The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-02-29
@ 80 unCE 90 Co., g..
z q.lANAK6" MUKDEK CASE
An DINE AUTHOR 81 TIE BENSON MURDER CASE

Markham. despite his habitual
reserve. gave q start.
"Here. Sergeant" he said quick.
". Take that extension phone on
the table and listen in"
He nodded CURLY to SwacEer.
who disappeared to make the con-
nection. Then be took up the re.
ceivcr OF his own telephone and
spoke to Skeel.
For minute or so he listened.
Then. after a brief argument. he
concurred with some suggestion
that had evidently been made: and
the conversation ended.
"Skeel Graves an audience. I
gather" said Vance.
Eyes. He's coming here tomor.
row at ten"
"And he limited that he knew
who slew the Canary-eh. what?"
That's just what be did say. He
promised to tell me the whole story"
Hes the lad in position to do
It." murmured Vance.
"But. Mr.. Markham" said Heath.
II don't see why you don't have
him brought here today"
"As you heard. Sergeant. Skeel
insisted on tomorrow. and threat.
ened to say nothing II l forced the
issue. It's Just as we'll not to an.
tagonize him. We might spoil q
good chance of getting some light
on this case II | ordered him
brought here and used pressure
And tomorrow suits me It'll be
quiet around here then. Moreover.
your mans watching Skeel. and
be won't get away"
II guess you're right. sir. The
Dudes touchy. and he can give q
swell imitation OF an oyster when
he feels like It," The sergeant
spoke with feeling.
I'LL have Swackcr here tomor.
row to take down his statement"
Markham went on: land you'd bet.
ter put one Of your men on the
elevator.-the regular operator Is
OF Sundays. Also. plant a man IN
the hall outside. and put another
one in Swacker's Office"
Vance stretched himself luxur.
iously and rose.
"Most considerate OF the gentle.
man to call up at this time. don't
y know"
(Sunddy. September 1C: 10 a. m.)
A fine drizzle was falling the
next morning when we rose: and
a chill-the first forerunner Of win.
tcr-was In the air. We had break.
fast In the library at halt past
eight. and at nine o'clock vance's
car-which had been ordered the
night before-called for US.
We rode down Fifth Avenue. now
almost deserted in its thick blanket
OF yellow fog. and called for Mark.
ham at his apartment In West 18th
Street. He was waiting for us In
front OF the house. and stepped
quickly into the car with scarcely
. word Of greeting. From hia
anxious. preoccupied look l knew
that he was depending q good deal
on what Skeel had to tell him.
We had turned into West Broad.
way beneath the Elevated tracks
before any OF us spoke. Then
Markham voiced a doubt which was
plainly an articulation Of his
troubled nominations.
I'm wondering II. after all. this
fellow Skeel can have any impor.
tant Information to give us. His
phone call was very strange. Yet
he spoke confidently enough re-
earding his knowledge. No dra'
mates. no request for immunity
just Z plain. assured statement that
he knew who murdered the Odell
eirl. and had decided to come
clean"
ITS certain he himself didn't
strange the lady" pronounced
Vance. my theory. % you know
Is that he was hiding IN the clothes
press when the shady business wal
being enacted: and all along I've
chung lovingly to the idea that be
Vas a. secret to the entire pro
ceedingS.
THE keyhole Of that closet door
Is on . direct line with the end Of
the davenport where the lady VA
strangled: and II : rival was op
Grating ct the time Of his conceal