The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-02-27

voice:
"You, Of course, came by those
letters legally"
Markham was stung, but he was
also exaspcratcd by the others per-
sistent receptions.
II regret to confess" ho said.
that they were taken from your
apartment-though. l assure you.
it was against my instructions.
"But since they have come un.
expcctedly into my possession. the
wisest thing you can do is to ex.
plain them. There was an empty
document.b In Miss Odell's apart.
ment the morning her body was
found. and. from all appearances.
It had been opened Monday night. "
II see." Cleavcr laughed harsh
~. every we'll. The fact is
though I frankly don't expect you
to believe mel didn't pay my
blackmail to Miss Odell until the
middle of August. about three
weeks ago. That's when all my
letters were returned. I told you
It was June in order to set back
the date as far as possible. The
older the affair was. I figured. the
less likelihood there'd be Of your
suspecting me-"
Markham stood lingering the let.
tiers undecidedly. 1t was Vance
who put an end to his irresolution.
Il rather think. don't y know"
he said. 'that you'd be safe in &c.
cepting Mr.. Cleaver's explanation
and returning his billcts-dour."
Markham. after q momentary
hesitation. picked up the Manila
folder and. replacing the three let
tiers. handed It to Cleayer.
II wish you to understand that
/ did not sanction the appropriat.
Ing Of this correspondence. You'd
better take It homo and destroy
it, won't detain you any longer
now. But please arrange to re.
main where I can reach you II
necessary"
I'm not going to run away" said
Cleaver: and Heath directed him
to the elevator.
Saturday. September Is; 10 a. n,.J
Heath returned to the ONCE.
shaking his head hopelessly.
There musta been q regular
wake at Odell's Monday night"
quite" agreed Vance. "A mid.
night conclave Of the lady's ad-
mirers. Mannix was there. TN.
Questionably: and he saw Cleaver:
and Cleaver saw Lindquist: aud
Lindquist saw Spotswoode-"
"Humph! But nobody saw Skeel."
1.-THE trouble is" said Markham,
I'VE don't know how much OF
Cleaver's story is true.-And. by
the way. Vance. do you believe he
really bought his letters back In
August?"
III only VIC knew! Dashed con.
fusin', amt it,"
Anyway" argued Heath. "Cleav.
er's statement about phoning Odell
1t twenty minutes to twelve. and a
man answering is verified by Jes-
sup's testimony. And I guess
Cleavey saw Lindquist all right
that night. Tor it was him who first
tipped US OF about tho doc. He
took = chance doing it, because the
doc was liable to tell US he saw
Cleaver."
"But if Cleaver had an allurin'
aljbi," said Vance, ''he could simply
have said ths doctor was lying
However. whether you accept Cleav'
er's absorbin' legend or not. you
can take my word tor It there was
Z visitor. other than Skeel. In the
Odell apartment that night"
That's I'll right to-" conceded
Heath reluctantly. But. even 50
this other fellow q only valuable
to 10 . . possible source Of evi
dence against ekeels
That may - true. Sergeant
Narkham frovned perplexedly
"0nly. I'd like % know how thai
eide door WAS unbolted and ther
rebolted on the inside We know
now that 4 was open around mid
Night. and that Nannix and Cleavel
both used t."
ssYou worry 20 over tri6es." SAID
/ >AA