The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-11-03
THIS HAS HAPPENED
NOW BEGIN THE STORY
CHAPTER Xiv

IF it wasn't SO fantastic, I'd say
Leacock started out to do it. and
found it already done," Vance said.
And yet, that's about the size of it.
It would account for Pfyfe's seeing
him there, and for his secreting the
gun at Miss st. Glars the next day."
The telephone rang: Colonel
Ostrander. wanted to speak to the
district attorney. Markham, after
= short conversation, turned q dis
gruntled look upon Vance.
"Y0ur blood-thirsty friend wanted
to know If I'd arrested anyone yet.
He offered to confer more Of his in
valuable suggestions upon me in case
] was still undecided as to who was
guilty."
II heard you thanking him full
somely for something or other.
What did you give him to un-
derstand about your mental state ?"
"The. l was still in the dark"
Markham's answer was accom-
panied by = sombre, tired smile. 1t
was his way Of telling Vance that
he had entirely rejected the idea of
X
The Major went to him and held
out his hand.
II know how you feel" he said.
This sort of thing is discouraging:
but it's better that the guilty person
should escape altogether than that
an innocent man should be made to
suffer Don't work too hard,
and don't let these disappointments
get to you. You'll soon hit on the
right solution, and when you do"
His jaw snapped shut, and he
uttered the rest Of the sentence be-
tween clenched teeth. you'll
meet with no opposition from me.
I'll help you put the thing over"
He gave Markham . grim smile,
and took up his hat.
"I'm going back to the office now.
II you want me ct any time, let me
know. l may be able to help you
later on"
With = friendly. appreciative bow
to Vance, he went out.
Markham sat in silence for sew
eral minutes.
Damn It, vance!" he said ir-
ritably. "This case gets more diff
cult by the hour. ] feel worn out. "
"You really shouldn't take it SO
seriously, old DEAR" Vance advised
lightly. ut doesn't pay y know, to
worry over the trivia Of existence.
'Nothing's new,
And nothing's true.
And nothing really matters
Several million johnnies were
killed in the war, and you don't let
the fact bedevil your phagacytes or
inflame your brain-cells. But when
one rotter is mercifully shot in
your district, you lie awake nights
perspiring over it, what? My word!
You're deucedly Inconsistent"
''Consistency-" began Markham;
but Vance interrupted him.
"Now don't quote Emerson. !
infinitely prefer Erasmus. r know,
you ought to read his Praise Of
Folly; It would cheer you no end.
That goaty old Dutch professor
would never have grieved incon-
solably over the destruction Of Alvin
lie Chauvc."
"l'm not .. fruges consumers
natus like you," snapped Markham.
II was elected to this Office"
"Oh, quite,-'loved / not honor
more and al that" Vance chimed
in. "But don't be 50 sensitive. Even
II the Captain has succeeded in
buneling his way out Of Jail, you
have 1t least five possibilities left.
there's Mrs. Platz and
Pfyfe and Colonel Ostrander
I. and Miss Hoffman and
Mrs. Bapning(I say! Why don't
YOU arrest EN- al, ons at > time,
and get 'em 20 con4eGs1 Heath
woul 80 crasy with Joy"
Markham was IN too crestfallen
: mood 70 resent this chatting. In
deed. vance's light-heartedness
scanned 20 buoy him up.
III you want the truth" he said;
that's exactly what feel like
dohe. l an restrained merely BY
nv indecisioa - 70 which one to
sstout fslla!'' Then vance askeds
whist IN you goint 10 Do with the
Captain now9 tn break his heart
& you r6ls6se hina."
HIS hoaxt1l have 70 break. I'm
aStaM." 1gaskham reached tor ~