New Britain herald., 1927-09-24
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 thing"
 Markham took his cigar from his mouth, and turning it about in his fingers. contemplated 1t thought fully.
 T wouldn't say that" he re- marked, after moment. I've man aged to find out whom your brother dined with Thursday night: and I know that this person returned home with him shortly after mid night" He paused as if deliber- ating the wisdom of saying more. Then: The fact is. l don't need a great deal more evidence than I've got already to go before the grand jury and ask for an indictment"
 A look of surprised admiration flashed in the majors sombre face.
 Thank God for that. Markham" he said. Then, setting his heavy jaw, he placed his hand on the dis trict attorneys shoulder, "Go the limit-for my sake" he urged. '1f you want me for anything, I'll be Nere aL the CluD ull late.
 With this he turned and walked from the room.
 Tt seems a bit cold -blooded 60 bother tho major with questions 50 soon after his brothers death, '" commented Markham. still, the world has got 10 go on.'
 Vance stifled a yawn.
 "Why--in heavens nameH' he nurmured 'listlessly.
 tSaturday, June 15; p. m.)
 We sat for a while smoking in silence. Vance gazing laztly out into Madison Square, Markham frown- ing deeply at the faded oil portrait of old Peter Stuyvesant that hung over the fireplace.
 Presently Vance turned and con- templated the district attorney with faintly sardonic smile.
 q Say. Markham" he drawled: "it ha. always been q source Of amazement to me how easily you Investigators of crime are misled by what you call clues. You find q footprint, or q parked automo obilc, or monogrammed handkerchief. end then dash off In wild chase. 'Pon my word, it's as if you chaps were all under the spell of shillin' shockers. Won't you ever learn that crimes can't be solved by de auctions based merely on material clues and circumst ntial evidenceo 2"
 I think Markham was as much surprised as I at this sudden criti- cism; yet We both knew Vance well enough to realize that, despite his placid and almost flippant tone. there was a serious purpose behind his words.
 "Would you advocate ignoring all the tangible evidence Of I crime?" asked Markham, bit patroniz- inEly.
 Most emphatically," Vance de- clared calmly. ''1ts not only worth- less but dangerous. . The great trouble with you chaps, d' ye see. is that you approach every crime with q fixed and unshakable as sumption that the criminal is either half-Witted or a colossal bungler.
 T say. has it never by any chance occurred to you that if q detective could see a clue. the criminal would also have seen if, and would either have concealed it or disguised it, if he had not wanted it found? And have you never paused 10 consider that anyone clever enough to plan and execute successful crime these days, is, ipso facto. clever though to manufacture whatever clues suit his purpose?
 "Your detective seems wholly un- willing to admit that the surface Of crime may be de iberately deceptive. or that the 'iues may have been planted for he definite purpose of misleading niin."
 I'm afraid" Markham pointed put, with an air of indulgent irony, | that we'd convict very few crimi- lals if We were to ignore all in l iicatory evidence, cogcnt circum | stances and irresistible conferences. |,
 AS a rule. you know, crimes 1 Ire not witnessed by outsiders"
 "rhat's your fundamental error, | font V know" Vance observed i'm i )assivoly. "Eycry crime Is wit ! le ssed by outsiders, just as is every i tees the criminal, or the artist, | lctu'ly al work, is wholly incon- 'quential. The modern investiga-