New Britain herald., 1927-11-16

at the bank might have remem
 bered the episode. Moreover. thu
 same psychology that applies to th'
 gun, applies to the jewels
 'The Major has acted throughou
 on the assumption of his innocence and, as q matter of fact. the trinket!
 were safer hero than elsewhere
 There'd be time enough 10 dispos'
 of them when the affair blew over
 . Come with me q moment
 Markham. It's painful, l know
 and your hearts too weak for al anaesthetic.'
 Markham followed him down the
 rassa geNay in a kind of dazo. 1 felt a great sympathy for the man ! for now there was no question that I he knew Vance was setiouS in his i demonstration of the Majors guilt | Indeed, I have always felt that ! Markham suspected the true pur- pose of Nance's request to inyesti- gate the Majors alibi, and that his opposition was due as much to his fear of the results as to his inn patience with the others irritating methods.
 Not that he would have baked ultimately at the truth. despite his long friendship for Major Benson; ; but he was struggling-as l see it | now-with the inevitability of cir cumstanccs, hoping against hope that he had read Vance incorrectly, and that. by vigorously contcStng each step of the way. he might alter the very shape of destiny itself.
 Vance led the way to the living room, and stood for five minutes nturc, while Markham remained in the doorway watching him through narrowed lids, his hands crowded deep into his pockets.
 "We could, of course, have an expert soarcher rake the apartment over inch by inch,'. observed Vance. But I don think 1t necessity. The Majors q bold, cunning soul: wit noss his wide square forehead. the dominating stare of his globuar eyes, the perpendicular spine. and the indrawn abdomen.
 Hes fortnight in all his mental operations. Like Poe's Minister D., he would recognize the futility of painstakingly sccrctng the jewels in some obscure corner. And anyhow. he had no object in secret ing them. He merely wished to hide em where therc'd he no chance of their being seen. This naturally suggests q lock and key, what? There was no such cache in the ed-room-which is why I came lere."
 He walked 10 a squat wood desk in tn" corner, and tried all it's drawers: but they were unlocked. He next tested the table drawer; hut that, too, was unlocked X s,uall Spanish cabinet by the window proved equally di&appointng.
 Markham, I simply must find a locked drawer" he said.
 He inspected the room again. and was about to return to the bedroom when his eye fell on q Circassan- walnut humidor half hilden by q pile of magazines on the Wnlcr- . shelf of the cnntcr-t#blc. He stopped abruptly, and going quickly to the i box, eadeavorcd to lift the top. l. was locked.
 Lets soe." he unused: what docs i; the Major smoke? Romeo Julieta 1 Pcrfoccionados believe - but ! they're not sufficiently valuable to . k ,ep under lock and key"
 He picked up a strong bronze i lying on th" table, and forced it's point into the crnvico of the humidor just above the lock. i
 " ou cant do that" cried Mark | ham: and there was as much pain ! as reprimand in his voice
 Before he could reach Vance, however. there was a sharp click, and the lid flew open, Inside was i a blue-velvet jewel-c9se.
 "Ah Dumb jewels more quick than words.'" said Vance, stepping . back.
 Mark ham stood staring into the , humidor with an expression of . tragic distress. Then slowly he 1 turned and sank heavily into 1 chair.
 Good God" he murmured. T don't know what to believe"
 Tn that respect" returned Vance, i you're in the same dishcartenin' i predic'ment as all the philosophers. -But you were ready enough, don't v know, to believe in the guilt of half dozen innocent people. Why should you gag at the Major. who lctu'lly is guilty"
 His tone was contemptuous. but , curious. inscrutable look in his yes belied his voice: and l remem ,ered that, although these t"o men were welded in an indissoluble friendship, had never heard a word of sentiment, or even sym