The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-13
NOW BEGIN THE STORY
CHAPTER NNNI

"Takc a seat. Captain" sal,
Markham, with formal bow. 81
have asked YOU here, as you prob.
ably know, to put few questions te
YOU concerning Mr.. Alvin Benson
There are several points regarding
your relationship with him, which
want you to- explain"
Am | suspected Of completely ir
the crimc?' Lcacock spoke with u
slight southern accent.
THAT remains to be seem" Mark
ham told him coldly. ut is to de-
tcrminc that point that l wish to
question you"
The other sat rigidly in his chair
and waited.
Markham fixed him with a dircc,
gaze.
"Iou recently made q threat or
Mr.. Alvin Bensons life, ] believe
Leacock started, and his fingers
frightened over his knees. But be
fore he could answer, Markham con.
tinucd:
Il can tell You the occasion or
which the threat was made,-it was
at a party given by Mr.. Lcandcl
Pfyfe."
Lcacock lcsitatcd; then thrust
forward his jaw.
Every well. sir; | admit I made
the threat. Benson was a cad--he
deserved shooting. \. That night
he had become more obnoxious than
usual. He'd been drinking toe
much--and SO had |, ] reckon"
He gave {; twisted smile. and
looked ncrvously past the district
attorney out of the window.
But l didn't shoot him, sir. ]
didn't even know he'd been shot
until | read the paper next day.
''He was shot with an army Colt
the kind you fellows carried in
the war;" said Markham, keeping
his eyes on the man.
IL know it, Leacock replied. "Thc
papers said So"
"You have such q gun, haven't
you, Captain?"
Again the other hcsitated.
"No, sir" His voice was barely
audible.
what became Of it?"
The man glanced at Markham,
and then quickly shifted his eyes.
Ell lost it in France"
Markham smiled family.
'Thcn how do you account for
the fact that Mr.. Pfyfe saw the gun
the night you made the threat %
"Saw the gum" He looked blank
ly at the district attorney.
"Ycs, saw it, and recognized it
as an army gum" persisted Mark
ham, in Lowell voice. "Also, Major
Benson saw you make u motion as
il to draw gum
Leacock drew deep breath, and
set his mouth doggedly.
Il tell you, sir, ! haven't gun.
/ lost It in France"
'Pcrhaps you didn't lose it, Cap
tain. Perhaps you lent it to some.
one"
II didn't, sir" the words burst
from his lips.
"Think a minute. Captain. !. .
Didn't you lend It TO someonc?"
mo- did not.
"You paid a visit-yesterday-to
Riverside Drive. Perhaps
you took it there with YOU"
Vance had been listening closely.
"Oh-deuced clever" he now MUIR
INJURED in my ear.
Captain Lcacock moved uneasily.
His face, even with it's deep coat
of tan, seemed to pale, and he
sought to avoid the implacable gaze
of his questioner by concentrating
his attention upon some object on
the table.
When he spoke his voice, hereto
fore truculent, was colored by anx-
Il didn't have it with me. .
And / didn't lend it to anyone"
Markham sat leaning forward
over the desk, his chin on his hand,
like a minatory craven image.
1T may be you lent it to some
one prior to that morning"
"Prior to ?" Leacock looked
up quickly and paused, as it analyz-
ing the others remark.
Markham took advantage OF his
perplexity.
.'Havc you lent your gun to any
ono since you returned from
France?"
mo, I've never lent it, he be-
gan, but suddenly halted and flush
ed. Then he added hastily, "Hov