New Britain herald., 1927-11-12
NOW BEGIN THE STORY

lHAF FIX l.Jl
 Fifteen minutes later Mir. Mori- arty arrived. He was serious. good looking, well-dressod youth in his late twenties-not at all my idea of and precise English with almost no trace of the Bronx accent.
 Markham introduced him, and briefly explained why he had been requested to call.
 "One of the men from tho homi- eide bureau" answered Moriarty. was asking me about the matter only yesterday"
 We have the report" said Vance, but it's a bit too general. Will you tell us exactly what you did that night after you met Colonel Cstrander?"
 The Colonel had invited me to dinner and the Follies. l met him at the Marseillcs at 10. We had dinner there, and went to the Pic cadilly a little before l2. where we remained until about 2:3o.
 T walked to the Colonels apart ment with him, had a drink and a chat, and then took the subway home about 3:30."
 You told the detective yesterday you sat in a box at the theater."
 That's correct.'
 Did you and the Colonel remain in the box throughout the perform ancc?'
 NO. After the first act a friend of mine came to the box, and the Colonel excused himself and went to the wash room. After the second act, the Colonel and I stepped out side into the alley-way and had a smoke.'
 What time. would you say, was the first act over?'
 thirty or thereahouts."
 And where is this alley-way situated 2" asked Vance. AS I re- call. it runs along the side of the theater 10 the street."
 You're right
 "And isn't there an exit door vory near the boxes, which leads into the alley-way?"
 There is. We used it that night"
 How long was the Colonel gone after the first act?'
 "A few minutes-I couldn't say exactly"
 Had he returned when the cur tain went up on the second act?'
 Moriarty reflected
 "I don't believe he had. l think he came back a few minutes after the act began
 Ten minutes?'
 q couldn't say. Certainly no morc."
 Then. allowing for q minute intcrmission. the Colonel might have been away 20 minutcs?"
 "lcs--it's possible"
 This ended the interyieN: and when Moriarty had gone, Vance lay back in his chair and smoked thoughtfully.
 "Surprisin' luck" h" commented. "1'he PiCcadilly Thcat.r, y know, is practically round the corner from Bcnson's house. You grasp the possibilities of tho situation. what " The Colonel invites an alder man to the Midnight Eollics. and gets box seats near an exit giving on an alley. At little before half raSt twelve he leaves the box. sncaks out via the alley, goes 10 Bonson's. taps and is admitted, shoots his man. and hurries back to the thoater. Twenty minutes " ould have been ample"
 Mark ham strengthened up, but made no comment.
 And now,' continued Vance, lets look at the indicat'ry cir cumstnces and the confirmat'ry facts. Miss St. Clair told ns the Colonel had lost heavily in a pool of Bcnson's manipulation, and had accused him of crookedness. He hadn't spoken to Benson for q week: so it's plain thcr" was bad blood between 'om.-Hc saw Miss St. Clair al the Marseill"s with Ben son; and, knowing she always went home at midnight. he chose half past twelve as a propitious hour; although originally he may have intended 10 wait until much later: say, i.G0 or 2--beforc sncaking out of the theat"r.
 Being an army officer, he would have had Colt 10; and he was