The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-14

over the passing OI one OcUSVu.
You weren't. by amy chance the MUIR
derer, what! ~
Markham ignored Nancc's lcvity.
"l'm on my way to Bcnson's. DO
you care to come along? You asked
for the experience, and l dropped In
to keep my promise"
then recalled that several weeks
before at the Stuyvcsant club, when
the subject Of the prevalent homi-
cidcs in New York was being dis
cusscd, Vance had expressed q desire
to accompany the distriet att orney
on ono Of his Investigations; and
that Markham had promised to take
him on his next important ease.
"You remember everything, don't
you?" Vance replied laxily. AN
admirable gift, cven if an uncom-
Portable onc.' He ganccf at the
clock on the mantcl: II lacked = few
minutes OF nine. But wha. atl in
decent hour! Suppose somcon"
should sec me-"
Markham moved forward impatient
~ in his chair:
well, if you think the gratifica-
ton of your curiosity would COM
seen in public at = o'clock in the
morning, you'll have. to hurry.
certainly won't take you in dressing
gown and bedroom slippers. And
| most certainly won't wait over five
minutes for you to get dressed
"Why the haste, old dcar? Vance
asked. yawning. "Thc chaps dead,
don't " know; he can't possibly run
away
'Comc, get move on. you orchid"
the other urged "'rhis affair is no
joke. It's damned serious; and from
the looks of it, it's going to cause an
ungodly scnndal.-What are you 60
! ing to do?"
"Do? | shall humbly follow the
great avcnger Of the common peo-
pie" returned Vance, rising and max
| ing an osscquious bow.
He rang for Curric, and ordered
his clothes brought to him.
I'm attending levee which Mr.
Markham is holding oyer corpse,
! Is it warm enough for silk suit .
-. Arc ayendcr tie. by all
means
| Vance was now dressing, with Cur
ric's assistance. at a rate of speed
had rarely seen him display in such
matters. Beneath his baritering pose
recognized the true eaRcrness Of
the man for new experience and
! one that promised such dramatic pos
mind ~
"You knew Alvin Benson casually.
] believe" the district attorney saiu.
"Wcll. early this morEing his house
keeper phoned the local precinct sta
ton that she had found him shot
| through the head. fullys dressed and
sitting in his favorite chair in HIS
living room. The message, Of course.
| was put through at once to the telc-
graph bureau at headquarters, and
my assistant on duty notified nc
Immediately. I was tempted to lei
the case follow the regular police
routine. But half an hour later Maj
or Benson. Alvin's brother, phoncd
me and asked me, as a special favor,
to take charge. I've known the maj
or for 20 years, and couldn't very
we'll refuse. So took hurried
breakfast and started for Bcnson's
! house. He lived in West Forty eighth
| Street: and as / passed your corner
! remembered your request, and
dropped by to sec If you cared to so
along I
"Most consid rate" murmurcd
Vance, adjusting his four-in-hand be.
| fore a small polychromc mirror by
the door. Then he turned to me.
! ''Come, Van. Well all gaze upon the
dcfunct Benson. Pm sure some OF
Markham's slcuths will unearth the
:. fact that ! dctcsted tho -bounder and
accuse nc Of the crime; and I'll feel
safer, don't y know, with legal talent
at hand. No 0bjections-ch,
what, Markham
Certainly not the other agreed
readily, although felt that he would
rather not have had me along. But
! was too deeply interested in the AZ
| fair to offer any cercm OniOuS Objcc-
: tions and followed Vance and Mark
ham downstairs.
AS we rode up town Markham an
pcared preoccupied and gloomy. No
word had been spoken since we left
the apartment. but as we turned west
into Forty-cighth Street Vance asked:
"What is the social etiquette Of
these early morning murder func-
tions, aside from removing ones Int
in the presence Of tho body?"
you keep your hat on" growlcd
Markham.
My word! Most int'rcstin'! Per-
haps one takes off ones shoes SO as
not to confuse the footprints"
guests remain fully clothed-in
which the function differs from tho
ordinary evening affairs Of your
smart set"
my dear Northumberland tone
was one Of melancholy rcproof-"rhc
Mortified moralist in your nature is
at work again.
Markham was too distracted to fol-
low up Vancc'S badinage.
"There are one or two things" he
said soberly, "that think I'd better
warn you about. From the looks Of
it, this case is going to cause con
siderable noise, and there'n be al
lot of jealousy and battling for hon.
ors. won't be fallen upon and
carcssed affectionately by the police
for coming in at this stage of the
game; so be careful not to rub their
bristles the wrong way. My assist
ant. who's there now, tells me he
thinks the inspector has put Heath iul
charge. Hcath's a sergeant in the
homicide bureau, and is undoubtedly
convinced at the present moment that
I'm taking hold in order to get the
publicity
aren't you his. technical super
ior?' asked Vance.
''Of course; and that makes the
situation just so much more delicate.
-. wish to God the major hadn't
called me. M"
"Eheu!" sighed Vance. "The world
is full Of Hcaths.. Beastly nuisanres.".
Don't misunderstood me-" Mark
ham fastened to assure him. "Heath |
is good MANN fact, as good 4
man as we've got. The. mere fact
that he was ASSIGNED to the case shows
how seriously the affair is regarded
ut headquarters. Thcrc'll be no