The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-23
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In all my aSSoclattlO, WIN MIN L
had never known him to c.orego his
enthusiasm for art IL favor of any
other Givertisem AT; nd hereto
fore anything pertaining to the law
and it's operations had failed to in
terest him.
l realized, therefore. that some
thing Of an unusual nature was at
work in his brain, and / refrained
from further comment.
Markham was little late for
the appointment at the club, and
Vance and / were already at our
favorite corner table when he ar
rived.
well, my good Lycurgus," Vance
greeted him, ''aside frlm the fact
that several new and significant
clues have been unearthed and that
the public may expect important de-
velopments in the very near future,
and all that sort of tosh, how are
things really going!'
Markham smiled.
Il Sc. you have been reading the
newspapers. What do you think
of the accounts"
Typical, no doubt" replied Vance.
''They carefully and painstakingly
omit nothing but the essentials"
Indeed" Markham's tone was
iocular And what, may | ask, do
you regard as the essentials Of the
case? -
"In my foolish amateur way"
said Vance, II looked upon dear
Alvin's toupce as rather conspic-
uous essential, don't v know"
"Bensol. at any rate, regarded it
in that light, | imagine -. ANY,
thing elsc?"
well, there was the collar and
the tic on the chiffonier."
And" added Markham chatting
ly, don't overlook the false teeth
in the tumbler."
you're positively coruscatin'!"
Vance exclaimed. eyes, they, too,
were an essential of the situation.
And I'll warrant the incompatible
Heath didn't even notice them. But
the other Aristotles present were
equally skctchy in their observa-
tons
You weren't particularly inn
pressed by the investigation yester.
day. l take it," said Markham.
ION the contrary" Vance assured
him. II was impr ssel to the point
Of stupefaction. TIL. whole proceed
ings constituted u masterpiece Of
absurdity. Everything relevant was
subllmely ignored. There were at
least dozen points of departure,
all leading in the same direction,
but not one of them apparently was
even noticed by any Of the official
ing pourparleurs. Ever, body was
too busy at such silly occupations as
looking for cigafet-eLds and in.
specting the ironwork at tie VIM
dows.- Those grilles, by the way,
were rather Observation-Disclosures
design"
Markham was both amused and
rufflcd.
Zones pretty safe with the police,
Vance" he said. "They get there
eventually"
Il simply adore your trusting ma
ture," murmured Vance. "But con-
fidc in me: what do YOU know re-
garding Benson's murder?"
Markham hesitated.
This is, of course, in confidence"
he said at length: "but this morn
inc, right after you 'phoned, one Of
the men ! had put to work on .he
amatory end of Bensons life, re-
ported that he had found the woman
who left her handbag and gloves
| at the house that night-the ir-
itials on the handkerchief ga him
the clue. And he dug up some in
teresting facts ~b~ut her. As l sus-
+! pccted, she was Benson's dinner
companion that evening. She's an
actress musical comedy, | believe.
Muriel st. Clair by name"
Most unfortunate, breathed
Vance. Il was hoping, y know,
your nyrmidons wouldn't discover
the lady. | haven't the pleasure of
her acquaintance. or Id send her a
| note OF commiseration. -. Now, l
presume, you'll play the Judge din
struction and chivvv her most hor-
ribly, WHAT"
II shall certainly question her, if
that's what you mean
+Vance, who had lived many vesYa
in England freq .ently said "ain't"
Ia contraction which is regarded
there more leniently than in this
country. He $50 pronounced ate rs
if ii were spelled ct; and I can not
remember his ever using the word
stomach or Gag, both of which
come under the social bar in Eng
land.
ITO be Continued)