The Bismarck tribune., 1927-10-04
NOW BEGIN THE STORY

| Vial ~
II believe you chaps have another
hallucination about crime" con-
tlnued Vance, namely, that the
criminal always returns to the scene
OF the crime. This weird notion is
even explained on some reconditc
and misty psychological ground.
hut, l assure you, psychology
teaches no such prepost 'rous doc
trlne. 1t ever murderer returned
to the body Of his victim for any
reason other than to rectify some
blundcr he had made, then he is IA
subject for Broadmoor-or Bloom
ingdalc. How easy it would be
for the police If this fanciful no.
ton were true! They'd merely have
TO SIT down at the scene of a crime,
play bezique or Nah Jongg until
the murderer returned, and then
escort him to the bastilc, what?
The true psychological instinct
IN anyone having committed a
punishable act, is to get as far away
from the scene of it as the limits
OF this world will permits
I'm the present case, at any rate"
Markham reminded him, I've are
neither waiting inactivcly for the
murder to out, nor sitting in Ben
sons living-room trusting to the
voluntary return of the criminal"
Either course would achieve sue
cess as quickly as the one you are
now pursuing" Vance said.
mot being gifted with your
singular insight" retorted Mark
nam, Il can only follow the made
quate processes of human reason
ing"
mo doubt" Vance agreed COM
mlseratingly. "And the results of
your activities thus far force me
TO the conclusion that man with
a handful Of legalistic logic can
successfully withstand the most
obstinate and heroic assaults of
ordlnry common sense"
Markham was piqued.
Still harping on the St. Clair
woman's innocence, eh? However.
IN view of the complete absence Of
any tangible evidence pointing else
where, you must admit l have no
choice of courses"
Il admit nothing of the kind."I
Vance told him; "for l assure YOU.
there is an abundance of evidence
pointing elsewhere. You simply
failed to see it,"
"You think SOL" Vance's non.
chalant cocksureness had at last
overthrown Markham's equanimity.
"Very we'll, old man; l hereby en-
ter an emphatic denial to all your
fine theories; and ! challenge you
to produce single piece of this evil
dence which you say exists"
he threw his words out with as
perity, and gave a curt, aggressive
gesture with his extended fingers.
to indicate that, as far as he was
concerned, the subject was closed.
Vance, too, think, was pricked
a little.
"Y' know, Markham old dear. I'm
no avenger Of blood, or vindicator |
of the honor of socity. The role
would bore me-"
Markham smiled loftily, but made
no reply.
Vance smoked meditatively for a
while. Then, to my amazement. he
turned calmly and deliberately to
and said in quiet, mat
ter-of-fact voice:
I'm going to accept your chaI-
!!enge. It's bit alien to my tastes;
but the problem, " know, rather
appeals to me: it persents the same
difficulties as the Concert Cham
petrc affair.-a question Of disputed
authorship, as it were."i.
Markham abruptly suspended the
motion Of lifting his cigar to his
lips. He had scarcely intended his
challenge literally: it lad been ut
.ered more in the nature Of a verbal
iefiance; and he scrutinized Vance
I bit uncertainty.
Little did he realize that the
others casual acceptance of his un-
and but half-serious chal-
enge. was to alter the entire crim-
nal history of New York.
Just how do you intend to pro-
:ecd?" he asked.
Vance waved his hand carelessly.
"Like Napoleon, je men gage, ct
,uls je vols. However, l must have
,our word that you'll give me every
possible assistance. and will refrain
rom all profound legal objections"
Markham pursed his lips. He
was frankly perplexed by the mn