New Britain herald., 1927-10-10
Q|l!\l MURDER CASE
 bq S. S. Vgy VAN DINE @ CHARLES seRlBE2
e CHARLES GcRIBELPS SCES

was expecting Heath a lI't)o later.
 The sergeant was waiting for Us when We retired to the louugt room for our smoke. and ly his oXpr,s- sion it vas "yld"nt hc Was not p'agscI with the way things were going
 T told yon. Mr. Markham" he said. when N" had drawn up our chairs. that this case was going 10 be tough one. 'ouid yoG i get any kind of lead from tn. St. Ciar Woman""
 Markham shook his head
 Shes out Of it" And he rr- counted briefly tb. happenings at ! Hrnson's house tho preceding after noon.
 ] "Weu. f you'ro satisfied" vas Hca'h's somewhat dubious com- mont that's good enough for m". Eu' what about this Captain Lea cock"
 "That's what I asked you here 10 talk about" Markham told him. ! "Thrre's no direct evidence against him. hut fhor" are several Suspl- cious circumstances that tend to con- meet him with tho murder. IIc so"us 10 meet tho specifications as 10 height: and wo mustn't overlook tEo fact that Benson was shot with 'u~t such q gun as J.oacock would he likely 10 possess. II" was on- gagged 10 the girl. and motlv" might ho found in Bonson's atton- 'ions 10 her"
 "Anl eyer since tho big scrap" supplemented Heath. these army oys don't think anything Of shoot ing people. They got used to blood on tho other side"
 "The only hitch" resumed Mark ham, "is that Phelps who had the lob of checking up on the captain. rc nortod 10 me that ho was nom" that night from o'clock on. of course. there may h" 2 loop p-hOlo somewhere. and I was going 10 SUE go into the matter thoroughly and sc just what the situation iS.
 "Phclps got his information from ono of the hall-hoys; and l think it might be well 10 get hold of th" boy again and apply Il little pres sure. If ii was found that Leacock was not at homo at 12:%0 that night. wo might have th" lead you've been looking for"
 "I'n attend 10 il myS"lf.' said Heath. "1n 20 round there to- night, and if this hoy knows any thing, hell spill il before I'm through with him."
 We had talked but few minutes longer when q uniformed at'"rdanf bowed dcfercntially at the district attorneys elbow and announced that Nr. pfyfo was calling.
 Markham requested that his visi- tor he shown into the lounge-room, and then added to Heath:
 "You'd better remain. and hear what he has 10 say
 I.eandcr Pfyfo WIS an inmacn- late and exquisite parsonage. H' . approached us with a mincing gait Of scIf-aprrohaticn. His legs which were very long and thin. with knoe> that socm,d to bend slightly iG- ward. supported Il short hulginG torso; and his chest curved ont ward in generous are, like that of pOutor- pigeon.
 His face was rotund and his fowls hung in two loops over 9 col lar too tight for comfort His blond sparse hair was brushed back sleekly: and the ends of his mar LOW, silkcn mustache were WaNcd into needle points.
 IIc was dressed in li@ht-gray sum mcr flannols. and Wor" a pale uir- Quoisc-ercen silk shirt, a vivid foulard tie, and gray sued" oNfords A strong odor of oriental perfume was given off by the carefully ar ranged batisto handkerchief in his , breast pocket.
 He greeted Markham with NisciG urbani,y. and acknowledged his in troduction 10 us with a patronizina bow. After posing himself in I chair the attendant placed for him he began polishing gold-rimm"l oyc-glass which h" wore on a rib. bon. and fixed Markham with z melancholy gaze.
 "A very sad occasion, 'his,' nr sighed.
 "Ecahzing your friendship fo'