The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-11-05
BENSON MlltljlDER CASE
By s. s. y VAN DINE 0Aas q

| listening! On the twsut-lirpt Lem
der's note falls due, and e ~ not
paid tho jewels arc forfeited"
He addressed himself again q
Miss st. Clair.
ibid Mr.. Benson have the Jewels
with him ct dinner3"
"Oh, no! ] think my refusal q
the pearls rather discouraged him
Vance paused, looking ct her With
ingratiating cordially.
"Tell us ON, please, Of the run
episode-in your own words, g the
lawyer say, hoping 70 entangls you
later"
But she evidently feared no sn-
tanglement.
''The morning after the murder
Captain Leacock came here and said
he had gone to Mr.. Benson's house
about half past twelve with the In
tention Of shooting him, but he had
seen Mr.. Pfyfe outside and. assum-
ing he was calling; had given up
the idea and gone homo. ! feared
that Mr.. Pfyfs had seen him, and ]
told him it would b safer 70 bring
his pistol to me and 70 say, II quee-
toned, that he'd lost Il Ii France.
You see, ! really thought he
had shot Mr.. Benson and was-Woll,
lying like gentleman, 10 spare my
feelings.
"Then, when he took the pistol
from me with the purpose Of throw.
ing it away altogether, wos even
more certain Of It."
s. e smiled family at MaSkheSn.
THAT was why ! refused 10 aus
swer your questions. ] wanted you
to think that maybe ! had deQe e,
cock"
"But he wasn't lying q an ssid
Vance.
II know now that he wasn't And
I should have known IL before. Had
never have brought the pistol 70 me
if he'd been guilty"
A film came over her oyoo.
"And-poor boy! he conSeaeod
because he thought that ] was
guilty."
THAT'S precisely the hsS5owins
situation" nodded Vance. s0ut
where did he think you had ob.
tanned q wcapon?"
II know many army men-4s3ondo
Of his and Of Major Beuson'U. And
last summer at the mountains did
considerable pistol practice for the
fun of it. Oh, the idea was yoa.
sonable enough"
Vance rose and made q courtly
bow.
you've been most gracious-and
most helpful" he said. .:sY' go, Mr..
Markham ID various theories shout
the murder. The first, I believe,
was that you alone were the Madam
'rd the Captain did the dsod to-
gcther. The third was that the Cap
"a pulled the trigger . cappella.
And the legal mind II % exqui6itely
developed that it can believe 81 sew
eral conflicting theories at the same
time.
1.-THE sad thing about the present
case is that Mr.. Markham still leans
toward the belief that both Of you.
are guilty, individually and collec-
lively. l tried to reason with him
before coming here; but l failed.
Theref ire, insisted upon his hear
ing from your own charming lips
your story of the affair.""
He went up to Markham who 90.
glaring at him with lips compressed.
"Well. old chap" he rema1d
pleasantly, surely you are not golns-
to persist in your obsession thai
either Miss st. Clair or Captain
Leacock is guilty, what?
And won. you relent and unshackle
the Captain as begged you tot"
He extended his arms in the
atriea' ~cst're Of supplication.
Markham's wrath was at the
breaking point, but he got mp de-
liberately and, going to the woman
held out his hand.
"Miss st. Clair" he said kindly
and again ! was impressed BY the
bigness Of the man. Il wish to
assure you that ] have dismissed
the idea of your guilt, and also Cap
tain Lea ,ck's, from what Mr.. Vance
terms my incredibly rigid and I'M
receptive mind. / forgive
him, however. because he has saved
me from doing you . very grave
injustice.
"And will see that you have
your Captain back % soon q the
papers can be signed for has ~
lease"
AS we walked out onto Riversids
drive, Markham turned savagoJy On
Vance.
$50! I was keeping her predeua
Captain locked up, and you. Were
pleading with me 20 let him -!
You know damned well ] didnt
think either one Of them Wa guilty.
-you-you lounge lizard"
(To Be Continued)