New Britain herald., 1927-11-03
NOW BEGIN THE STORY

CHAPTER NLIV
 'Tf 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 his secret ing the gun at Miss St. Clair's the next day"
 The telephone rang: Colonel Ostrander wanted 10 speak to the district attorney. Markham, after a short conversation, turned a dis gruntled look upon Vance. "Your 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 l was still undecided as to who was guilty"
 T heard you thanking him full somely for something or other, What did you give him to un- derstand about your mental state?" That I was still in the dark" Markhams answer was accom- panied by a sombre, tired smile. It was his way of telling Vance that he had entirely rejected the idea of Captain Leacock's guilt.
 The Major went to him and held out his hand.
 'I know how you feel" he said. This sort of thing is discouraglng; 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. Youll soon hit on the right solution, and when you do-' His jaw snapped shut, and he uttered the rest of the sentence be- tween clenchod teeth. you'll meet with no opposition from me. I'll help you put the thing over"
 He gave Markham a grim smile, and took up his hat.
 I'm going back 10 the office now If you want me at any time, let me know. I may be able to help you later on."
 | With a friendly, appreciative bow to Vance, he went out.
 Markham sat in silence for sev- eral minutes.
 Damn it, Vance," he said ir- ritably. This case gets more diff cut by the hour. I feel worn out" "Eou really shouldn't take it so seriously, old dear" Vance advised lightly. "It doesn't pay V know. to worry over the trivia Of existence. 'Nothing's new,
 And nothing's true,
 And nothing really matters
 Several million johnnics were killed in the war, and you don't let the fact bcdcvil your phaeocytes or inflamo your brain-cclIs. But when one roticr is mercfully shot in your district, you lie awake nights perspiring over it, what? My word.
 You're deuccdly inconsistent"
 "ConsiStyncy--" began Markham |; , but Vance interrupted him.
 Now don't quote Emerson, I Infinitely prefer Erasmus. Y know, you ought 10 read his Praise of
 Folly: it would cheer you no end. That goaty old Dutch professor would never have gricycd incon- solably over the destruction of
 Alvin L. 'hauye."
 "I'm not a fruges consumers ua'Us like you" snapped Markham.
 T "as elected 10 this Gificc--' | "ph, quitc,-'loy"d I not honor
 uor-' and all that" Vance chimed m. "Hut don't bo 90 sensitive. Even ! if the Captain has succeeded in
 tunsllnG his way out of jail you
 have at least five possibilities left. ! "Thero's Mrs Platz and l Ptyfe and Colonel Ostrandcr
 and Mrs Hoffman and Mrs Bannine-I say, Why don't you arrest 'cm all, one at q time,
 and get 'cm to confess? Heath would go crazy with joy" Markham Was in too crcstlallcn a mood 10 resent this chaffing. In dcod, Vanco's lieh- -heartcdnoss | seemed 10 buoy him up. "If you want tho truth" he said;
 that's exactly what l feel like doing. I am restrained merely by { my indecision as to which one 10 arrest first"
 Stout fella," Then Vance asked:
 What arc you going 10 do with the | Captain now? It'll break his heart 1 If you release him"