New Britain herald., 1927-11-07

Vance sighed.
 Don't you want to be Of any help at all in this case?' he asked sadly
 Wat good did it do you 10 make an ass Ct me in front of that Woman?" snluttered Markham. "I can't sec that you got anywhere, with all your tom -foolery.'
 What" Vance registered utter 9mazement. The testimony you've heard today is going 10 help i'm measurably in convicting the cul- prit. Furthermore, We now know about the gloves and handbag, and who the lady was that called at Benson's office, and what Miss St. Clair did between l2 and ], and why she dincd alone with Alvin, and why she first had tea with him. and how the jewels came to be there. and why the Captain took her his gun and then threw it away, and why he confessed. My word!
 Doesn't all this knowledge soothe you? It rids the situation of so much debris,
 He stopped and lit q cigaret.
 ''rhe really important thing the lady told us was that her friends knew she invariably departed at midnight when She went out of an evening. Don't overlook or belittlc that point. old dear; it's most pert 'nent. l told you long ago that the person who shot Benson knew she was dining with him that night"
 You'll be telling mo neNt you know who killed him." Markham scoffed.
 Vance sent a ring of smoke cir cling upward.
 "I'vc known all along who shot the hlighter,"
 Markham snortcd derisiyoly.
 indeed. And when did this revelation burst upon you?'
 "Oh, not moro than five minutes after l entered Benson's house that first morning." replied Vance.
 Well. we'll! Why didn't you confdc in me, and avoid all these trying activities?"
 Quite impossible.' Vance eX- plained jocularly You were not ready 10 receive my apocryphal knowledge. It was first necessity 70 lead you patiently by the hand out of the various dark forests and moraSscs into which you insisted upon straying. Your" so dcvlishly unimag'native, don't V know"
 A taNicab was passing, and he hailed if.
 "Eichty-seven West Forty eighth street." he directed,
 Then he took Markham's arm confidingly.
 Now for a brief chat with Mrs Elatz. And then-th"n I shall pour into your car all my maidcnly secrets"
 "Wednesday. June 19; 5:30 p. mD
 The hOuSckorpcr regarded our visit that afternoon with marked un"asincss Though sho was a large powerful woman. her body seemed 10 have lost some of its strength, and her face showed signs Of pro- longed anxiety.
 Snitkin informed us. when we en- tered. that she had carefully read every newspaper account of the l.rogr"ss of the ease. and had qI"s- toned him interminably on the sub icci.
 She entered tho living room with scarcely an acknowledgment Of our presence. and took tn" chair Vance placed for her like a woman resign ing herself 10 dreaded but in eyitable ordeal.
 When Vance looked at her keenly, she gave him q frightened glance and turned her face away. as if in the second their eyes met she had read his knowledge of some cccrct she had been joalously guarding.
 Vance began his questioning with out prelude or prOtasis.
 Mrs. Platz was Mir. Benson very particular about his toupc"-that is, did he often receive his friends without having il on?"
 The women appeared relieved,
 "Oh. no. sir--novcr."
 Think back. Mrs. Platz. Has Nr Benson never, 10 your knowledge ! cen Tn anyoncs company without his toupee?"