The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-28
NOW BEGIN THE STORY
Saturday, June Is: 3 u. n

We entered the ancient building,
with its dlscoorcd marble pillars
and blustradcs and its old-fashioned
iron scrollwork, by the Franklin
Street door, and went directly to
the district attorneys office eli the
fourth floor.
The office. like the building,
5reathcd an air of former days. Its
high ceilings, its massive golden
oak woodwork, its elaborate low
hung chandelier Of bronze and china.
its dingy bay walls Of painted plas-
ter. and its four high narrow win
dows to the south-all bespoke a
departed era in architecture and
decoration.
On the floor was 4 large velvet
caipet-rug Of dingy brown; and the
windows We're hung with velour
drapcrics Of the same dior. Several
large comfortable chairs stood about
the walls and before the long oak
table IN front of the district attor
ney's desk. THIS desk, directly un-
der the windows and facing the
room, was broad and flat, with
carved uprights and two rows Of
drawers extending to the floor.
10 the right Of the hieh-hacked
swivel desk-chair. was another table
Of carved oak. There were also sew
eral filing cabinets in the room, and
a large safe. In the center Of the
ca wall d leathcr-covcred door.
decorated with large brass nail
heads, led into long narrow room,
between the office and the waiting
room. where the district attorneys
secretary and several clerks had
their desks. Opposite to this door
was another one opening TO the
district atton ey's inner sanctun
and still another door, flcing the
windows, gave on the main corridor.
Vance glanced over the room
casually.
80 this is t.lc matrix OF munich
pal Justice--eh, W at ?"
He walked to one Of The windows
and looked out upon the gray cir
cular tower Of the tombs opposit j.
And there, .ake it, are II /. oubli-
cites where the victims of our law
are lncarc'ri.ted & as To recuec the
competition Of criminal activity
among the rema "ing citizenry. A
NEST distrcssin' sight, Markham"
Inc district attorney had sat down
at MS desk and was CHANGING at
several Lot; tons on his blotter.
There are Il couple Of my men
waiting to see me, he remarked.
without loo .inl L so, if you'll
he good enough tc take chair over
here, III proceed with my humble
efforts to undermine society still
further
He pressed button under the
cdg of his desk, and an alert young
m with thick-lcnred glasses APP
peared at the door.
"Swaeker, tell Phelps to come
in" Markham ordered. 'And also
tell Springer, if he's back from
lunch, that J want TO see him in a
few minutes"
The secretary disappeared, and a
moment later a tall, hawk-faccd
man, with stoop-shoulGers and an
awkward, angular gait entered.
What news" asked NJ rkham.
well, Chief" the detective re-
piled in low grating voice, Il just
found out something I thought you
could use right away. After ] re-
ported this noon, | ambled around
to this Captain Lee ock's house.
thinking ] might learn something
from the house boys, and IN into
the captain coming out. l tailed
along; and he went stri.ight up to
the lady's house on the drive, and
stayed there over an hour. Then
he went back home, looking wor-
ricd."
Markham considered moment.
ut may mean nothing at III, but
I'm glad to know it anyway. st.
Clair'll be here in a few minutes,
and I'll find out what she has to
say.-There's nothing else for to-
day. -. Tell Swacker to send
Tracy in"
Tracy was the antitnesis Of Phelps.
He was short, a trifle stout, and
exuded an at .osphere Of studied
suavity. His face was rotund and
genial; he wore a pince-nez; and
his clothes were modish and fitted
him we'll.
Good morning, Chief" he greet
ed Markham in a quiet, ingratiat-
ing tone. Il understand the st.
Clair woman is to call hcAe this
afternoon, and there arc a few
things I've found out that may as
sist in your questioning"