The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-03-01
@@ 80 UB0E 90 es92ss:.
XANAnKY" mUKDEK CASE
2y :. SWAN DINE AUTHOR 81 THE BENSON MURDER CASE
AuTnoR .o THE BENSON MURDER CASE

and with hais hanging in strings
over her shoulders. emerged sud.
denly from q rear door and came
toward US unsteadily. her bleary
eyes focused on US with menacing
resentment.
SAY" she burst out. in q rasp.
ing voice. "What do youse mean
by Dustin in like this on Q respect.
able LADY," And she launched forth
upon q stream OF profane epitheta
Heath. who was nearest her.
placed his large hand over her face.
and gave her q gentle but iirm
shove backward.
"You keep outa this. Cleopatra!"
he advised her. and began to ascend
the stairs.
The second.noor hallway Was
dimly lighted BY q small fiickering
gas-jet. and at the rear we could
distinguish the outlines Of a single
door set In the middle OF the wall.
"That'n be Mr.. Skeel's abode.
observed Heath.
He walked up to It and. dropping
one hand In his right coat.pocket.
turned the knob. But the door was
locked. lIe then knocked violently
upon It. and placing his ear to the
lamb. listened. Snitkin stood di.
rectly behind him. his hand also
In his pocket. The rest OF 10 To
NAMED little In the rear.
Heath had knocked a second time
when Vance's voice spoke up from
the semi.darkness.
II say. Sergeant. you're wasting
time with all that Formally"
Il guess you're right" came the
answer after . moment Of what
seemed unbearable silence.
Heath bent down and looked at
the lock. Then he took some In.
strument from his pocket and in.
serted 1t into the keyhole.
"You're right" he repeated. 1.-THE
keys gone"
He stepped back and. balancing
on his toes like q Splinter. sent his
shoulders crashing against the
panel directly over the knob. But
the lock held.
"Come on. Snitkin," he ordered.
The two detectives hurled them.
selves against the door. At tho
third onslaught there was a splin.
tering Of wood and q tearing Of the
locks bolt through the moulding.
The door swung drunkenly inward.
The room was in almost com,
plete darkness. We all hesitated on
the threshold. while Snitkin crossed
warily to one Of the windows and
sent the shade Gathering up. Tho
yellow-gray light filtered in, and
the objects Of the room at once
took detinable form. A large, old.
fashioned bed projected from the
wall on the right.
Look" cried Snitkin. pointing:
and something in his voice sent .
SILVER over me.
We pressed forward. On the foot
OF the bed. at the side toward the
door, sprawled the crumpled body
Of Skeel. Like the Canary. he had
been strangled. His head hung back
over tho foot.board. his face Z hid.
eous distortion. His arms were
outstretched and ono leg trailed
over the edge Of the mattress, rest.
ing on the floor.
"Thuggee." murmurmed Vance.
"LindQuist mentioned It. Curious!"
Heath stood staring fixedly at the
body. his shoulders hunched. His
normal ruddiness Of complexion
was gone. and he seemed like I man
hypnotised.
'sMother O. God!" he breathed.
awe,stricken. And. with an tnvoi.
untary motion, he crossed himself
Markham was shaken also. He
set hts Jaw rigidly.
you're right. Vance," His voice
was strained and unnatural. some
thing sinister and terrible has been
going on here There's . t1eno
loose In this town. werewolf"
Il wouldn't say that. old man"
Vance regarded the murdered
ekeel critically. No. I wouldu't
say that Not . werewolf. Jun !
desperate human being. A man Of
extremes. perhaps-but quite r,
tional. and logical-oh. how deuced
logical!"