The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-11-18
NOW BEGIN THE STORY
CHAPTER LvTT

CHAPTER LVIl
Markham sat thinking for several
minutes. At last he lifted his head.
you've about convinced me of his
guilt" he admitted. "But, damn it,
man! I've got to prove it; and
there's not much actual legal evil
dence."
Vance gave a slight shrug.
I'm not interested in your stupid
courts and your silly rules Of evil
dence. But, since I've convinced you,
you can't charge me with not having
met your challenge, don't " know"
II suppose not" Markham assent
ed gloomily.
Slowly the muscles about his
mouth frightened.
you've done your share, Vance.
Ill carry on"
Heath and Captain Hagedorn were
waiting when We arrived at the Of
flee, and Markham greeted them in
his customary reserved, matter-of-
fact way. BY now he had himself
we'll in hand, and he went about the
task before him with the sombrc
forcefulness that characterized him
IN the discharge of all his duties.
Il think We at last have the right
man, Sergeant" he said. "Sit down,
and I'll 60 over the matter with YOU
in moment. There are one or two
things l want to attend to first"
He handed Major Benson's pistol
to the firearms expert.
Look that gun over, Captain, and
tell me if there's any way of iden-
tifying it as the weapon that killed
Benson"
Hagedorn moved ponderously to
the window. Laying the pistol on
the sill. he took several tools from
the pockets of his voluminous coat,
and placed them beside the weapon.
Then. adjusting jewelers. magnify
ing glass to his eye, he began what
seemed an interminable series Of
tinkerings.
He opened the plates of the stock,
and drawing back the scar, took out
the firing pin. He removed the slide.
unscrewed the link, and extracted
the recoil spring.
l thought he was going to take the
weapon entirely apart, but appar-
emily he merely wanted to let light
into the barrel; for presently he held
the gun to the window and placed
his eye ut the muzzle. He peered in
to the barrel for nearly five min
utes, moving it slightly back and
forth to catch the reflection of the
sun on different points Of the in
terror.
At last, without a word, he slowly
and painstakingly went through the
operation Of assembling the weapon.
Then he numbered back to his chair,
and sat blinking heavily for several
moments.
"I'll tell you," he said, thrusting
his head forward and gazing at
Markham over the tops of his steel
trimmed spectacles. "This, now may
be the right gun. ] wouldn't say for
sure. But when ] saw the bullet the
other morning noticed some pecu-
liar rifling marks on it.; and the
fifling in this gun here looks to me
as though it would match up with
the marks on the bullet. I'm not
certain. I'd like to look at this bar
rel through my helixometer.
But you believe it's the gum"
insisted Markham.
II couldn't say. but l think SO. /
might be wrong"
Very good, Captain. Take it along,
and call me the minute you've in
spected it thoroughly"
ITS the gun, all right" asserted
Heath, when Hagedorn had gone. 81
know that bird. He wouldn't we
said as much as he did if he hadn't
been sure. :. Whose gun is it,
sir?'"
I'll answer you presently" Mark
ham was still battling against the
truth-withholding, even from him
self, his pronouncement of the Ma
jor's. guilt until every loophole of
doubt should be closed. ~ want to
hear from Stitt before I say any
thing. | sent him to look over Ben
son and Benson's books. He'll be
here any moment"
After a wait of q quarter of an
hour, durin which time Markham
attempted to busy himself with other
mat6ars, Stitt came in. He said a
sombre good morning to the district
attorney and Heath; then, catching
sight Of Vance, smiled appreciativc-
~.
THAT was a good tip you gave
me. You had the dope. If you'd
L. =