles looked around scowl-
Ing. made up his mind that escape
was impossible and, pushing
through the crowd, went with
Bonniger. Neill remained in the
background Anxious as he was to
keep in touch with what was going
on. he knew that for him to be
present AZ this scene would only
precipitate disaster.
The Soiled Gloves
VIRGIL, uneasy about the fn-
gers in his cracker boxes. was
shepherding the crowd out on the
porch. AS the floor cleared, Neiil
saw a pair of soiled. trampled
gloves lying there Virgil bounced
on them. "Herel Here" BE cried
running TO the ONCE with them.
Neill went into the hotel and
paced his room in a torment Of sus.
penSe. What was going TO come OF
this interview During the last two
days Buckles had had reasons Of
his own for keeping his mouth shut
about Janet, but Bonniger was
pretty sure 20 get him in 4 corner.
And what theng
In a few minutes there was
q knock on the door. When he
opened Il, Neill stilfened az the
sight Of the waiting constable. The
man said: s.Adr. Bonniger saws he's