The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-01-17
CHARACTERS

Fhilo Vance
John FIX. Markham, district at.
torney CT New York County.
Margaret Odell THE "Canary')
Charles Cleaver, q t1,an-about-town.
Kenneth Spotswoode, 4 nlanufac.
turer.
Louis Mannix, an importer.
DR.. Ambrose Lindquist, a fashion.
able neurologist.
Tony Skeel, professional burglar.
William Elmer Jessup, telephone
operator.
Harry Spively, telephone operator,
Ernest Heath, sergeant Of til Homi-
eide Bureau.
The Story Thus Far
Vance, a student Of psychology
and Of crime, has his own theories
about law courts and police pro.
cedure and he tells them to Mark
ham. The latter is considerably
worried over the outbreak Of crime
in New York. Then the newspapers
announce the murder Of Margaret
Odell. known as the Canary .
former Fcllics girl and reignine
broadway beauty
CHAPTER II
TUESDAY, Sept. II; $3.50 a. N.Y.
1t was barely half-past eight or
tina. momcntous morning Of Sep
TENDER the 18th when Markham
brought word to us Of the event.
I was living temporarily will
Vance at his home in East 38tt
street-a largo remodeled apart
ment occupying the two top floor:
of beautiful mansion. For several
years / had been Vancc's persona
legal representative and adviser
having resigned from my fathers
law firm Of Van Dine, Davis ane
Van Dine to devote myself to his
needs and interests. His affairs
were by no means voluminous, but
his personal finances, together witt
his numerous purchases Of paintings
and objets dart, occupied my full
time without burdening me. Thi.
monetary and legal stewardship
was eminently congcnial to m,
tastes; and my friendship with
Vance, which had dated from oul
undergraduate days at Harvard
supplied the social and human ele
ment in an arrangement which
otherwise might have degenerate,
into one Of mere drab routine.
On this particular morning l hat
risen early and was working in thu
library when Currie, Vance's vale
and major-domo, announced Mark
hams presence in the living-room
was considerably astonishcd a
this early morning visit, for Mark
ham we'll knew that Vance, wht
rarely rose before noon, resented
any intrusion upon his matutina
slumbers. And in that moment
received the curious impression
that something unusual and portcn
tous was toward.
l found Markham pacing rest
lessly up and down, his hat ant
gloves thrown carelessly on tn,
center table. As | entered he haltet
and looked at me with harasset
eyes. He was moderately tai
man, clean-shaven, gray-haired, AM
firmly set up. His appearance wa
distinguished and his name
courteous and kindly. But beneath
his gracious exterior there was al
aggressive sternness, All indomita
BILE, grim strength, that gave on
the sense of }dogged efficiency ant
untiring capapility.
Good morning, Van," he greetet
me, with Impatient perfunctoriness
"There's been another half-worl.
murder-the worst and ugliest thu
far. He hesitated, and re
garded me searchingly. "You REGAL
my chat with Vance at the club tn,
other night? There was something
damned prophetic in his remarks
And you remember | half promised
to take him along on the next i'm
portant case. Well, the case ha.
broken-with a vengeance. Mar
garet Odell, whom they called tn.
Canary, has been strangled in he
apartment; and from what | jus
got over the phone, it looks lik.
another night-club affair. Pm head
ed for the Odell apartment now
What about rousing out tht
SyDaFlle
by all MEANS l agreed, will
an alacrity which, | fear, was il
large measure prompted by purely
selfish motives. The Canary! Il
one had sought the city over for .
victim whose murder would stir ur
excitement, there could have beer
but few selections better calculated
to produce this result.
Fastening to the door, sum
moned Currie, and told him to cal
Vance at once.
"I'm afraid, sir began Currie
politely hesitant.
"Calm your fears" cut in Mark
ham. "I'll take all responsibility fol
waking him at this indecent hour.
Currie sensed an emergency ant
departed.
A minute or two later Vance, il
an deliberately embroidered silk XII
mono and sandals, appeared at the
living-roonl door.
"My wordv' he greeted US, in mild
establishment, glancing at the clock
Haven't you chaps gone to bed
YETI"
He strolled to the mantel, ant
selected gold-tipped Reggie Gig