The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-03-17

his word. When he saw I WAS
convinced, he demanded 30 e4Sr.
nous a sum that I was staggcret.,'
Spotswoode lit = cigaret with
steady fingers.
"Mr. Markham, l am no longer a
rich man. The truth ID, ain on
the verge Of bankruptcy. The busi.
ness my father left me has been In
q receivers hands for nearly year
The Long Island estate on which l
live belongs to my wife.
Few people know these things.
but unfortunately they are true. 1t
would have been utterly impossible
for me to raise the amount Skeel
demanded. even had been inclined
to play tn coward. / did. however.
give him Z small sum to keep him
quiet for few days. promising him
all he asked as soon - I could con.
vert some of my holdings.
II hoped in the interim to get
possession Of the record and thus
spike his guns. But in that !
failed: and so, when he threatened
to tell you everything. I agreed to
bring the money to his home late
last Saturday night.
II kept the appointment, with the
full intention of killing him. I was
careful about entering, but he had
helped me by explaining when and
how ! could get in without being
seen. Once there, wasted no time.
The first moment he was or his
guard I seized him-and gloried in
the act. Then, locking the door
and taking the key. walked out OF
the house quito openly, and re-
turned here to the club.-That's all.
I think"
Vance was watching him musing.
~.
$50 when you raised my bet last
night" he said. "the amount repre-
scented . highly important item in
your exchequer."
Spotswoode smiled family.
1T represented practically every
cent ] had in the world"
"Astonishin'! And would
you mind IL / asked you why you
selected the label Of Beethoven's
AndGntc for your record!"
another miscalculation." the
man said YEARLY. "It occurred to
me that II any one should. by any
chance. open the photograph before
I could return and destroy the rec.
ord. he wouldn't BE- a. likely to
want to hear the classics as he
would . more popular selection"
"And one who detcsts popular
music had to and 1t! fear, Mr..
Spotswoode. that an unkind fate sat
in at your game"
"Yes. II I were religiously
inclined. I might talk poppycock
about retribution and divine pun.
ishment."
I'D like to ask you about the
jewalry." said Markham. Its not
sportsmanlike to do It. and
wouldn't suggest 1t. except that
you've already confessed volun.
tarily to the main points Ct ISSUE"
Il shall take no o6ense 1t any
question you desire to ask. sir"
6potsweode answered. ~After !
had recovered my letters from the
documAnt.bex. ] turned the rooms
upside down to give the impression
Of buygleyy-bsins careful to use
4leyes. Of course. And ] teok the
wonan's jsvelry for the same rea,
son.
"rarsnthsticslly. I had paid Tor
most Of Il. ! offered It @ . cop %
eksel. but he was afraid to accept
4: and finally I decided to rid ny.
self Of Il. ! wrapped e IN one Of
the club newspapers and threw Il
II = waste.bin near the vlatiron
Building"
"You wrapped Il n the morning
Herald" put IN Heath. ibid you
know that Pop C1eaver reads noth.
Ing but the Herald?s
"6ergeantls vanceis voice was .
cutting repsimand. ssCertainly Mr..
Spotovoodo Wos not aware ot that