The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-01-12
THE ARMY POST MURDERS

xNOB III alOb GUESSING 1uGIG
would have been a long fuse on
it. It was not essential to the plan,
just an Enlistment; and it
might not have worked. The fuse
in a nest of crumpled paper, be-
hind some shrubs in the flower
bed at the edge of the steps. It
might not catch fire from the
cigarette. The fuse might go out.
The cracker might prove a dud.
II so, there was no harm done
there were the popping balloons,
the power of suggestion. Someone
would be sure to have heard a shot.
mo, I'm not guessing. After he
had been put to bed Barney re-
memhered that a firecracker leaves
traces. He stole out of his room
by the window, found the place,
scraped dirt over the debris. And
found the two smoke blackened,
whitewashed stones. Actually
there was little chance that they
would ever be noticed or. il they
were, that any significance would
be attached to them. But MUIR
derers have to be scrupuiously
neat. He took them, intending, per-
hapS, to clean them or to exchange
them for others in a less telltale
position.
$50 the weapon was in his hand
when he reached bachelor quar-
tiers and overheard the sentry's
innocent remark. This MORN
ing ! found the place where the
stones had been, and in the loose
dirt scraps of scarlet paper. :"
There was little silence, then
Captain Flowers scrupulous, exact
mind dictated the final, the telling
question.
'But this that you've told us is
not enough-to convict man, !
mean, Scraps of evidence, pieced
together wit h conjecture. The
sentry might die. Anne might not
live to tell that he shot her. If
that is all, if there is no further
evidence, why did Barney lose his
head and try to eScape?"
Accusing Him
IT WAS the longest speech I had
! ever heard from the little man.
1t won for him glance of affec-
tionate admiration from Adam.
you're quite right, Captain, it
was not enough-though, by the
way, I suspect that Anne has been
trying to tell that he shot her every
time she spoke his name. She was
not asking for him but accusing
him-that's why she tainted again
when he came in the room.
mo. Except for the actual evil
dence of the firecrackers and the
final attack on Anne, guessed all
this before daylight. The second
attempt on Anne's life confirmed
the guess, but it was the proof
that was bothering me. And 7
found 1.-THE elected shell Of the
bullet with which she was actually
shot,"
There was a chorus Of sharp,
excited questions. He answered
them in order.
"How? BY letting him lead me
to it. Where? On the target range
where cars often park at night,
.where he took her last night,
where he actually shot her.
How do | know 1t was the right
one? It was a thirty-two and, as
far as know, the only gun of that
caliber on the post belongs to Eliz-
abeth. 1t can be proved that it was
fired from her gun. It can be
proved that her gun was never out
OF her possession until Yesterday.
Colonel Wright tells me that the
gun was new and had fleUer been
fred on this post!
Barney led me to the spot, and
| picked the shell up in front of his
eyes before he could put his foot
on it and grind it into the turf.
That's why he lost his nerve. That's
why he shot himself. ;"
"The maiden, all forlorn,'"
Adam quoted gently, taking his
eyes from the road long enough
to meet mine. "I'm sorry you're
cutting your visit short--you're
carrying away ugly memories"
IF II were only that. But I feel
so inadequate. When she said good.
by Elizabeth apologized for having
invited me. She had no idea, Of
course, of what was coming, but
she knew the evening would be an
ordeal and she wanted a friend-
not to confide in, just to be near.
And, Adam, I scarcely saw her all
evening"
] hlinked at the corn rows we
were passing, The iron fence had
disappeared. Fort Ben Ravens was
behind me.
Adam said very soberly, There
are some things that no one can
help US with-we have to 90
through them alone. You were
there If she wanted you. ! can un.
derstand that would be enough"
"Adam-why, If he loved Eliza
beth, did he throw suspicion on
her by using her gun and the
Malay kris?"
(Copvrioht, 1858. Viroftfn Hansoml