The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-11-16
BENSON !! !! !. M !! III !:!!!|! CASE
AZ + 4. IVAN nINr . -. - |.


kets were safer here than else
where. There'd be time enough "a
dispose Of them when the affair
blew over. Come with mo .
moment, Markham. It's painful; l
know; and your hearts too weak
for an anaesthetic."
Markham followed him down the
passageway in kind Of da1e. !
felt great sympathy for the man,
for now there was no question that
he knew Vance was serious In hio
demonstration Of the Majors guilt.
Indeed, I have always felt that
Markham suspected the true pur-
pose Of vance's request to invesH-
gate the Majors alibi, and that HE
opposition was due - much TO his
fear Of the results - to his iin-
patience with the others irritating
| methods.
Not that he would have baked
ultimately at the truth, despite his
long friendship for Major Benson;
but he was struggling-as ] Gee 1t
now-with the inevitability d cir
cumstances, hoping against hope
that he had read Vance Incorrectly,
and that, by vigorously contssttng
each step Of the way, he might
alter the very shape Of destiny
itself.
Vance led the way to the living.
room. and stood for five minutes
inspecting the various pieces q tur.
niture, while Markham remained
in the doorway watching him
through narrowed lids, his hands
crowded deep into his pockets.
I'VE could, of course, have an
expert searcher rake the apartment
over inch by inch," observed Vance.
"But don't think it necessity. The
Majors q bold, cunning soul: Wit
ness his wide square forehead, the
dominating stare Of his globular!
eyes, the perpendicular spine, and
the indrawn abdomel.
"He's fortnight in all his mental
operations. Like Poe's Minister
D., he would recognize the 1utility
Of painstakingly secrettng the
Jewels in some obscure corner. AND
any how, he had no object IN secret.
ing them. He merely wished to
hide 'em where there'd be no chance
of their being seen. This naturally
suggests q lock and key, what?
! There was no such cache in tho
bed-room-which is why came
here"
He walked to q squat rosewood
desk in the corner, and tried Ill itS
drawers; but they were unlocked.
He next tested the table drawer;
but that, too, was unlocked. A small
Spanish cabinet by the window
proved equally disappointing.
Markham, I simply must lind .
locked drawer" he said.
He inspected the room again, ana
was about to return to the bedroom
when his eye fell on a Circassian.
walnut humidor half hidden by .
pile of magazines on the UNDER
shelf Of the comfortable. He stopped
abruptly, and going quickly to the
box, endeavored to lift the top. 1t
was locked.
Lets see," he unused: "what does
the Major smoke? Romeo y Julieta
| Perfeccionados, I believe - but
| they're not sufficiently valuable to
keep under lock and key"
He picked up q strong bronze
/ paper-knife lying on the table, and
forced it's point into the crevice OF
the humidor just above the lock.
"You can't do that!" cried Mark
ham; and there was as much pain
as reprimand in his voice.
Before he could reach Vance,
however, there was sharp click.
and the lid flew open. Inside was
q blue-velvet jewel-case.
"Ah! Dumb jewels more quick
than words,'" said Vance. stepping
back.
Markham stood staring into the
humidor with an expression OF
tragic distress. Then slowly he
turned and sank heavily into .
chair. 49,,
"Good God!" he murmured. y
don't know what to believe"
"In that respect" returned vance,
"you're in the same disheartenin'
predic 'ment as all the philosophers.
But you were ready enough, don't
" know, to believe in the guilt OF
half a dozen innocent people. Why
should you gag at the Major who
actu'lly is guilty!"
His tone was contemptuous, but
| a curious inscrutable look IN his
eyes belied his voice; and remem.
bered that, although these two men
were welded in an indissoy4ble
friendship, I had never heard .
word Of sentiment, or even sym.
pathv, pass between them.
Markham had leaned forward IN
an attitude Of hopelessness. elbows
on knees, his head in his hands.
"But the motive!" he urged. "A
man doesn't shoot his brother Tor
handful of jewels"
), Certainly not" agreed Vance,
"The jewels were = mere addenduu,s
There IS q vital motive-rest a.
sured. And, fancy, when you get
your report from the expert ace
countant, all-or at least . goodly
/ part-will be revealed"
80 that was why you wanted
his books examined?"
| Markham stood up resolutsly.
nc; Come 4s:o,,d I'm 2 going to 80 the
Vance did not move at once. He
was intently studying . small
antique candlestock Of oriental de-
sign on the mantel.
II say!" he muttered. That's Z
dev'lish fine copy!"
| (Te Be Continued)
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