The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-15
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ans he'd plunge on a pair Of deuces
with all the betting odds against
!, him.
Not good scientific gambler.
Elightly in his impulses, il you UNI
derstand me. ] don't mind admit
tin, though, that he could shoot a
man and forget all about it in five
minutes. But he'd need lot Of
provocation. He may have
had it--you can't tell"
"pfyfe and Benson were rather
intimate. weren't they?"
"Very-very. Always saw 'em
| together when Pfyfe was III New
York. Known each other years.
Boon companions, as they called
en- in the old days. Actually lived
together before pfyfe got married.
An cxacting woman, Pfyfe's wife;
makes him toe the mark. But loads
Of money"
speaking Of tie ladies' said
Vance. what was the situation be-
tween Benson and Miss st. Clair?'
who can tell ?" asked the colonel
sentontiouSly. "Muriol didn't cot
ton 10 Eenson--that's sure. And yet
women are strange crea-
"Oh, no end strange" agreed
Vance, a triflc YEARLY. But really,
y know. Tasnt prying into the
lady's personal relations 18th Ben
son. ! thought You might know her
mental attltude concerning him."
Ali see, Would she, in short,
have been likely to take desperate
measures against him? !. Egad,
That's an idea"
The colonel pondered the point
"Muricl, now, is a girl of strong
character. Works hard at her art.
She's singer, and = I don't mind
tellin' Qua mighty fine one. She's
dacp, too--deuced deep. And eapa-
Biz. Not afraid Of taking chance.
Independent. myself wouldn't
want 70 Ike in her path ii she had
i il for me. Might stick at moth
ing"
lie nodded his head sagely.
Women arc funny that way. Al
ways sulnfisin you. No sense Of
values. The most peaceful Of 'eln
Will shoot man IN cold llood with
ont warnin''
lie suddenly sat up, and his little
blue eyes elistenod like china.
BY radla lie fairly hlurted the
ejaculation. "Muriol had dinner alone
with Benson the night he was shot
the very night. Saw 'pm together
mHsol, a the Marseilles."
"Ioa don't say, really" muttered
Vance incuriously. But I suppose
We al must eat. By the bye;
bow we'll did YOU yourself know Ben
son ~
The colonel looked startled, but
Nance's innocuous expression seemed
70 rcassure him.
=: My dear fellow! I've known
Alvin Benson IS years. At least Is
maybe longer. Showed him the
sights il this old town before the
Iii was put OH. 4 live town it was
then. Wide open. Anything you
wanted. Gad-what times we had
Those were the days CT the old Hay-
market. Never thought Of toddlia'
home till breakfast--''
Vance again interrupted his IT.
relovancies.
How intimate are your relations
with Major Benson ?"
".The Major That's an
Other matter He and | belong to
different schools Dissililar tastes.
We never hit il oil. Rarely see each
other"
lie seemed to think that some cx-
PLANTATION was necessary. for before
Vance could speak again. he added:
1.-The Major, YOU know. was never
proved Of gaietg Didn't mix with
our little set. Considered he and
Alvin TOO frivolous. Serious minded
chap"
Vance ate il silence for while,
then asked ia an off-hand way:
did YOU do much specializing
through Benson 4 Benson
For the first time the colonel APP
pearcd hesitant about answering.
He ostentatiously wiped his mouth
with his napkin.
"9h-dabhIed d bit, he at length
admitted airily. Not very lucky,
though. We all flirted now
and then with. the Goddess of Chance
in Benson's office
Throughout the lunch Vance kept
plying him with questions along
these lines; but at the end Of an
herr he seemed te be no arer any
thing definite than when he began.
Colonel 0strander was Toiubie, but
his flueney was vague and cisorgan-
lied. He talked mainly III paren-
thesis. al ! insisted on Celebrating
his answers with rambling opinions,
until it was almost impossible to eN-
tract what little information his
verbs contained
lTo Be Continued)