The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-01-03

"Alice is just upset and doesn't
know what she's saying"
Lieutenant Gregory held up his
hand for silence. Lets leave
personalities out of this" he told
Alice. did you have any success
with Mrs. Benedict?" l realized
that his voice was far too casual,
but Alice rushed recklessly on.
81 went to her room twice be-
fore / really went in," she said.
1.-THE first time, as came out of
my, own room, saw Bob leav-
ing" Alice put her hand over
her. mouth, stopping the words too
late.
why, Alice" said Bob quickly,
"why didn't you say this. before?
Perhaps you've given me an
alibi.'
Eyes, of course" Alice agreed
eagerly. Il was going to say so,
but all this has been so upsetting."
Then she explained to Lieutenant
Gregory, II didn't want Bob to
know l had seen him. so / stepped
back inside my own door"
what did. you do next. Miss
Dunbar"
81 waited while. Then | went
to Ewes room. But I did not 60 in,
because l heard voices"
please 60 on with your story"
II did not really see Eve alive
after lunch" she admitted reluc-
family.
''But the voices. Did you recog-
nize them?"
~ recognized Ewes, of course.
She was talking to man, but his
voice was low. thought at first
that recognized the mans voice
and then was not sure. Natural
ly," she added self-conscjously. II
lid not stay to listen"
"And then what, Miss Dunbar"
'But that's all. / thought that
for some reason Bob had gone
back again to Ewes room. But, as
/ said, I was not sure. Now know
it must have been Kinks voice /
heard"
Nobody looked at anyone else
as Alice made this pronounce
ment. Lieutenant Gregory
grunted. Seems to have been a
sort of convention in that room,"
he observed. Wonder how you
kept from falling over each other.
We will have to get straight on
the time element. As it is now.
any one of four people in this
group could have killed Mrs.
Benedict. Mr.. Dunbar. will you
tell us as nearly. as possible the
time of your visit to her room?"
Suspicion
DOB redeemed. IF cannot, does
- it mean will be under sus-
picion of having committed the
MURDER"
'You are already under sus-
picion. Everyone in the house who
cannot account for his or her
whereabouts at the time Of the
murder is naturally under sus-
picion. But I would suggest that
you answer my question"
Il am trying to think. If Sally
had only installed a watchman's
clock for all of us to punch at
given intervals, it would be so
much simpler"
Lieutenant Gregory jerked his
head impatiently. Answer the
question" he ordered tersely.
LET me see !" Bob still hesi-
tated a long time, and Claire
gazed at some point just above his
head. Evidently she could not
bear to think that he had gone di-
rectly from that little session at
the piano to tryst with Eve.
But" --Bob's expression brighten
ed-"Alice has just told you she
saw me come out and that later
on she heard Eve engaged in con-
versation with someone else"
"Very easy for sister TO get
mixed up. under all the circum-
stances" said Lieutenant Gregory.
Mr.. Dunbar, I suppose your con-
versation with Mrs, Benedict was
also"
Personal" Bob finished for
him.
"And you, Miss Dunbar. with
all your previous trips TO Mrs.
Benedict's room, are you sure you
heard nothing that aroused your
suspicious in any way? You saw
no one in the hall at any time
whose behavior might have struck
you as stranger"
Alice looked from one door 10
the other. as though seeking some
avenue of escape, then back at
the stern-faced officer. and her
eyes dropped beneath his scrutiny.
81 have told you everything
know" she said. a little sulkily.
Lieutenant Gregory turned
again to Claire. Miss Harper, are
you quite sure you saw no one
in the bathroom when you thought
you--heard a sound from that di-
rection2"
Claire seemed completely non
plused by this new attack. ooh,
no, !" she insisted. why do you
ASK"
Because" Lieutenant Gregory
told her. someone did 60 in that
bathroom. Whether that person
was there or not when you were
in the bedroom remains 10 be
proved But at some time after
Mrs. Benedict was killed. some
body went into her bathroom and
washed his or her hands and left
slight trace of blood on the
towel The towel was still damp
when | examined the room just
after the discovery Of the muir
der"
Apparently, all my efforts at
diSpoSing Of towels had been in
vain,