The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-03-05
@ 90 TDllE 80 es2asss:.-
'zZANACAI1" Nl]U[KlDEk CASE
by e SWAN DINE AUTHOR q THE BENSON MURDER
THOR .9 THE eENsQN MURDER CASE

For exactly three minutes We
waited. None Of us spoke. Heath
had become serious. and his &C.
CELEBRATED pufcng on his cigar bore
evidence Of his state Of expectancy.
Markham was frowning stoically.
At the end Of the three minutes
Heath rose and hurried up the hall.
with Markham and me at his heels.
In answer to his knock, the apart,
ment door was opened from the In
side. Vance was standing in the
little foyer.
"The end Of the first act" he
greeted 10 airtly. "Thus did Mr.
Skeel enter the lady's boudoir Mon
day night after the side door had
been bolted. without the operators
seeing him.
Heath narrowed his eyes. but
said nothing. Then he suddenly
swung round and looked down the
rear passageway to the oak door at
the end. The handle OF the bolt
was In q vertical position. showing
that the catch had been turned and
that the door was unbolted. Heath
regarded It for several moments:
then he turned his eyes toward the
switchboard. Presently he let out
q gleeful whoop.
l. very good. Mr.. vance-very
good!" he proclaimed. nodding his
head knowingly. THAT was easy.
though. And It don't take psychol.
ogy to explain it.-After you sang
the apartment bell, you ran down
this rear hallway and unbolted the
door. Then you ran back and
knocked. After that you went out
the front entrance. turned toward
Broadway. swung round across the
street. came In the alley. walked
In the side door. and quietly let
yourself into the apartment behind
our backs"
Simple. wasn't it," agreed Vance
"Sure." The sergeant was almost
contemptuous. But that don't Eet
you nowhere. Anybody could& fig
u-ed It out II that had been the
only problem connected with Mon
day nights operation.
But it's the rebolting Of that
side, door. after Skeel had gone
traits been occupying my mind
Slieel might've-mtght've. mind
you-sot In the way you did.
but he couldn't have got ont
that way. because the door was
bolted the next morning. And II
there was some one here to bolt
the door after HIM, then that same
person could've unbolted the door
for him earlier. withou: his doins
the ten-foot dash down TIE rear hall
to uubolt the door himself 1t halt
past nine. So I don't see that your
interesting little drama helps Jes.
sup out any"
"Oh. but the drama isn't over"
Vance replied. '"rhe curtain IS
about to 60 up on the next act"
Heath lifted his eyes sharply.
"Yeah?" His tone, was one Of 81.
most jeering incredibly. but bis
expression was searching and du.
hious. And you're going 70 show
~ how Skeel got out and bolted
the door on the inside without Jes.
Fsup's help!"
"That Il precisely what ! intend
70 do. my Sergeant"
Heath opened his month to speak
but thought better Of It. Instead.
b merely shrugged his shouldefo
and eave Markham Z sly look.
LET a. repair TO the publje,
atrlum.s proceeded Vance: and ~
led 10 into the little reception-room
diaeonally opposite to the switch
board. This room. - ! have q.
planned. was just beyond the stair.
case. and along IT. rear wan ran
the ut&lo passagsway 70 the side
door.
- ~~~e~e~ev,uN%