New Britain herald., 1927-11-05

nor; but I declined them. And I was told that, if l saw things in
 he right light or some such charming phrase I could have
 jewels just like them tor my very, very ov n --- perhaps even those identical ones, on the twenty first
 "Of course - the twenty first" " grinned Vance. Markham, are you listening" On the twenty-first Lenders note falls due. and if it's not paid the jewels arc forfeited"
 He addressed himself again to
 Miss St. Clair.
 "Did Mir, Benson have the jewels with him al dinner'''
 "Oh, no, think my refusal Of tho pearls rather discoura god him. .
 Vance paused, looking at her with ingratiating cordiality. ] "Tcll us now. please. of the gun episodc-in your own words, as the i lawyers say, hoping to entangle you 1 later" But she evidently feared no en- 1 tanglemcnt.
 'Tho morning after the murder | Captain Loacock came hcre and said he had gone 10 Mir. Benson's i house about half past twelve with inc intention of shooting him. But i he had seen Mir. Pfyfc outside and, 1 assuming he was calling. had given up the idea and gone home. l feared ! that Mir. Pfyfc had seen him. and I fold him it would be safer to bring his pistol 10 me and 10 say. if ques- toned, that he'd lost it in France. You sec, I really thought he had shot Mr. Benson and was - well. lying like a gentleman, to spare my feelings.
 "Thcn, when he took the pistol from mo with the purpose of throw ing if away altogether, l was even more certain of it." She smiled faintly at Markham. That was why I refused 10 an swer your questions. wanted you to think that maybe l had done it, so you'd not suspect Captain Lea cock"
 But he wasn't lying at all,' said Vance.
 T know now that he wasn't. And l should have known it before. He'd never have brought the pistol 10 me if he'd been guilty
 4 film came over her eyes.
 "And-poor hoy.--hc confessed because he thought that l was guilty"
 "That's precisely the harrowin situation" noded Vance. "Rut where did he think you had ob- ,ainel q weapon?'
 "J know many army mon = friends of his and Of Major Ben sons. And last summer at the mountains I did considcrabl" pistol practice for the fun Of it. Oh, the idea was reasonable enough"
 Vance rose and made a courtIy bow.
 "Nou'vc been most rrHcious-and Markham had various theories about the murder. The first. ] be lieve was that you alon' were the Madam I'orgia. The second was that you and tho Captain did the decd together. The third was that the Captain pulled the trigger a cappclla. And the legal mind is so cNquisitely developed that it can believe in several conflicting the ories at the same time.
 "The sad thing about th" present case is that Mr. Markham still leans toward tn" belief that both of yon are guilty. individually and col l,ctivcly tried to reason with lim before coming here: but l failed. Therefore. insisted upon his hearing from your own ctarm- ing lips your story of th" affair."
 He went up 10 Markham who sat glaring at him with lips com pressed
 "Wcll. old chap.' he remarked pleasantly. surely you are not going to persist in your obsession that either Miss St. C1alr or Cap tain Lcacock is guilty. what" =. And won't you relcnt and unshackle the Captain 2s I begged you to?"
 He extended his arms in a the atriCal gesture of supplication.
 Mark hams wrath was at the breaking point, but he got up de- libcratn.y and. going to the woman, held out his hand.
 Miss St. Clair" he said kindly and again I was impressed by the higness Of the man. "I wish 10 assure you that l have dismissed the idea of your guilt. and also Caprain I.cacocks' from what Mir. Vance terms my incredibly rigid and unrocoptivc mind. I for give him. however, because he has saved mo from doing you a very grave injustice.
 And I will see that you have tour Captain back as soon as the papers can be signed for his re-