The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-22
$50 Me
BENSON ! \ MURDER CASE
N S. S. w VAN DINE oaAa,

Ostrander-" ~
Look herew cut In Markham.
and ! may have one or Two
others for you later. But that VIII
do nicely for beginning"
Before Markham could protest
further, Swacker came in "a Gay that
Heath was waiting outside.
what about our friend Loocock,
sir?' was the Sergesnt's first Queo.
ton.
'I'm holding that up for . day
or so" explained Markham. n want
to have another talk with Pfyfe b.
fore | do anything definite" And
he told Heath about the visit Of Ma
jor Benson and Miss Hoffman.
Heath inspected the envelope and
its enclosures, and then handed them
back.
Il don't see anything in that"
he said. 1T looks to mo like . pYi-
vate deal between Benson and this
fellow Pfyfe.-Leacock's our man;
and the sooner ! get him locked up,
the better I'll feel"
THAT may be tomorrow" Mark.
ham encouraged him. $50 don't feel
downcast over this little delay.
. You're keeping the Captain
under surveillance, aren't you ="
"l'll say So" grinned Heath.
Vance turned to Markham.
what about that list Of names
YOU made out for the Sergeant"
he asked ingenuously. II understood
you to say something about alibis."
Markham hesitated, frowning.
Then he handed Heath the paper
containing the names Vance had
called off to him.
las a matter Of caution, Ser
geant," he said morosely, II wish
you'd get me the alibis Of all these
people on the night Of the murder.
It may bring something contribu-
tory to light. Verify those you A.
ready know, :uch rs Pfyfe's; and let
me have the reports Is soon ~ you
can"
When Health had gone Markham
turned look Of angry evaporation
upon Vance.
"Of all the COMPOUNDED trouble
makers" he began.
But Vance interrupted him blaudly.
'Such ingratitudei II only you
knew it, Markham, I'm your tutslary
genius, your deus ex machina, your
fairy godmother."
(iuesday. June 10; sfternoon.l
An hour later Phelps, the opera.
;,yo Ma hD~% hul .>~k A. a. Nl,.>~
side drive, came in radiating salts.
faction.
Il think I've got what You want,
Chief" His raucous voice wsa Gov.
Gritty triumphant. II went up % the
st. Clair woman's apartment and
rang the bell. She came to the door
herself, and stepped into the hall
and put my questions 10 her. She
sure refused to answer"
when l let on ] knew the pack.
age contained the gun Benson WAS
shot with, she just laughed and perk-
ed the door open, Leave this apart
ment. you vile creature she Gays
to me"
He grinned.
II hurried downstairs, and ! hadn't
any more than got to tho switch
board when her signal flashed. !
let the boy get the number. and then
l stood him to ono side. and Nstoned
in. She was talking % Lea
cock, and her first words were:
They know you took tho pistol from
here yesterday and threw Il n the
river
"That must've knocked him out,
for he didn't say anything Tor I
long time. Then he answered, PR
fectly calm and kinda sweet: Don't
worry, Muriel; and don't say . word
to anybody for the rest pf the day.
I'll fix everything in the morning
He made her promise to keep qulot
until tomorrow, and then he said
goodbye"
Markham sat : while &gsstipg
the story.
"What impression did you eet
from the conversation !"
IF you ask me, Chief" sid the
I'D lay down tan 70 one
that Leaeock's guilty and tn sirl
Markham thanked him and let him
60.
4This SUBJ Potomac chivalrv." CON-
mented Vance, III 4 1riehtful nui-
sance. But aren't ~ sbout
due to hold polite converse With he
genteel Leander?"
Almost q he spoke the man wos
announced. He entered tho ro0m
with his habitual urbanity At man
ner but for al his suavity, h could
not wholly disguise bis unAaalnosa
Of mind.
"sit down, Mr.. P9y1s,s dlyoeled
Markham brusquely. TT seams yeu
have little more explaining - d.
Taking out the manila enyl1epe,
he laid it, contents o. tAo1 Gook
where the other could ~ them.
"Wul you b % eood . = tan
me about these?"
with tho greatest pleasure" said
Pfyfe; but his voice had loot IL ~
surance. Some Of hin poise, to. hid
deserted him, and . h paused %
light . cigaret ! detected Z Glieht
nervousness IN the way b unanip-
ulated his gold match.safo.
tn Ra ContinnA6N 4 49,