The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-21
THIS HAS HAPPENED
NOW BEGIN THE STORY
CHAPTER XXXlII

The girl raised her head prettiIy
and related her story in q capable
well-modulated voice.
About week ago-l think il
was Wednesday-Mr Pfyfe called on
Mr.. Alvin Benson in his private Of
flee. j was in the next room, where
my typewriter is located.
There's only a glass partition be-
tween the two rooms, and when any.
one talks loudly in Mr.. Benson's
office ! can hear them. In about five
minutes Mr.. Pfyfc and Mr.. Benson
began to quarrel. ] thought it was
funny, for they were such good
friends; but didn't pay much at
tention to it, and went on with my
typing.
Their voices col very loud
though, and | caught several words
Major Benson asked me this morn
Ing what the words were; so I sup
pose YOU want to know, too. Well
they kept referring to a note; anc
once or twice check was men.
toned. Several times | caught the
word 'father-in-law,' and once Mr.
Benson said nothing doing
Then Mr.. Benson called me in
and told me TO get him an envelope
marked 'Pfyfe- Personal out of his
private drawer in the safe. got il
for him, but right after that on,
bookkeepcr wanted me for some
thing, so ! didn't hear any more.
About is minutes later. when
Mr.. Pfyfc had gone. Mr.. Benson
called me to put the envelope back
And he told me that if Mr.. Pfyfe
ever called again, | wasn't. under
any circumstances. to let him into
the private office unless he himself
was there. lie also told me that
wasn't to give the envelope TO any
body-not even on written order
And that is all, Mr. Markham
During her recital l had been as
much interested in Vance's actions
as in what she had been saying.
When first she had entered the
room, his casual glance had quickly
changed to one of attentive ANNA
ton, and he had studied her closely
When Markham had placed the
chair, for her, he had risen and
reached for q book lying on the
table near her; and in doing so
he had leaned unnecessarily close
TO her IN order to inspector SO il
appeared to me--the side Of her
head. And during her story he had
continued his observation, at times
bending slightly to the right or lef,
to better his view of her.
unaccountable as his actions hat
seemed, ] knew that some serious
consideration had prompted the
scrutiny.
When she finished speaking Major
Benson reached in his pocket, and
tossed long MANILA envelope on
the desk before Markham.
Here it is" he said. II got Miss
Hoffman to- bring it to me the mo.
ment she told me her story"
Markham picked it up hesitantly
as if.doubtful of his right to inspect
its contents.
"You'd better look at it," the Ma.
jor advised. "That envelope may
very possibly have an important
bearing on the case"
Markham removed the elastic
band, and spread the contents Of
the envelope before him. They con-
sisted Of three items-a cancelled
check for. $4,000 made out tc
Leander. Pfyfe and signed by Alvin
Benson; a note for $4,000 to Alvin
Benson signed by Pfyfe, and brief
confession, also signed by Pfyfe
saying the check was forgery.
The check was dated March goth
of the current year. The confession
and the note were dated two days
later. The note-which was for sc
days-fell due on Friday, June 21st
only three days off.
For fully five minutes Markham
studied these documents in silence
Their sudden introduction into thu
case seemed to mystify him. MOI
had any Of 1.-The perplexity left hi
face when he finally put them bacl
in the envelope.
He questioned the girl carefully
and had her repeat certain parts
Of her story. But nothing NOR,
could be learned from her; and q
length he turned to the major.
"l'll keep this envelope 4 while
if you'll let me. / don't see it
significance at present, but I'd lik
to think it over.'
When Major Benson and his Sc