The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-11-14

p6ELpS, TRACY SP8lNGER
HlCCINB0THAx ...........
....,......... Detectives ~.
signed % District Attorneys uf1lep
CAPTAIN CARL HACEDORN ;.
TiSoayms ezpegt
...,........... nodisei c.amin~
RANx SwAcKEl :. Sc.
.ets!Z 70 The DISTRICT Attorney
sv (. vAa Dni 80. f ns'i No., ,sls:
THIS HAS HAPPENED
Leac0ck confesses to the murder
but Vance exposes the confession
as 4 lie to shield Miss St. Clair
Vance promises to solve the mys.
terry on = certain date. He works up
hypothetical cases against oil those
persons involved and then tears them
to shreds-to prepare Markham, he
says, to accept his case against the
real murderer.
NOW BEGIN THE STORY
CHAPTER LII
Thursday, June 20; 1880 q. m.)
The Chatham Arms, where Major
Benson lived was a small exclusive
bachelor apartment house in Forty
sixth street, midway between Fifth
and Sixth avenues.
The entrance, set in q simple and
ldignified facade, was flush with the
street, and only two steps above the
pavement. The front door opened
Into a narrow hallway with 4 small
reception room, like q cul.de-sac, on
the left.
At the rear could be seen the ele.
vator; and beside it, tucked under
a narrow flight of iron stairs which
led round the elevator shaft, was q
telephone switchboard.
When we arrived two youths II
uniform were on duty, one lounginl
in the door Of the elevator, thu
othed seated at the switchboard.
Vance halted Markham near thu
entrance.
Zone Of these boys, I was in
formed over the telephone, was OF
duty the night of the thirteenth
Find out which one it was, ant
scare him into submission by your
exalted title of district attorney
Then turn him over to me"
Reluctantly Markham walked
down the hallway. After q brie1
interrogation Of the boys, he lee
one of them into the reception
room, and peremptorily explained
what he wanted
Vance began his questioning with
the confident air of one who has M
doubt whatever as to another's
exact knowledge.
what time did Major Benson gel
home the night his brother was
shot ?"
The boys eyes opened wide.
He came in about 1even-right
after show time," he answered, with
only momentary hesitation.
Il have set down the rest Of thu
Questions and answers in dramatic.
dialogue form, for purposes Of spac.
economy
VANCE: He spoke to you, I sup
pose?
BOY: Yes, sir. He told me he,
been to the theatre, and said wha
a rotten show it was-and that h,
had an awful headache.
| VANCE: How do you happen {,
remember 50 well what. he said ,
week ago?
BOY: Why, his brother was muir
dered that night!
/ VANCE: And the murder causes
so much excitement that you natu
rally recalled everything that hap
pened at the time in connection Will
Major Benss n?
BOY: Sure-he was the muir
dered guys brother.
| VANCE: When he came in tina
night did he say anything abou
the day Of the month?
| BOY: Nothin' except that h
guessed his bad luck In piclkin' I
bum show was on account Of i
bein' the thirteenth.
| VANCE: Did he say anything
else?
BOY (grinning): He said he't
make the thirteenth my lucky day
and he gave me al the oliver HI
had in his pocket - nickels ant
dimes and quarters and one fifty
lcent piece.
VANCE: How much altogether
! BOY: Three dollars and forty
| five cents.
VANCE: And then he went t,
his room?
BOY: Yes, sir-l took him up
| He lives on the third floor.
| VANCE, Did he 60 out agar
later?
BOY: No, sir.
/ VANCE: How do you know?
! BOY: I'd W ssen him. ] wa
either answerin' the SWITCHBOARD
or runnin' the elevator Ill night
He couldn't W got out without m.
VANCE: wezs you alone .,
Boy: Altar 10 o'clock thsre,
never bat one boy On.
/ VANCE: And thereS no othe
w1y . person could leave the hous,
except by the front door?
BOY: No, sir.
| VANCE: when did you next &c
Major Benson?
BoYs latter thinking . momsnt)
He rang Tor some cracked ice. an
! took Il up.
VANCE: What time?
BOY: Why-I don't know exact
". Yes, ! do! Il was half pa'
twelve.