The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-02-10

have dismissed these social en-
gagements from his mind in order
to be with Markham showed how
intensely the problem OF the muir
der had absorbed his interest.
II was after six o'clock when
Markham came in. looking har-
assed aud tired. No mention OF
the case was made during dinner.
with the exception OF Markham's
casual remark that Heath had
turned in his reports on Cleaver
and Doctor LindQuist and Mannix.
ut seemed that. Immediately
after lunch, he had telephoned to
the sergeant to add Mannix's
name to the two others as a sub
ject for inquiry
It was not until we had retired
to our favorite corner OF the
lounge-room that the topic OF the
murder was brought up for dis.
cussion.
Aud that discussion, brief and
one.sided. was tho beginning OF
m entirely new line OF investi-
gation-a line which. in the end,
led to the guilty person.
Markham sank YEARLY into his
chair. His eyes were trifle heavy,
and there was a grim tenacity in
the lines Of his mouth. Slowly
and deliberately he lighted cigar,
and took several deep inhalations.
damn the newspapers!" he
grumbled. "Why can't they let
the district attorneys Office han
die it, business In its own way?
-. Have you seen the afternoon
papers? They're all clamoring
Tor the murderer. You'd think I
had him up my sleeve"
you forget, my dear chap"
grinned Vance. that we are liv.
ms under the benign and upliftin'
reign Of Dcmocritus. which con-
ters upon every ignoramus the
privilege Of promiscuously criti-
cising his betters."
Markham snorted.
II don't complain about criti-
cism: it's the lurid imagination
Of these bright young reporters
that gals me. They're trying to
turn this sordid crime into a spec
tacular Borgia melodrama. with
passion running rampant. and
mysterious influences at work.
and al the pomp and trappings of
. medieval romance. You'd
think even = schoolboy could see
that It was only an ordinary rob-
berry and murder Of the kind
that's taking place regularly
throughout the country"
Vance paused In the act OF
lighting . cigarette. and his eye
brows lifted. Turning, he regard
cd Markham with . look Of mild
incredulity.
81 say! Do you really mean to
tell me that your statement for
the press was given out in good
faith?"
Markham looked up in surprise.
Certainly 1t was. What
do you mean by good faith'?"
Vance smiled indolently.
II rather thought. don't "
know. that your Grafton to the
reporters was . bit OF strategy to
lull the real culprit into . state
OF false security, and to give you
q clear lield for investigation"
Markham contemplated him .
moment.
"see here, Vance," he demand
cd irritahly. what are you driv-
Ing att"
s'Nothing 1T all--really. old EEL
low the other assured him AZ
tably. II knew that Heath waa
deadly sincere about his belief IN
skeel's guilt. but It never oc-
CURED 70 me. a. - zee. that you
yourself actually regarded the
crime - one committed By q pro.
teesioual burglar.
y foolishly thought that you
let ekeel 60 this morning II the
hope that 10 would lead you
somehow % The guilty person.
rather imaeine6 you Wero spool.
lng the trusting sergeant b. pre-.
tending 70 fail n With Ais silly
notton.s
'Ah, I ses! sim clinging e
your weird theory that = brace ol
| villnlna Wnrn nrnnAnt. hiding A