The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-14
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BENSON MURDER CASE
BY S. S. WVAN DINE a.zs s.aas -
. cgA1.rs smny7cA -

believe, have my case. The smash
ing of the captains abb about
clinches it..
"Oh, quite" said Vance airily.
Hope springs exulting on tri-
umphant wing"
Markham regarded him a moment.
Have you entirely foresworn
human reason as means Of reach
ing decision? Here we have All
admitted threat, motive, the time,
the place, the opportunity, the con-
duet, and the criminal agent"
"Ihose words sound strangely
familiar smiled Vance. Didn't
most Of 'em fit the young lady also?
And you really haven't got
the criminal agent, y know. But
it's no doubt floating about the city
somewhere.--A mere detail, how
ever"
II may not have it in my hand"
Markham coMtered. But with a
good man on watch every minute,
Leacock won't find much oppor
tunity of disposing of the weapon
Vance shrugged indifferently.
''ln any event, go easy" he adj
monislled My humble opinion is
that you've merely unearthed a con-
spiracy."
"ConSpirasy: Good Lord!
What klnd?R
"A conspiracy of circumstances
don't y know
I'm glad, at any rate, it hasn't
to do with international politics.,
returned Markham goodnaturedly.
lie glanced at the clock.
You won't mind if / get to work.
I've a doZcl things to attend to, and
IA couple of committees to see. !.
Why don't you go across the hall
and have Il talk with Zen Hanlon,
and then come back at 1890?
Wen have lunch together at the
Bankers Club.
'ben's our creates. pert on for
eign extradition, and has spent
most of his life chasing about the
world after fugitives from justice.
lie II spin YOU some good yarns"
How perfectly fascinatino!" ex-
claimed Vance, with n yawn.
But instead Of taking the sug-
gestion, he walked to the window
and lit a cigaret. He stood for q
while putting at it, rolling it be-
tween his fingers, and inspecting it
critically.
"Y' know. Markham" he OBJ
served, 'everything's going to pot
these days. It's this silly democ-
racy. Even the nobility is 'egen'-
rating. These Reggie cigarets. now:
they've fallen off frightfully. There
was a time when no self-respecting
potentate would have smoked such
inferior tobacco"
Markham smiled.
Nv hats the favor you want to
ask"
Favor! What has that to do
with the decay Of Europe's aristoc-
racy?"
I've noticed that whenever you
want to ask a favor which you con-
slider questionable etiquette, you
begin with denunciation of
royalty"
"Observin' fela," commented
Vance drlly. Then he, too, smiled.
! DO you mind if ] invite Colonel
Ostrander along TO lunch %
| Markham gave him u sharp look.
"Bigsby Ostrander. You mean?
! : ID - StSl 4Stso S0iOiaHl
you've been asking people about for
the past two days ."
That's the lad. Pompous ass
and that sort Of thing. Might prove
g BIZ edifyin, though. He's the
papa Of Benson's crowd, so to
speak; knows all parties. Regular
old seandalmonger.o
Have him along, by all means
agreed Markham.
Then he picked mp the telephone.
Now I'm going TO tell Ben you're
coming over for an hour or so.
lMonday, June II; 1890 p. No.
When, at half past twelve, Mark
ham, Vance and | entered the grill
Of the Bankers Club in the Foul
table building, Colonel Ostrander
was already at the bar engaged
with one OF Charles prohibition
clan-broth and Norchester-sh shire
sauce cocktails. Vance had tele-
phoned him immediately upon our
leaving the district attorneys office,
requesting him to meet US at the
club: and the colonel had seemed
eager to comply.
(Io Be Continned)