New Britain herald., 1927-10-14

her gloves and hand bag, but for the hour it took her 10 go from the Na.scilles to her home. It would also account for her attitude here Saturday, and for the captains lying about the gun. . There, I believe. have my case. The smash ing Of the captains alibi about clinches it."
 oh, quite" said Vance airily. Hope springs eXulting on trium- phant wing"
 Markham regarded him mo rent.
 Have you entirely forsworn hu- man reason as means of reaching a decision? Here We have an ad- mitte1 threat, a motive, the time, the place, the opportunity, the con- duct. and the criminal agent"
 Those words sound strangely famliar,' smiled Vance. Didn't most of 'em fit the young lady also? And you really haven't got the criminal agent, y'know, But it's no doubt floating about the city somcwhere.--A mere detail, how ever"
 "I may not have It in my hand" Markham Countorod. "Rut with a good man on watch every minute, Leacock won't find much oppor- tunity of disposing of the weapon"
 Vance shrugged indificrertly.
 Tn any event, go easy" he ad- monished. My humble opinion is that you've merely unearthed con- spiracy."
 "Conspiracy? Good Lord! What kiNd?"
 "A conspiracy of circumstances, don't y'know."
 I'm glad, at any ratc, 1t hasn't to do with international politics" returned Markham good-naturedly He glanced at the clock.
 You won't mind if I get to work? I've a dozen things to at tend to, and couple of committees to See. . Why don't you go across the hall and have talk with Ben Hanlon. and then come back at 12:30? We'll have lunch together at the Bankers Club, "Bens our greatest expert on for , oign eXtradition, and has spent most of his life chasing about the world after fugitivos from justice He'll spin you some good yards"
 How perfectly fascinatiH'." eX- claimed Vance, with a yawn. { But instead of taking the sug- gestion, he walked 70 the window md lit a cigarette, He stood for a while putfine at if. rolling if be tween his fingers and inspecting 1t critically.
 "Y' know. Markham" he ohserv- ed, ",verything's going to pot these days, It's this silly democra- cy. Even the nobility is degen'- rating These Resie cigarettes now: they've fallen off frighfully, There was a time when no respecting 2otantare would have smoked such inferior tobacco."
 Markham smiled.
 "Whats the favor you want to ask?"
 Favor? What has that 10 do with the decay of Euopo's aristo- cracy?'
 "Tye noticed that whenever you want 10 ask q favor which you con sidor questionable etiquette, you he gin with q donuactation of royalty. I "Ohscryin' fclla," connected Vance drily. Then ha, too. smiled, ! DO you n.ind if I bring Colonel Oatrandcr along to lunch?" 1 Markham gave him sharp look.
 "Blas@y Ostrandcr, you mean Is he the mystclious colonel vou'v" hean asking people about fo. the rast two days?"
 "Th-j's the lad. Pompous ass end that sort of thirg. Might prov, h.t edtyin, though, Hes tho paap of Denson's crowd, so tc speak; knows all parties. Regular ol1 scarIalnongor."
 "llayo him along by all means a~r..d Markham.
 ! Then h" nlrks4 mp the f"I phoh"
 "N0W I'm going to tell Bon ycu'r' coming over for m hour CT so."
 lMONpAY. LINE r; 12:&0 r. M.
 Wh.n a' half rast twelve, Mark ham. Narc" and ! entered the girl of -ho Bankers Club in the Iqtli table hunuuE Colonel Ostrand" was already dt the bar engage, with one of Charles prohibition clam-hIoth and Worchester- shir sauce cor.tatls, Vance had tcla phon ! him immediately upon ou leaving the district attorney oliict requesting him to meet us it tn c,u,; and the colonel had scene ragrr to comply. (1o He ContiuuodD
 Usiug tn" Gregg method, a No' 1r,,. of O1 fin