The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-11-05

CHARACTERS OF THE STORY
tHlLO VANCE
JOHN FIX. MARKHAM Distriet
Attorney Of New York County
ALVIN n. BENSON. Well
known Wall Street broker and
man-about-town. who Was mys.
teriously murdered il his home
MAJOR ANTHONY BENSON !.
-. Brother Of the murdered u6an
MRS. ANNA PLATE -.
aousekeeper for Alvin Benson
AURlEL ST. CLAIR ........a
cApTAiN;i pHIIii ErxZ Scs9e singer
LEANDER pFYFE .. o' ''."
Intimate Of Alvin Bensou's
MRS. PAULA BANNING =.
A frierd Of Pfyfs's
ELSIE HOFFMAN Secretary Of
the firm Of Benson and Benson
BlGSBY OSTRANDER
.......... A retired army officer
WlLLlAA b. MORIARTY 49,.
GEORGE; G. .' s1irr .. an .'o''n''
........ OF tie firm Of stitt
and Mccoy. Public Accountants
MAURICE DINWlDDIE ........
Asslstant District Attorney
ERNEST HEATE ........ Ser.
geant Of the Homicide Bureau
BURKE. SNlTKIN, EMERY ~.
Detsctives Of Homicide Buroau
BEN HANL0N :..... Command
ing Officer Of Detectives a.
signed to District Attorneys offico
PHELPS, TRACY. SPRINGER,
HIGCINBOTHAM 49,.
.............. Detectives as.
sign I'd to District Attorney :. ffiee
CAPTAIN CARL HAGEDORN :.
Firearms expert !
DR. DoREAus 49,;
FRANK SwACKER :. See
Ietary to the District Attorney
s. s. VAN DINE -: The Narrstos
THIS HAS HAPPENED
Vance prevents Markham from Or.
resting Leacock when Pfyfe's state.
r.e-ts strengthen tho case against
the captain. Later he discovers
that Pfyfe had been In Alvin Ben.
sons power because of q check he
had forged and that Pfyfe had put
up Paula Banning's jewels with Ben.
son as security. Leacock confcssea
to the murder but Vance exposes
the Confession as lie to shield Miss
st. Clair. Vance and Markham call
on Miss st. Clair and she tells them
che had dincd with Benson the eve.
ming CT the murder.
NOW BEGIN THE STORY
Chapter XLVI
A shadow darkened Miss st. Clair's
face. but her voice remained even.
II had been losing a lot of money
through Mr.. Bcnson's firm, and sud-
denly my intuition told me that he
vas purposely seeing to it that I
did lose, and that he could, if he
desired, help me to recoup."
She dropped her eyes. "He had
been annoying me with his atten-
tions for some time; and I didn't
put any despicable scheme past him.
r went to his office, and told him
quite plainly What suspected. He
replied that t. I'd dine with him
that night we could talk it over. I
knew what his object was, but I was
so desperate decided to go anyway,
honing l might plead with him."
"And how did you happe to men,
ton to Mr.. Benson the exact time
YOUR little dinner party would ter
minate?"
She looked at Vance in astonish-
ment, but answered unhesitatingly.
''He said something about-mak-
ing gay night Of it; and then |
told him--very emphatically-that
if l went would leave him sharply
at midhioht. rs was my invariable
rule on all parties. You see,"
she added, II study very hard at
my singing, and going home at mid
night, no matter what the occasion,
is one of the sacrifices-or rather,
restrictions-I impose on myself"
''Most commendable and r1ost
wise!" commented Vance. "Was this
fact generally known among your
acquaint. noes 7"
"Oh, yes. II even resulted in my
beinl nicknamed Cinderella"
"Specifically, did Colonel Ostran-
de~ ",d Mr.. Pfyfe know it,"
EYES,"
Venice thought . moment.
"How did you happen to go to
tea at Mr.. Benson's home the day
Of the murder, if you were to dine
with rim that night I"
A flush stained her cheeks.
There was nothing wrong in
that" she declpred. Somehow, at.
ter I had left Mr.. Benson's office,
I revolted against my decision to
dine with him, and l went to his
house, had gone back to the office
first, but he had left-to make
final anneal md To heo him to re.