New Britain herald., 1927-11-18
US' ITT' ITTS ITI UT IUF HUT TFT.
 NOW BEGIN THE STORY
CHAPTER 1EII

CHAPTER LE11
 Markham sat thinking for severa minutes. At last he lifted his head.
 "You've about convinced me o his guilt" he admitted. But damr it. man. I've got to prove il; anl there's no. much actual legal evi- denCe."
 Vance gave slight shrug. I'm not int'restcd in your stupid ! courts and your silly rules of evi- d"nCe. But. since I've convinced you, you can't charge me with not having met your challenge, don't i y know"
 "I suppose not" Markham as scnted gloomily.
 Slowly the muscles about he mouth frightened.
 "You've done your share, Vance I'll carry on."
 Heath and Captain Hagcdorn were waiting when wc arrived al the office and Markham greeted them in his customary reserved, matter -of-fact way. By now he had 1 himself well in hand, and he went i about the task before him with the SCmbrn forcefulneSS that chara cter- ized him in the discharge of all his duties.
 T think We at last have the right man. Sergeant" he said. Sit down, and I'll go over the matter with you in q moment. There are one or two things I want to attend to first"
 He handed Major Eensons pistol to the firearms expert.
 Look that gun over. Captain and tell me if there's any way oi identifying it as the weapon that killed Ecn@on."
 HagedOrn moved ponderously to i the window. Laying the pistol on the sill, he took several tools from the pockets of his voluminous coat, and placed them beside the weapon Then, adjusting a jewellers magni- flying glass 10 his eye, he began what seemed an intcrminable series Of tinkerings.
 il' VI l4' VI '4l' BiIi'''' c' Nli' 't'NiNi and drawing back the scar, took out the hring-pin He removed the slide. unScrcW"d the link, and eX- tracted the rccoil spring. l thought he was going to take the weapon entirely apart. but ap- light into the barrel; for presently he held the gun to the window and placed his eye al the muzzlc. He pccrcd into the barrel for nearly five minutes, moving it slightly back and forth 10 catch the rehec. 0! the interior,
 At last, without q word, he slowly and painstakingly went through the operation of assembling th' weapon. Then he numbered bacl 10 his chair and sat blinking hcav. fly for several moments.
 "Ill tell you" he said, thrustinl his head forward and gazing a Markham over the tops of his steel trimmed spectaclcs. This, now may be the right gun. wouldn't say for sure. But when l saw tho bullet the other morning I noticed some peculiar riAling marks on it and the rifliug in this gun here looks to m" as though it Woull match up with th" marks on tho bullet. I'm not certain. I'd like tt look at this barrel through my hcliXomctcr.
 "But you believe it's the gum insisted Markham.
 "I couldn't say. but l think so I might be wrong"
 "Vcry good. Captain. Take l along, and call me the minute you've inspected it thoroughly
 Its the gun, all right" asserted Heath, when Hagedorn had gone T know that bird. He wouldn' we said as much as he did if h. hadn't been sure. Whose gul is it. sir?"
 'I'll answer you presently, Markham was still battling againe the truth-withholding. even iron himself, his pronouncement of tn Majors guilt until every loophol of doubt should be closed. T wan 10 hear from Stitt before l say any thing. I sent him to look over Ben son and Benson's books. He'll b here any moment
 After wait of q quarter Of al hour, during which time Markham attempted to busy himself witt other matters, Stitt came in. H.