New Britain herald., 1927-09-27
0J s. s. v VAN DINE

stranger things have happened, returned Vance equably; though l sha'n't accuse him of it in this in- stance. The cigaret butts may, V know, he evidence of a previous conversation"
 Even your despised Heath" Markham informed him. had suffi- cent intelligence to ascertain from the housekeeper that she sweeps out the grate every morning.
 Vance sighad aGmiringly.
 You're so thorough, aren't you? But, I say, that can't be, by any chance. your only evidence gainst the lady?"
 By no means Markham as- sured him. But. despite your superior distrust. it's good cor roboratory evidence nevertheless"
 T dare say" Vance agreed. "-- seeing with what frequency in- rocent persons are condemned in our courts. But tell me more." Markham proceeded with an air of quiet selt-assurance.
 "NLf man learned, first, that Ben son dined alone with this woman at the Marseilles, a little Bohemian restaurant in West Fortieth street; secondly, that they quarrolled; and thirdly, that they departed at mid night, entering a taXicab together
 Now, the murder was com mitted at 12:3o; but since the lady lives on Riverside Drive, in the Eighties, Benson couldn't possibly have accompanied her home - which obviously he would have done had he not taken her to his own house-and returned by the time the shot was fired.
 "But we have further proof point ing to her being at Renson's. My man learned, at the woman's apart ment-house, that actually she dld rot get home until shortly after |. Moreover, she was without her gloves and hand bag, and had to be lot in her rooms with pass-key' ! because, as she explained, she had lest hers.
 "As you remember, we found the key in her bag. And--to clinch the whole natter--thc smoked ciEarets in the grate correspond to the one you found in her case.'
 Markham paused to relight hls cigar.
 ! "so much for that particular eve 1 ning," he resumed. "As soon as learned the woman's identity this morning, I put two more men to work on her private life.
 Just as I was leaving the office this noon the men 'rhoned in their reports They mad learned that the woman has a fiance, a chap named Leacock, who was a captain in the army, and who would be likely to own just such gun as Benson was Killed with. Furthermore. this Captain Leacock lunched with the woman the day of the murder and i also called on her at her apartment 1 the morning after"
 1 Markham leaned slightly for ward, and his next words were em- phasized by the tapping of his fin gers on the arm of the chair.
 As you see. we have the motive, the opportunity, and the means. 1 Perhaps you will tell me now that I possess TO discriminating evil f dcnce."
 My dear Markham" Vance affirmed calmly, you haven't ! brought out a single point which could not easily be explained away . by any bright school-boy. He shook his head lugubriously, And on such evidence people are deprived of their life and liberty. 'Pon my word, you alarm me. I tremble for my personal safety"
 Markham was nettled. I "Would you be so good as 10 point out, from your dizzy pinnacle Of sapinnce, the errors in my reason- ing"
 As far as can sec" returned Vance evenly, your particularlza- ton concerning the lady is inno- cent of reasoning. You've simply taken several unaffirmed facts, and ! jumped to a false conclusion.
 "I happen to know the conclu- sion is false because all the psy- ! cholocical indications of the crime : contradict it--that is to say, the cnly real evidence in the case points unm:stakabty in another di- Icctien."
 1 He made a gesture of emphasis, { and his tone assumed an unwonted i gravity,
 And if you arrest any woman