New Britain herald., 1927-09-19
CHAPTER I
FRIDAY, June Ia; $50 a. N.Y.

ALVIN H. Benson created sensation which, to this day. has
not entirely died away had breakfased with Phlo Vance
in his apartment It not unusual for share Vances
uncheons and dinners, but to have breakfast with him
something Of an OCCASION He late riser and it his
habit to remain incomuncado until his midday meal.
The for this early meeting matter of bust
rather of aesthetics. On the afternoon of the
previous day Vance had attended preview of Voard COL
lection of Cezanne watercolors at the Kessler Gal
eres and having several pictures he particularly want
3D. he had invited early breakfast give
tons regarding their purchase
word concerning my relationship with Vance is neces-
to clarity my role of narrator in this chronicle The
legal tradition is deeply mbedded my family and when
my preparaory-school days sent almost
matter of course, to Harvard to study law. It there
met Vance, reserved cynical and caustc freshman who
the bane of his professors and the fear of his fellow
cassmen Why he should have chosen me- of all the stu
dents at the university for his extrachoastc association
| have never been able to understand fully My liking
for Vance simply explained he fascinated end inter-
ested and supplied with novel kind of intellectual
diversion.
Opon graduation I entered my fathers law fml--Van
Dine and Davisand after five years of dull apprenticeship
was taken into the firm the junior partner At present
am the second Van Dine Of Van Dine Davis and Dine
with offices at 100 Broadway At about the time my
first appeared the leter-heads of the firm Vance re-
turned from Europe, where he had been living during my
legal novate, and aunt of his having died and made
him her principal beneficiary called upon to discharge
the technical obligations involved in putting him in posses
sion of his inherited property
This work the beginning of and somewhat I'M
usual relationship between Vance had strong staste
for kind Of business Transactions and in time became
the custodian of all his monetary interests and his agent
large found that his affairs various enough
cupy much of my time cared give legal matters
and Vance able to indulge the luxury of having
personal legal factotum to speak permanently closed
desk at the office and devoted myself exclusively his
and whms.
If, up the when Vance summoned me to discuss
of 7 had har
depressed regrets for having deprived the firm of Van Dine
Davis and Van Dine of my modest legal talents they
permanently banshed that eventfu morning; for be-
ginning with the notorious Benson murder. and extending
period of nearly four years. it my privilege
be spectator of what believe the most amazing series
Of criminal that passed before the eyes Of young
lawyer Indeed, the grim dramas | witnessed during that
period constitute of the most astonishing secret docu
mens in the police history of this country.
OF these dramas Vance the central character BY
analytical and nterpretative process which, as far
know, has before been applied to criminal activities
he succeeded in solving many Of the important crimes
which both the police and the district attorneys office had
hopelessy fallen down,
Due to my peculiar relations with Vance happened that
not only did participate in all the with which he
connected but was also present at most Of the informal
discussions concerning them which took place between him
and the district attorney; and being of mehodca tempera
ment kept fairly complete record Of them. In addition,
noted down Gas accurately memory pemitte) Vances
unique psychological methods of determining guilt he ex
planned them from time to time
The first to draw Vance into it's ramifcations
that Of Alvin Benson's murder The ntruded upon
Nance's life suddenly and unexpectedly although he him
self had by casual request made the district attorney
month before. been the involuntary agent of this
destruction of his normal routine The thing fact burst
upon before had quite finished breakfast on that
mid June morning.
AS ushered into the living by Currie, rare
old English servant who acted Nances butler valet
dono and occasions speciality cook Vance sitting
large armchair ared in surah silk dressinggow and
grey suede slippers with Volards book on Cezanne open
his knees.
Forgive my not rising, VAN he greeted casually 81
have the whole weight of the modern evolution
ing my legs. Furthermore, this pebeian early rising
fatigues me, yknow'
This chap Voard" he remarked at length "has been
rather liberal with artfeaIng country. e has sent
really goodsh collection of his Cezannes here viewed en
yesterday with the proper and might add
concern, for Kesser watching me- and I've marked the
want you to buy for the gallery opens
/ this morning"
Vance what many would call dlettante But the
designation does him injustice He of unusual
culture and brlance An arstocrat by birth and instinct
he held himself severely aloof from the world of
men. In his manner there ndenabe contempt for
/ naiOr Of with,