The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-03-14

it all. it's uncanny!"
II had an idea." scoffed Mark
ham, that sooner or later you'd
revise your deductions in regard
to Spotswoode."
Vance stared idly at the ceiling
"You're devilish stubborn, don't
y know. Here l am trying to ex.
tricate you from a deuced unpleas.
ant predicament, and all you do is
to indulge in caustic observations
calculated to damp my youthful
ardor."
Markham left the window and
seated himself on the arm Of the
davenport facing Vance. His eyes
held a worried look.
Vance, don't get me wrong
Spotswoode means nothing in my
life. II he did this thing. Id like
to know It. Unless this case IL
cleared up, I'm in for an ungodly
walloping by the newspapers. It's
not to my interests to discourage
any possibility Of a solution. But
your conclusion about Spotswoode
!. impossible. There arc too many
contradictory facts"
That's just It, don't y know.
The contradictory indications are
far too perfect. They fit together
too beautifully: they're almost as
fine - the forms In q Michelangelo
statue. They're too carefully CO.
ordinated. d ye see. to have been
merely haphazard concentration
OF circumstances. They signify con.
scious design"
Markham rose and, slowly re.
turning to the window. stood look.
Ing out into the little rear yard
III I could grant your premise
that Spotswoode killed the girl" he
said. II could follow your syllogism.
But cant very well convict Z man
on the grounds that his defense is
too perfect"
what We need. Markham, is IN.
splration. The mere contortions
OF the sibyl are not enough" Vance
took 4 turn up and down the room.
What really infuriates me ID that
I've been outwitted. And by a man.
ufacturer Of automobile access'ries
It's most humiliatin'."
He sat down At the piano and
played the opening bars Of
Brahms'S C0prtccio No. 1.
Needs tuning" he muttered:
and. sauntering TO the Boule cab
met he ran his finger over the
marQuetry. pretty and al that"
he said. but . bit fussy. Good e..
ample. though. The deceaseds aunt
from Seattle should get Z very fair
price for It"
He regarded . pendent girandole
ct the side Of the cabinet. "Rather
nice. that. II the original candles
hadn't been supplanted with mod.
ern frosted bulbs"
He paused before the little china
clock on the mantel. "Cingerbread.
I'm sure it kept atrocious time"
Passing on to tho escritoire, he ex.
amined It critically. Limitation
French Renaissance. But rather
dainty. what?"
Then his eye fell on the waste
paper basket. and he picked It up.
SILLY tdea." he commented, e
making . basket out Of vellum.
The artistic triumph Of some lady
interior decorator. III wager.
Enough vellum here to bind 4 Get
Of Epictetus. But why ruin the ct.
fect with hand-painted garlands?
The aesthetic instinct has not a.
yet invaded these fair States-de.
cidedly not
Setting the basket down, he stud.
led It meditatively tor . moment.
Then he leaned over and took from
Il The piece q crumplod wrapping.
payer 70 Which 10 had referred the
previous day.
THIS doubtless contained the
lady0 last purchase q EARTH he
unused. Very touchins. Are you
oeofjmentAl about such trifles,
4askhan3 Anyway. the purple
string round e Was . eodsend 70
Skeol. what kn1ckknack, %
JON suppoee. paved ~ way Tor tho
6ank5e Tony'0 esoaDe3s
10 oDeaed The peper, revealing .