The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-26
NOW BEGIN THE STORY
CHAPTER Nj


CHAPTER nj
Its quite simple, y know"
Vance replied, with quizzical
twitch Of the lips. you haven't
your eye on the murderer for the
reason that the person who COM
mitted this particular crime was
sufficiently shrcwd and perspica-
cious to sec to it that no evidence
which you or the police were likely
to find, would even remotely indi-
cate his guilt"
He had spoken with the clsy as
Surance Of one who cnunciates an
obvious fact-a ,act which permits
Of no argument.
Markham gave disdainful laugh.
mo law-breakcr," he asserted
oracularly, lis shrcwd enough to see
all contingencies. Even the most
trivial event has so many intimately
related and serrated points of con-
tact with other events which pre-
cede and follow, that it is a known
fact that every criminal-howevcr
long and carefully he may plan
leaves some loose end to his prepara-
tons, which in the end betrays him"
"A known fact" Vance repeated.
mo, my dear merely con-
ventional superstition, based on
the childish idea of an implacablc,
avenging Nemesis. l can see how
this esoteric notion Of the inevitable
ity of divine punishment would APP
peal to the popular lagination, like
fortune-telling and ouija boards,
don't v know; but-my word.-it
desolatcs me to think that you, old
chap, would give credencc to such
mystical mOonshine.'
don't let it spoil your entire
day." said Markham acridly.
Regard the unsolved, o- success
full, crimes that are taking place
every day." Vance continued, disre-
garding the others iron., crimes
which completely BATTLE the best de-
tectives in the business, wat? The
fact is, the only crimes that are ever
solved are those Tanned by stupid
people. That's why, whenever man
Of even mod'rate sagacity decides to
commit a crime. he accomplishes it
with but little difficulty, and forti-
fled with the positive assurance Of
his immunity discovery
"Undetected crimes" scornfully
submitted Markham, "res'.lt, in the
main, from official bad luck-not
from superior criminal c.everness."
bad luck"-Vance's voice was
almost dulcet rs merely de-
fcnsive and self-consoling synonym
for inefficicncy. A nan with in
genuity and brains is not harassed
by bad luck. -. No, Markham,
old dear; unsolved crimes are SIM
ply crimes which have been intelli-
gently planned and executed. And,
d yc see, it happens that the Ben
son murder falls into that categ'ry.
Therefore, when, after a few hours
investigation, you say vol re pretty
sure who committed it, you must
pardon me if take issue with you."
He paused and took Few medi-
tative puffs on his cig..ret.
"The Fictitious and casuistic
methods Of deduction you chaps
pursue are apt to lead almost any
where. In proof Of which assertion
l point triumphantly to the UNI
fortunate young Lady whose liberty
you are now plotting to take away"
Markham, who Lad been hiding
his resentment behind S. lie of
tolerant contempt, now turned on
Vance and fairly glowered.
1T so happens-and l'l.l speaking
ex cathedra-" he proclaimed de-
family, that come pretty near
having the goods on your 'unfor-
tunate young l.dy'."
Vance was unmoved.
"And, yet, " know" he observed
drily, mo woman could possibly
have done it."
/ could see that Markham was
furious. When he spoke he almost
spluttered.
"A woman couldn't have done it,
elmo matter what the evidence?"
"Quite So" Vance rejoined placid
ly: mot If she herself swore to it
and produced q tome Of what you
scions Of the law term, rather POM
pously, incontrovertible evidence"
"Ah! There was no nistaking the
sarcasm Of Markam's tone. Il am
to understand then that you even
regard confessions as valueless :"
Eyes, my dear Justinian," the
other responded, with an air Of COM
placency; II would hay. you UNDER
stand precisely that. Indeed they
are worse than valueless-they're
downright unloading. The fact that
occasionally they may prove to be
correct-like woman's prepost' rously
overrated intuition-renders them
just SO much more unreliable"