The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1943-01-26
MRS 1ZII[;ISIs BY e:s;s.
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anything about who killed Nick
Hardacker it won't make any diff
ference"
II thought we'd decided Rae
burn killed him?"
1--WE have-until we find out
different"
Joyce watched her husband.
Kent. We're all agreed that there
were two other callers that night
besides Della"
Il guess we are" He answered
without turning.
''The one she heard while she
was in the bedroom must have
killed him and left by the back
stairs as Della did. Then Ward
came. He must have if he left
with the gun. And yet--how did
he get in? A murderer would not
leave the door unlocked" She
watched Kent turn; she paused.
went on. "And Ward wouldn't 60
around with a bunch Of keys in
his pocket expecting to break in.
He must have expected to be adj
mitted. So how did he get in?"
Clarke let him in"
Joyce gaped at him. "Oh, now.
really. Kent"
Kent's Theory
LIE CAME back to the center of
L the rooms his aGelgrave. He
repeated himself, fleasuring his
words. Clarke let him In"
Figure it for me. too" Fenner
said.
eff there were two others after
Della, the first one killed him and
| left the gun. Allen came along
and knocked. possibly soaring the
killer off, possibly not"
"And Clarke is dead on the
floor" Fenner said.
ION the floor, but not dead. He
bled freely" Murdoch said. HE
may have lost consciousness for a
while, but it must have come back
to him, for a few seconds at least
His vest and shirt were blood
soaked but there were also spots
along the front of his trousersl
That much 7 saw"
"Oh-oh," Fenner said.
Joyce was still waiting. "But ]
don't see"
"He stood up!" Fenner said.
eff he had stayed where he'd
fallen" Murdoch said, you'd
have no blood on the thigh and
knee. He had to stand up to get
blood to run down there-gravity.
my sweet-and think he not
only stood up, but walked. When
I saw him his feet were pointed
towards the door and quite close,
as though he had gone over to it
and finally fallen backward.
And that follows. He got up, that
much / know; the rest is guess
work but. it's good enough for
me-"
He looked down at Joyce.
you've been shot twice. The
lights 60 out for you and then,
for little while. they come back.
You know you're dying and you
try to get up. You make it TO
your feet. Then what would you
do?"
Joyce shook her head. Il doA't
know"
Zone of two things: you'd want
help-a doctor-or you'd want to
make sure the man who shot you
paid for it. Either way you've
got two choices. The first is the
telephone, the second is the door
you might open it and cali for
help. Clarke did not 60 to
the telephone. although it was
fright there in the room. Why
when it was the easy, logical
thing TO do? Because / think he
heard Ward Allen knocking. Here
was help. He staggered over and
opened it before he fell back and
died"
Thanks, Kent" she said.
For what? That's only my the
lory."
But she could only smile al
him
Lets 60 tell Hestor." Fenner
rubbed his palms and grinned.
'tHuh?"
i I'm going" Murdoch said re-
signedly.
| She got his hat and coat. and
after they had gone. Della came
up to her. 81 wish we'd told him
in the first place.. she said.
/ $50 do I" Joyce said.
\ La N aankzasAA.