The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-28

but, after all, one could almost
forgive Benson for holding the con-
fession, if he hadn't also demanded
| security"
"What security?"
Vance was quick to sense the
change in her tone. Taking adj
vantage of her rage, he had men,
toned the security while the bar
riers of her pose were down.
Her frightened, almost involun.
tary query told him that the right
moment had arrived. Before She
could gain her equilibrium or dis
pei TIC momentary fear hich had
assailed her, he said, with suave
elaboration:
THE day Mr.. Benson was shot he
took home with him from the office
small blue box Of jewels"
She caught her breath, but other
wise gave no outward sign Of emo
ton.
DO you think he had stolen.
them?"
The moment she had uttered the
question she realized that it was
mistake in technique.
$3.50 ~ 0AiissAS thiSAI lllNG DNNlk
momentarily diverted from the truth
by it. But by Vance's smile she
recognized that he had accepted it
as an admission.
ut was rather fine Of you, "
know, to lend Mr.. Pfyfe your jewels
to cover the note with"
At this she threw her head up.
The blood had left her face, and the
rouge on her cheeks took on u
notified and unnatural hue.
You say | lent my jewels to
Andy! | swear to you---"
Vance halted her denial with a
slight movement Of the hand. She
saw that his intention was to save
her from the humiliation she might
feel later at having made too en-
phatic and unqualified statement;
and the graciousness of his action.
although he was an antagonist, gave
her more confidence in him.
She sank back into her chair, and
her hands relaxed.
What makes you think lent
Andy my jewels 2"
Her voice was colorlcss, but Vance
understood the question. It was the
end Of her receptions. The pause
which followed was an amnesty
recognized as such by both. The
next spoken words would be the
truth.
ANDY had to have them," she
said, "or Benson would have put
him in jail
One read in her words a strange,
sclf-sacrificing affection for the
worthless Pfyfc.
and if Benson hadn't done It,
and had merely refused to honor
the check, his father-in-law would
have done it. Andy is SO
careless, SO unthinking. He does
things without weighing the con-
sequences: | am all the time having
to hold him down. But this
thing has taught him Il lesson-Im
sure Of it,"
felt that if anything in the
world could teach Pfyfe lesson,
it was the blind loyalty Of this
woman.
DO YOU know what he quarrcled
about with Mr.. Benson in his office
last Wednesday ?" asked Vance.
uoI was Oil lily SIlC VA~
planned, with a sigh. 1T was get
ing very near to til fine when the
note was due, and l knew Andy
didn't have all the money. So /
asked him to go to Benson and offer
him what he had, and see if he
couldn't get my jewels back.
But he was refused,-I thought he
would be-"
Vance looked at her for while
sympathetically.
Il don't want to worry you any
more than | can help he said;
.but won't you tell me the real
cause Of your anger against Benson
a moment ago."
She gave him an admiring nod.
You're right had good reason
to hate him."
Her eyes narrowed unplcasantly.
''Thc day after he had refused to
give Andy the jewels, he called me
up-it was in the afternoon-and
asked HE to have breakfast with
him at his house the next morning.
He said he was home and had the
jewels with him; and he told me
limited, YOU understand-that may
be-maybc ! could have them.-
That's the kind Of beast he was! -.
Il telephoned to Port Washington
to Andy and told him about it, and
he said he'd be in New York the
next morning. He got here about
8 o'clock, and we read in the paper
that Benson had been shot that
night"
Vance was silent for long time.
Then he stood mp and thanked her.
"You have helped us great deal.
Mr.. Markham is friend Of Major
Benson's, and, since we have the
check and the confession in our pos
session, | shall ask him to use his
influence with the Major to permit
us to destroy thcm-very soon."
Ito Be Continued