The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-02-28

"What interests me just now is the
way all these fellows stories hang
together"
"Yes." nodded Markham. "There
IS undeniably q groundwork OF
truth In their statements"
"But please observe" Vance
pointed out. that their stories do
not eliminate any one OF them as
q possible culprit. Their tales. as
you say. synchronize perfectly: and
yet, despite all that neat co-ordi.
nation. any one Of the three could
have got into the Odell apartment
that night.
"For instance: Mannix could have
entered from Apartment 2 before
Cleayer came along and listened:
and he could have seen Cleaver
going away when he himself was
leaving the Odell apartment
Cleayer could have spoken to the
doctor at half past eleven. walked
to the Ansonia. returned q little
before twelve. gone into the lady's
apartment, and come out just as
Mannix opened Miss Frisbee's door.
again. the excitable doctor may
have gone in after Spotswoode came
out aat half past eleven. stayed
twenty minutes or SO. and departed
before Cleayer returned from the
Ansonia. -. No: the fact that
their stories dovetail doesn't in the
least tend to exculpate any one
Of them"
"And." supplemented Markham,
that cry Of oh. my God!' might
have been made by either Mannix
o, Lindquist provided CleaveI
really heard It."
"Hc heard 1t unquestionably."
said Vance. Some one In the
apartment was invoking the Deity
around midnight. Cleavcr hasn't
SUFFICIENT sense Of the dramatic ia
fabricate such a thrillin' tale"
But IT, Cleaver actually heard
that voice." protested Markham
then he Is automatically elimi'
mated as q suspect"
mot at all. old dear. He may
have heard It after he had come out
Of the apartment. and realized then
for the first time. that some one
had been hidden In the place dur.
Ing his VISIT"
"Your man in the clothes.closet.
l presume you mean"
"Yes-of course. You know,
Markham. It might have been the
Mortified Skeel. emerging from his
hiding-place upon a scene OF tragic
wreckage, who let out that evan.
gelical invocation"
Except" commented Markham,
with sarcasm. "Skeel doesn't i'm.
lress me as particularly religious
"Oh, that?" Vance shrugged. "A
point in substantiation. Irreligious
persons call on God much more
than Christians. The only true and
consistent theologians. don't y
know. are the atheists"
Heath. who had been sitting in
gloomy meditation, took his cigar
from his mouth and heaved q heavy
sigh.
Eyes," he rumbled, "I'm willing
to admit somebody besides Skeel
got into Odell's apartment. and that
tho Dude hid in the clothes-closet.
But. II that's SO. then this other
fellow didn't see Skcel: and its
not going to do US Z whole lot OF
good even Il we identify him"
Don't fret on that point, Ser.
geaut." Vance counseled him cheer
fully. when you've identified this
other mysterious visitor you'll Be
positively amazed how black care
will desert you. You'll rubricate
tho hour you Ind him. You'll lesp
gladsomely IL the sir. You'll sins
. roundelay."
'srhs he'll I will!" said Heath.
Swacker came IN with type
written memorandum. and put It on
the district attorneys desk.
''The architect just phoned IN thu
report"
Markham glanced Il over: It VA
very brief.
mo help here" he said. walls
solid. No waste space. No hidden
entrances"