The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-27
BENSON M|tGjlDER CASE

appointment you, made Tor me-" he
complained to Vance. Then: "Come,
Stitt. I'll take you down with us In
the judges private elevator"
IF you don't mind" interposed
Vance, "Mr. Stitt and / will forego
the honor, nd mingle with the COM
moners in the public lift. Wen
meet you downstairs.
Taking the accountant by the arm,
he led him out through the main
waiting-room. It was 10 minutes.
however. before he Joined US.
We took the subway to Seventy
second street and walked up West
End avenue to Mrs. Paula Banning's
address. She lived in . small apart
ment-house just around the corner
in Seventy-first street.
AS we stood before the door, wait
ing for IN answer to our ring, Z
strong odor Of Chinese incense drift
ed out to US.
"Ah! That facilitates matters"
said Vance, shifting. Ladies who
burn joss-sticks are invariably SEN
timental."
Mrs. Banning was q tall, slightly
adipose woman Of indetcrminate age,
with straw-colored hai- an. 4 pink
and-white complexion.
Her face in reposc possessed
youthful and vacuous innocence; but
the expression was only superficial.
Her eyes. a very light blue, were
hard; and slight puffiness about
her cheek-bones and beneath her
chin attested to years of idle and
indulgent living.
She was not unattractive, how.
ever, in vivid, flamboyant way:
and her manner, when she ushered
us into her over-furnished ar rocco
living-room, was one Of easy-going
good-f llowship.
When we were seated and Mark
ham had apologized for our intru-
sion, Vance at once assumed the
role Of interviewer.
Durinr his opening explanatory
remarks he appraised the woman
carefully, as if seeking to determine
the best means of approaching her
for the information he wanted.
After few minutes Of verbal re-
connoitering he asked Permission to
smoke. and offered Mrs. Banning
one of his cigarets, which she &C.
cepted. Then he smiled at her in q
spirit Of appreciative geniality, and
relaxed comfortably in his chair.
He conveyed the impression that
he was fully prepared to sympa-
thize with anything she might tell
him. ~
"Mr. Pfyfe strove very hard to
keep you entirely out of this affair"
said Vance; land we fully appre-
ciate his delicacy in so doing. But
certain circumstances connected with
Mr.. Benson's death have inadver-
tently :,volved you in the case; and
you can best help US and yourself
and particularly Mr.. Pfyfe-by tell.
ing us what we want to know, and
trusting to our discretion and UNI
derstanding."
He had emphasized Pfyfe's name,
giving it a significant intonation;
and the woman had glanced down
uneasily.
Her apprehension was apparent,
and when she looked up into vance's
eyes, she was asking herself: How
much does he know? as plainly as
if she had spoken the words audibly.
II can't imagine what you want
me to tell you," she said, with m
effort at establishment. "You know
that Andy was not in New York
that night"
(Her designating Of the elegant
and superior Pfyfe as candy"
sounded almost like lese-majeste.)
"He didn't arrive in the city until
nearly 9 the next morning"
Didn't you read in the news
papers about the gray Cadillac that
was parked in front Of Benson's
house ?" Vance, in putting the ques-
ton, initiated her own establishment.
She smiled confidently.
"That was Andy's car. He took
the 8 o'clock train to New York
the next morning. He said it was
lucky that he did, seeing that . ma
chine just like his had been at Mr..
Benson's the night before"
She had spoken with the sincerity
OF complete assurance. It was evil
dent tina. Pfyfe had lied to her on
this point.
Vance did not disabuse her; in
fact, Re gave her to understand that
he accepted her explanation, and
consequently dismissed the idea Of
Pfyfe's presence in New York on
the night of the murder.
II had in mind a connection Of q
somewhat different nature when /
mentioned you and Mr.. Pfyfe as
having been drawn into the case.
l referred to a personal relationship
between you and Mr.. Benson"
CTO Be Continued