The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-29

YOU are unaware Oh the OUTFITS.
A shadow passed over Vance
face.
II wish you were right" he said.
It was nearly half past one, and
we dropped into the Fountain Room
of the Ansonia hotel for lunch.
Markham was prcOccu PIE
throughout the meal, and when we
entered the subway later, he looked
uneasily at his watch. !.
II think I'll go on down to Wall
street and call on the major mo-
ment before returning to the office.
I can't understand his asking Miss
Hoffman not to mention the pack
age to me. 1t might not have
contained the jewels, after ALL" :.
do you imagine for one moment,
re joined Vance, that Alvin told the
major the truth about the package?
1t was not very cred'tablc transac-
ton, y'know; and the major most
likely would have given him what
for"
Major Benson's explanation bore
out Vance's surmise. Markham, IN
telling him Of the interview with
Paula Banning, emphasized the jewel
episode in the hope that the major
would voluntarily mention the pack
age; for his promise to Miss Hoff-
man prevented him from admitting
that he was aware of the others
knowledge concerning it.
The major listened with consider
able astouishmcnt, his eyes gradully
growing angry.
am afraid Alvin deceived me-"
he said. He looked straight ahead
for a moment. his face softening.
"And / don't like to think it, now
, that he's gone. But the truth is,
| when Miss Hoffman told me this
morning about the envelope, she
also mentioned small parcel that
had been in Alvin's private safe
drawer: and asked her to omit any
reference to it from her story to you.
II knew the parcel contained Mrs.
Banning's jewels, but l thought the
fact would only confuse matters il
brought to your attention. You see,
Alvin told me that a judgment had
been taken against Mrs. Banning.
and that, just before the supple
mentary proceedings. Pfyfe had
brought her jewels here and asked
him to sequester them temporarily
in his safe"
On our way back to the Criminal
Courts building Markham took
Vance's arm and smiled.
"Your guessing luck is holding
out, ] see"
"Rather!" agreed Vance. ut would
appear that the late Alvin, like
Warren Hastings, resolved to die in
the last dyke Of prevarication."
"In any event." replied Markham.
"the major has unconsciously added
another link in the chain against
Pfyfe."
You seem to be making collec-
ton Of chains" commented Vance
drily. "What have you done with
the ones you forged about Miss st.
Clair and Leacock?"
II Ravens entirely discarded them
If that. what you think" asserted
Markham gravely.
When we reached the office Ser
geant Heath was awaiting us with
a beatific grin.
ITS all over, Mr.. Markham" he
announced. "This noon, after you'd
gone, Leacock came here looking for
you. When he found you were out,
he 'phoned headquarters, and they
connected him with me. He wanted
to see me--very important, he said;
so l hurried over.
Gle was sitting in the waiting
room when ! came in. and he called
me over and said: 4 came to give
myself up. I killed Benson I got
him to dictate confession to Swack-
er, ard then he signed it. Here
it isl He handed Markham a type
written sheet of paper.
Markham sank YEARLY into a
chair. The strain Of the past few
days had begun to tell on him. He
sighed heavily.
"Thank God! Now our troubles
are ended"
Vance looked at him lugubriously,
and shook his head.
Il rather fancy. y'know, that your
troubles are only beginning" he
drawled.
When Markham had glanced
through the confession he handed it
to Vance, who read it carefully with
an expression of growing amuse-
ment.
"Y'know, he said, "this document
isn't at all legal. Any Judge worthy
the name would throw it precip'tate-
~ out of court. It's far too simple
and precise. It doesn't begin with
greetings; it doesn't contain a sin
gle "wherefore-be-it' or 'be-it-known'
or 'do-hereby'; it says nothing about
free will or sound mind or 'dispos-
in mem'ry'; and the captain doesn't
once refer to himself as the party
of the first part Utterly worth-'
less, sergeant. If l were you, I'd
| chuck it,"
(Tn Ia no,<s~.,~LN