The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-10-04
Chapter "a
In The Clothes Cupboard
" a NY news in the case?" Ketter-

ing asked.
'Nothing's broken" said Neill.
Kettering lowered his voice. rs
the federal government interested
IN this case?"
He asked the question with a
malicious smile that made Neil
uneasy. He regretted that Ketter-
ing had been told who he was.
why no." he said easily. "Why:"
"Oh, just your being here"
That was an accident"
Remarkable coincidence. Don't
work too hard on the case"
Il don't set you" said Neill.
Don't you agree that it would
be better if this ugly mystery was
never solved?s
Il don't get you" said Neill.
Kettering smiled, tWell, they
say a word to the wise is suffi-
Gent" He went into the store,
leaving Neill in a state Of inward
confusion. Kettering's words had
the sound Of a threat. What was
Kettering's interest in the matter?
How much did be know? Were the
Ketterings connected with the
events of the night before?
He was still looking for the
answers when Bonniger came up
They rowed out to the Nadii, TAX
Ing Walter, the steward, with them
TO answer any questions about the
yacht that might arise. Walter was
a blond, characterless young man,
n47Yf haI1u cfrnlras4 t,vr HE x~.rv@..,.. .
ences of the past "a hours. He
smoked one cigarette after an
other. On the yacht they found
Constable Forsythe. Walter was
left with him while Bonniger and
Neill went below.
The cabins showed the effect of
the crowds that had sWarmed
through them on the previous day.
Practically everything movable
had been carried away for SOU
venirs. The lock on the door of the
after cabin which had been partly
wrenched off when the door was
forced, was now missing.
How do they expect me to re-
construct what happened2" grum-
bled Bonniger.
They stood in the doorway with
out speaking, searching the little
cabin foot by foot. Il was a luxuri-
Gus room with a pair Of twin beds,
seat lockers under the portfolios on
each side and a capacious, chintz-
covered easy chair. AT the foot OF
the beds an ugly brown stain had
dried on the rug.
Neilfs eyes few 20 the door of
the clothes cupboard TO the left OF
the beds. The sight of it stirred up
painful feelings in him. de would
have liked to believe that the real
killer of Prescott Tanning had
locked himself IN that closet. but
the story was loo far-fe.ched.
Building Up Theories
D0NNIGER said: "All agree that
~ Fannlng was found lying on
his back with his feet 10 the door
and his head near the foot of the
bed on the left as you look in.
That's where the blood stain is he
must have been moved the instant
he fell. because there's no blood
anywhere else IN the room"
NELL was not inclined 70 help
Bonniger out in his reasoning.
Il know he was moved. : ION.
niger went on. because 8 man
shot IN the back naturally falls on
his face. cSgeeially II he's leaning
forward. The bullet entered the
base Of Trimmings skull. came out
OF his forehead ard then struck
the drawer under the port seat
locker. Il was almost spent and
has left only a slight dent in the
wood. It's course indicates that
flaming was bending Ear over
when he was shot. II the easy chair
was where they say 1t was. he was
bending over that chair. =. DO
you agree
Absolutely" said NELL grimly
You'd beat a PROFESSIONAL"
Bonniger shook his head like q
puzzled cog. Every theory ] Try
TO build up runs into q enntradie-
ton. The most natural explanation
Is that flaming broke IN the door
with the intention 81 attacking The
Fiji. DAt II ne tt@l SAS4s al ain,
why had he given her = key 70 lock
herself in with"
Perhaps he had no such inten.
ton in the beginning. suggested
Neill Perhaps he didn't expect 20
be repulse6. and when he was re-
pulsed be went crazy.
That's q possibility But haviae
broken in violently. how could he
be so foolish as 20 let the Girl SET
behind him9"
NELL shrugged his shoulders. lie
went 70 the door OF the clothes
closet and tried il. Il was locked
We ought % have q Look n here