New Britain herald., 1927-10-05
Jhe -=-=--zz BENSON MURDER CASE
 bq S. S. U VAN DINE @ CHARLES scPlBal5
@ CHARLES ScRIBNLQS 8oES

lcom's furnishings seemed intensi- fled by the glare.
 Vance slancei about him and gave a shudder.
 I'm half inclined 10 turn back he drawled. It's a clear case of iustifiable homicide by an outraged interior decorator"
 My dear aesthete." Markham urged impatiently. be good enough 10 bury your artistic prejudices, and to proceed with your problem. Oi course," he added. with q malicious smile, If you fear the result, you may still withdraw, and theories in their present virgin stato.'
 And permit you to send an inno- cent madden to the chair" oX- claimed Vance, in mock indigna- ton. "Hie, fife! La politesse alone iorbids my withdrawal. May l never have to lament, with Prince Henry. that to my shame l have a truant Leen to chivalry."
 Markham set his jaw, and gave Vance a 1eroCious look
 I'm beginning to think that, after all. there is something in your theory that every man has some motive for murdering nn- ether"
 "Wcll," replied Vance checrfnlIy, now that you have begun 10 come around 10 my way of thinking, do you mind if I send Mir. Snitkin on an crrand?"
 Markham sighed audibly and shrugged his shoulders.
 "1ll smoke during the opera houffo, if it won't interfere with your performance.
 Vance went to the door and called Sntkin.
 'I say, would you mind going 10 Mrs. Platz and borrowing q long tapc-measure and q bail of string. The district attorney wants thcm.' he added, giving Markham sycophantic bow. T cant hope that you're going 10 hang yourself. can I?" asked Markhapl
 Vance eazed at him reprovingly.
 Permit me" he said sW""tly, to commend Othello to your atrcn- tion:
 How poor arc they that have not
 patience,
 What wound did ever heal but by
 degrees?
 Or-to descend from d poet to a platitudinarian--let me present for your consid'ration pcntaneter from Longfelow: All things come round to him who will but wait Untrue, of course, but consolin'. Milton said it much better in his they also scrvr-' But Ccrvantcs said it beF: Patience and shuffle i the cards
 Sound advice. Markham - and advice expressed 'rallishly, as all 1 good advice should be. To i be sure, patience is q sort of last | resort--a practice to adopt when i there's nothing else to do. Still, i lice virtue. it occasionally rewards the practiunor; although I'll ad- init that. as a rule, it is--again like i virtuc-booticss. That is to say. it is it's own reward. It has, however, ! been sWathcd in many verbal robes. It is Sorrows slave and the | 'sov'rcign OCT transmitted ills as well as all the passion of great ! hearts, Rousseau wrote, La pa ] ticnce est amere mais son fruit est doux. But perhaps your legal taste 1 runs to Latin. Superanda omnis fortuna ferendo est, quoth Nergil. And Horace also spoke on the sub | jcct--.'
 "Why the hell doesn't Snitkin come?" growlcd Markham. i Almost as he spoke the door opened, and the detective handed i Vance the tapc-mcasure and string.
 And now, Markham, for your re- i Ward."
 | Bending over the rug, Vance moved the large wicker chair into the exact position it had occupied . hen Benson had been shot. The position was easily determined, for the impressions Of the chairs cas- i tors on the deep nap of the rug