New Britain herald., 1927-11-12

onc--he didn't seem to care who: and he even 'phoned you to inquire about It.
 He was one of the very few persons in the world whom Benson would have admitted, attired as he was. He'd known Benson int'ma te- ly for 1 , years. and Mrs. Platz once saw Benson take off his toupee and show it to him.-Moreover, he would have known all about the domestic arrangements of the house: he no doubt had slept there many a time when showing his old pal the wonders of New York S night life. . How docs all that appeal 10 you9"
 Markham had risen. and was pac- ing the floor. his eyes almost closed. 50 that was why you were so in tcrestcd in the Coloncl-asking pco- pie if they knew him. and inviting him to lunch? What gave you the idea, in the first place, that he was guilty"
 Guilty" exclaimed Vance. That priceless old dunderhead guilty. Really. Markham. the notions pre- post'rous. I'm sure he went to the wash-room that night to comb his eyebrows and arrange his ti" Sit ting, as he was, in a Box. the gels on the stage could see hdm. y know" % r -H
 Markham halted abruptly. An ugly color crept into his cheeks, and his eyes blazed But before he could speak Vance went on, with serene indifference to his anger.
 And I played in the most aston ishin' luck. Still. he's just the kind of arfcient popinjay who'd go to the wash-room and dandfy himself,-I rather counted on that, don't y know. My word.
 We've made amazin' progress this morning, despite your injured feelings. You now have. five differ ent people, any one of whom you can, with a little legal ingenuity, convict of the 'crime,--in any event. you can get indictments against 'cm." ,'2 .....
 He leaned his head back medi- tatively
 First, there's Miss St. Clair. You were quite positive she did the deed, and you told the Major you were all ready to arrest her. {, Jy, derer's height could be thrown out on the grounds that it was intelli- gent and conclusive, and therefore Lad no place in a court of law. I'm sure the judge would concur. Secondly, ] give you Captain Leacock. l actuly had to use phys ical force 10 keep you from jailing the chap. You had a beautiful case against him-to say nothing of his delightful confession. And if you me: with any difficulties. he'd help you out: he'd adore having you con- vict him.
 "Thirdly. I submit Lcander the Lovely You had a better case against him than against almost any one oi the othcrs-a perfect wealth of circumst'ntial evidence an embarras de richcssc, in fact And any jury would delight in con victing him,-I would. myself, if only for he way he dresses
 ''Fourthly, point with pride 10 Mrs. Platz. Another perfect cir. cumstntial case. fairly bulging with clues and inf'rcnces and legal whatnots.
 'Fifthly. I present tn" Colonel. have just rchoarsed your case against him; and l could eiab'rate il touchin'ly, given a little more timc.'
 He paused, and gave Markham a smile of cynical affability.
 "Obscrve. please, that each mem- ber of this quintcttc meets all the demands of prcSumptirc guilt: each one fulfills the legal roqurcm ents as 10 time, place, opportunity, means, motive, and conduct. The only draw bac q yc see, Is that all ! live are uulle innocent. A most diScomposin' fact-but there you are. Now, if all the people against whom there's the slightest suspicion. are innocent. what's 10 be done" -. Annoyn' aint it?" He picked up the ahbi reports.
 "Thcres positively nothing 10 be done but to go on checking up these alibis.'
 l could not imagine what goal he was trying 10 reach by these ap- parently irrelevant disgressions: and Mark ham, too, was mystified. But neither of us doubted for a mo- mcnt that there was method in his madness.
 Lets sec" he unused. "Thc Majors is the next in order. What do you say 10 tackling 1t? It shouldn't take long: he lives near here; and the entire alibi hinges on the evidence. Of the night-boy at his