The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-04-13

he SAID sharply, but only one
person did, and that person might
be in this room"
Still no one moved. The silence
was oppressive. / was gratified
when Mr.. Kimball asked abruptly
what had happened to Joan's
books. eT
The Sergeant spoke up briefly
for the first time. II located the
shop where they were sold"
"Who took them there?"
"Yo1r niece sold them herself.
The proprietor identified her posi-
lively by photograph"
So Joan had sold the books. /
was certain it must have been to
raise money for Richard.
And then Dirck resumed. IF
the murderer had been content
to let it rest there. this case might
have dragged on forever. But
Jones was not satisfied, perhaps
because Richard Macdonald
might know too much. And so
there was a second murder"
TIE effect of Dirck'S announce
ment was electric. Harry Kincaid
said "Murder?" in a startled voice,
and everyone started to talk at
the same time. Everyone had be-
lieved that Richard committed
suicide. Tim Lathrop was bend
ing forward, his face buried in
his hands. I looked at the Ser
geanb but found his expression
1oncommittal.
Jones didn't come in the house
by the front door night before
last, but by the areaWay at. the
side Of the house, and then up the
cellar stairs to the first floor and
by the regular stairway to the
second and third floors. It was a
clever idea-if it had worked
because IShi or the detective
might have seen him coming in
the house by the front door, but
he wouldn't be likely to be seen
coming up the cellar stairs and
then down the hall and up the
front stairs. That was quite SIM
pie. Richard was murdered not
very long after he went to his
apartment after talking with me
in Miss Howarth's apartment"
4 Had To Come
I ALMOST smiled at Dirck pro-
L tecting my frail reputation. But
he wasn't looking at me.
Jones went up there" he said,
struck him on the head with a
brass candlestick, then hurled the
body from the window. And when
| heard a noise and went up to
look for Richard, he was lying
dead in the yard. This second
murder proved quite definitely
the identity of Joltas."
Again everyone in the room
stiffened. and, when the doorbell
rang, a shrill noise in the silent
house. we started. Mr.. Kimball
left the room and went downstairs.
We waited in silence. listening to
confused murmur of voices in
the lower hall, then the sound of
footsteps on the stairway. In the
doorway. Mrs. Macdonald ap-
peared. She. grasped at Sergeant
Long to support herself.
81 had to come" she gasped.
Il couldn't stand it any longer.
It's been killing me-"
/ was frozen to the chair. Joan's
mother. l couldn't believe it.
Dirck was standing in the mid
die of the room. then unexpect-
edly he shouted at Sergeant Long.
Downstairs. Quick"
They rushed past Joan's mother.
to the head of the stairway just
as an explosion sounded through
the house. Without a sound Mrs.
Macdonald crumpled in heap
in the doorway. The men glanced
back and then went on downstairs
and l followed them. They ran
directly into the shop and Ishi
and | were behind them. In the
middle of the room Patrick lay
in heap. We rushed to his side.
Poor chap" Dirck said.
Hes still breathing" I whis-
pered.
At my words. the Sergeant and
Dirck jerked upright and ran
through the shop to tn room in
the back, then both of them
paused in the doorway. ! rose and
started towards them, but Dirck
motioned me back.
You'd better not go in there,
Chris. We can't do anything for
him."
Mr.. Kimball." swallowed
hard. as he dead?"
Dirck nodded and came back to
Patrick, who seemed to be gain
ing consciousness. rubbed his
wrists frantically and Dirck
brought the brandy.
Hell be all right" Dirck said.
81 guess he was just knocked out.
A fine mess I've made of things"
he added bitterly.
BY the time the Assistant Medi-
cal Examiner arrived, Patrick had
recovered, but he was still dazed
and incoherent, so the Sergeant
sent him back to Ishi's room.
The shop was in a Juror. Every
one from upstairs was crowding
into the hall and shop. Even
Adrianne Wells mother was
there. Sergeant Long was closeted
in the kitchen with some detec-
tives. When he reappeared he said
to Dirck in a gruff voice. We'll,
you win, Kolff."
TOO late to do any good" Dirck
said soberly.
There was nothing that we
could do, so Mary Ann. who had
come into the shop. and I went
upstairs to my apartment. Mrs.
Macdonald was standing in the
middle of the room now, staring
into space and muttering inco-
herently. Her face was deathly
pale. And her lips formed rather
than spoke the words: us he
dead9"