The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-21

| NAM - w AOhLN DEC.
rotary to the Distl... Attorne,
CURRlE $3.50. Vance's vale
S. S. VAN DINE -. The Narratol
THIS HAS HAPPENED
A woman's gloves and handbag
are found the scene of Benson's
murder. Upstairs are found tn,
tOupee and false teet.l of the muir.
dered man. Mrs. Pla... in answer
to Vance. question, tells him Be..'
son, who had zen shot, had KEEP,
revolver in a table drawer.
NOW BEGIN THE STORY
CHAPTER MI
Full" Heat announe ID lacon.
ic lily.
An { preston Of tremendous re.
lief spread over the woman's fea.
lures, and she sighed audibly.
Markham had rise, and was look
ing at the rev yer over Heath's
shou.. err.
"You'd better al. charge of it.
Sergeant" said; though I don't
see exactly how it fits in with the
case"
He resumed his seat, and glanc-
ing at the notation Vance had given
him, turned again to the house.
keeper.
Zone more question, Mrs. Plat
You said Mr.. Benson came home
early and spend his tins before din
ner in this room. Did he have any
callers during that time?"
was watching the woi..an close
~, and it seemed to me that she
quickly compressed her lips. A,
any rate, she sat up a little straight.
err in her chair before answering
There wasn't no one, as far as
know"
But surely you would have
known if the bell rang" insisted
Markham. You would have an
swered the door, wouldn't you?"
There wasn't no one" she re.
peated, with a trace Of sullenness
"And last night; did the doorbell
ring at all after you had retired?'
mo, sir"
"You would have heard it, even
IL yVuu " UCSH dSlCCp
eyes, sir. There's bel. just out
side my door, the same as in the
kitchen. 1t rings in both places.
Mr.. Benson had it fixed that way"
Markham thanked her and dis
missed her. When she had gone, he
looked at Vance questioningly.
What idea did you have in your
mind hen you handed me those
questions
II might have been a bit pre-
sumptuous, " know" said Vance;
but when the lady was extolling
the deceased's popularity. rather
felt she vas OVERRIDING it a bit.
There was an unconscious implica-
ton of ant hesis in her eulogy,
which suggested to me that she her.
self was not ardently enamored of
the gentleman"
"And what put the notion of fire
arms into your mind? 2"
"Thdt query" explained Vance,
twas corollary Of your own ques-
tions about barred windows and
Benson's fear Of burglars. If he
was in a funk about hCuse-breakers
or enemies, he'd be likely to have
weapons at hand-eh, watt"
"Well, anyway, Mr.. Vance," put
in Heath, "your curiosity unearthed
nice little revolver that's probably
never been used"
"By the bye, Sergeant" returned
Vance, ignoring the others good
hundred sarcasm, "just what dc
you make Of that nic' little re-
vplver?"
"Well, now,' Heath replied, with
ponderous righteousness, Il deduct
that Mr.. Benson kept pearl-handled
Smith and Wesson in secret drawer
Of his comfortable.
"You don't say-really!" ex.
claimed Vance in mock admiration
Positively illuminatin'!"
Markham broke up this raillery.
"Why did you want to know about
visitors, Vance? There obviously
hadn't been anyone here"
"Oh, just within Of mine. ] was
assailed by an impulsive yearnias
to hear what La Platz would say
Heath was studying Vance curl.
ously. His first impressions Of the
man were being dispel!ed. and he
had begun to suspect that beneath
the others casual and debonair ex.
terror there was something Of ,
more solid nature than he had al
first imagined.
He was not together statistic;
with Vance's explanations to Mark
ham, and seemed be endeavorine
to pen rate to his real reasons fol
supplementing the district attor
neys interrog .tion II the house
keeper. Heath wa astut J, and I
had the worldly mans abil. t
read pc. ,le, out Van being diff
ferent 20 the Zen with whom
hs usually came in contact, was Al
enigma to him.
At lenxtl he -elinquished hi
scrutiny, anl drew up his Ia
the table with spirited air.
"And .ow, Mr.. N II a." h
said crisply, WED better outlin
tour acti tiles so . not to duoli
cate our eff Jrts. The 81 ner &c
my men startes *he better"
Markham asSeMted readily
l