New Britain herald., 1927-10-11
hat Way-for tl7a fair sex"

that Way-tor the fair seX.'
 He looked at Markham, seeking appreciation for his extreme tact in stating an indelcate truth.
 "You understand" he continued. in answer 10 the others sympa- thotic nod, Alvin was not q man who possessed the personal char acterisrics that women hold attrac- tive" q somehow goi the impress sion that Pfyre considered hiWso1t IS differing radically from Benson in this respoct)
 Alvin was aware of his physical deficiency, and the result Was.- I trust you will undcrstand my hCsitancy in mentioning this rs- dressing fHct.--but the result was that Alyin used certain - ah- mcthoGs in his dealings with women. which you and I could never bring ourselves 10 adopt. In dted-rhonGh it pains me to say it he often took unfair advantage Of women. He used undcrhand methods. as it were"
 He paused. apparently shocked Ky this hcinous imperfection Of his friend. and by the necessity of his own seemingly disloval revelation.
 Was it one of these women whom Benson had dealt with nn- fairly. that you had in mjn1?" asked Markham.
 "No-not the woman h"rSclf," T;yfv replied; but man who Was interested in her. In fact this man throatencd Alvin's life. You will appreciate my reluctance in telling you this; but my excuse IS that the threat was mad" quit" openly, There were several others besides myself who heard it."
 That. Of courso, relieves you from any technical breach of con- fidonce,' Markham observed.
 Pfyfc acknowledged the others understanding with 2 slight bow.
 Tt happened at q little party of winch I was tho unfortunate host io confessed modoetly.
 "Wno was the man." Marllham's tonr was polite but firm.
 You will comprehend my rcticrncr. ." PfEfc began. Then. with an air of righteous frankncss, No leaned forward. Tt might prove unfair to Alvin to Withhold the gen tleman's name. He was Cap tain Philip JoaCOck.'
 He allowed himself the omo- .ional outlet of sigh.
 T trust you won't ask me for th" lady's namc.'
 Tt won't he necessary, Mark tam assured him. "l}ut Id ap- pr,cia,c your telling Us q little more of the episode"
 Pfyfe compiled with an cNprcs- son of patient resignation. "Alyin was considerably taken with the lady in question, and showed her many attentions which were, l am forced to admit. unwel- come Captain Loacoc', resented these attentions: and at tn" little affair to which I had invited him and Alvin, some unpleasant and. ] must say. unrcfincd words passed between them.
 "I fear the wine had been flow j,,g too freely, for Alvin was always punCtili0uS-h was q man, indeed, skilled in the niCctios of social in tcrcOurse: and the captain, in an cLtbursr of temper. told Alvin that. unless he left the lady strictly alone in tn" future ho would pay with his life. Tho captain even went so lar as 10 draw q revolver halfway oui of his pockct.'
 Was ii revolver. CT an auto matjc pis'o ol?" asked Heath.
 Pfyfe gave the district attorney a faint smile of annoyance. with out drigning even 10 glance at the scrEraN'.
 "I msspoke myself: forgive me. r. was not revolver. It was, l believe. an automatic army pistol though. you understand l didn't see II in its entirety"
 You say there were others who { Witnessed lllt iIltlt'llipll
 "Sovoral of my guests were stand ing about" Pfyf" explained; but on my word. I couldn't namo them. The fact is, I attached little i'm portanco 10 the threat-indced, il had entirely slipped my memory until l read tho account of poor Alvin's death. Then I thought at once of the unfortunate incident and said to myself: Why not tel the district attorney ?"
 "Thoughts that breathe anc words that burn" murmured Vance who had been sitting through the interview in oppressive boredom.
 Pfyfc onco more adjusted his eye glass, and gave Vance a witherint look
 T beg your pardon, sir?"
 Vance smiled disarmingly.
 "Mcrely a quotation from Gray