The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-26
sleep on it, and tackle it in the morn-

ing
"That ancient idea of sleeping on,
a problem is fallacy," said Vance,
as we walked out into Madison
avenue, "-an apologize, as it were,
for ones not being able to think
clearly. Poetic idea, " know. All
poets believe in it--nature's soft
nurse, the balm Of woe, childhood's
mandragora, tired natures sweet
restorcr, and that sort of thing.
"Silly notion. When the brain is
keyed up and alive, it works far
better than when apathetic from
the torpor Of sheep. Slumber is an
anodyne-not q stimulus"
well, you sit up and think" was
Markham's surly advice.
that's what I'm going to do"
blithely returned Vance; but not
about the Benson case. did all
the thinking I'm going to do along
that line four days ago."
"wednesday, June -; forenoon.)
We rode down town with Mark
ham the next morning, and though
we arrived at his office before .
o'clock. Heath was already there
waiting. He appeared worried, and
when he spoke his voice held an.
ill-disguised reproof for the district
attorney.
"What about this Leacock. Mr..
Markham" he asked. 1T looks to !
me like we'd betted grab him quick.
We've been failing him right along;
and there's something funny going
on. =
yesterday morning he went to
his bank and spent half an hour in !
the chief cashiers office. After that
he visited his lawyers, and was
there over an hour. Then he went
back to the bank for another half
hour. He dropped in to the Astor
Grill for lunch, but didn't eat any
thing--sat staring at the table. N
about 2 o'clock he called on the
realty agents who have the hand-.
ling Of the building he lives in; and
after he'd left, we found out he'd
offered his apartment for suitcase
beginning tomorrow. Then he paid
six calls on friends Of his, and went
home.
after dinner my man rang his
apartment bell and asked for Mr.
Northumberland was packing up!
It looks to me like get
away"
Markham frowned. Heath's re-
port clearly troubled him; but be-
fore he could answer, Vance spoke.
"Why this perturbation, Ser
gcant? You're watching the Cap
tain. I'm sure he can't slip FROM
your vigilant clutches"
Markham looked at Vance q mos,
mcnt; then turned to Heath.
"Let it go at that. But if Lea
cock attempts to leave the city, nab
him."
Heath went out sullenly. #
by the bye, Markham" said
Vance: don't make an appointment
for half past twelve today. You
already have one, don't y know.
And with a lady,"
Markham put down his pen, and
stared.
what new damned nonsense is
this?
Il made an engagement for you.
Called the lady by phone this morn
ing. I'm sure I woke the dear up
Markham spluttcred. striving to
articulate his angry protest.
Vance held up his hand sooth-
ingly.
"And you simply must keep the
engagement. Y see, told her it
was you speaking; and it would be
shocking taste not to appear. -.
| promise, you won't regret meeting
her." he added.
"Things looked so sadly befud-
died last night couldn't bear to
see you suffering so. s'quently,
! arranged for you to see Mrs. Paula
Banning-Pfyfe's Eloisc. y know.
I'm positive she'll be able to dispel
some Of this inspissated gloom that's
enveloping you.p
"See here, vance," Markham
growled. u happen to be running
this Office"
He stopped abruptly, realizing the
hopelessness of making Roadway
against the others blandness. More
over, ] think, the prospect of inter-
viewine; Mrs Paula Banning was
not wholly alien to his inclinations.
His resentment slowly ebbed, and
when he again spoke his voice was
almost matter-of-fact.
''Since you've committed me, I'll
see her. But I'd rather Pfyfe wasn't
in such close communication with
her. He's apt to drop in--with pre-
concerted unexpectedncss.
(To Be Continucd)