May 15, 2025 • 28 mins
Dive into the heart of the Jazz Age with The Benson Murder Case – A Philo Vance Story, the inaugural tale in a sequence of twelve gripping mysteries set in New York. The series springs from the mind of S. S. Van Dine, a prominent art critic and avant-garde member of New York society, also known by his real name, W. H. Wright. This series introduced readers to a whole new kind of detective Philo Vance, an eccentric loner, a man of refined tastes, and a suave socialite. Van Dines novels stood out for their unconventional approach to crime-solving, focusing on psychology over physical evidence. This story sees Vance, accompanied by his lawyer and confidant Van, work to unravel the murder of Alvin Benson, expertly juggling suspects, red herrings, and psychological clues. Its a journey of intrigue and intellect that will keep you guessing until the final reveal.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter sixteen of the Benson murder Case by S. S.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Van Dyne.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Admissions and Suppressions. Tuesday,
June eighteenth afternoon. An hour later, Phelps, the operative Markham
had sent to ninety five Riverside Drive, came in, radiating satisfaction.
(00:27):
I think I've got what you want, Chief, His raucous
voice was covertly triumphant. I went up to the Saint
Clair woman's apartment and rang the bell. She came to
the door herself, and I stepped into the hall and
put my questions to her. She sure refused to answer.
(00:47):
When I let on I knew the package contained the
gun Benson was shot with. She just laughed and jerked
the door open. Leave this apartment, you vile creature, she
says to me.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
He grinned.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
I hurried downstairs, and I hadn't any more than got
to the switchboard when her signal flashed. I let the
boy get the number, and then I stood him to
one side and listened in. She was talking to Lecoq,
and her first words were, they know you took the
pistol from here yesterday and threw it in the river.
(01:25):
That must have knocked him out, for he didn't say
anything for a long time. Then he answered, perfectly, calm
and kind of sweet. Don't worry Muriel, and don't say
a word to anybody for the rest of the day.
I'll fix everything in the morning. He made her promise
to keep quiet until tomorrow, and then he said good bye.
(01:49):
Markham sat awhile digesting the story. What impression did you
get from the conversation? If you ask me, chief, said
the detective, I'd lay ten to one that Lecock's.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Guilty and the girl knows it.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Markham thanked him and let him go. This sub Potomac chivalry, commented,
vance is a frightful nuisance. But aren't we about you
to hold polite conversation with the gentle leander. Almost as
he spoke, the man was announced. He entered the room
(02:25):
with his habitual urbanity of manner, but for all his suavity,
he could not wholly disguise his uneasiness of mind. Sit down,
mister Fife directed Markham brusquely. It seems you have a
little more explaining to do. Taking out the manila envelope,
(02:46):
he laid its contents on the desk, where the other
could see them. Will you be so good as to
tell me about these with the greatest pleasure, said Fife,
but his voice had low its assurance. Some of his poise, too,
had deserted him, and as he paused to light a cigarette,
(03:07):
I detected a slight nervousness in the way he manipulated
his gold match safe. I really should have mentioned these before,
he confessed, indicating the papers with a delicately inconsequential wave
of the hand. He leaned forward on one elbow, taking
a confidential attitude, and as he talked, the cigarette bobbed
(03:32):
up and down between his lips. It pains me deeply
to go into this matter, he began, But since it
is in the interests of truth, I shall not complain.
My uh, domestic arrangements are not all that one could desire.
My wife's father has curiously enough taken a most unreasonable
(03:57):
dislike to me, and it pleases him to deprive me
of all but the meagerest financial assistance, although it is
really my wife's money.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
That he refuses to give me.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
A few months ago I made use of certain funds
ten thousand dollars to be exact, which I learned later
had not been intended for me. When my father in
law discovered my error, it was necessary for me to
return the full amount to avoid a misunderstanding between missus
(04:31):
Fife and myself, a misunderstanding which might have caused my
wife great unhappiness.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
I regret to say I.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Used Alvin's name on a check, but I explained it
to him at once. You understand offering him the note
and this little confession as evidence of my good faith.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
And that is all, mister Markham.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Was that what your quarrel with him last year week
was about? Fife gave him a look of querulous surprise. Ah,
you heard of our little contretant. Yes, we had a
slight disagreement as to the shall I say, terms of
the transaction. Did Benson insist that the note be paid
(05:19):
when due? No, not exactly. Fife's manner became unctuous. I
beg of you, sir, not to press me as to
my little chat with Alvin. It was, I assure you,
quite irrelevant to the present situation. Indeed, it was of
(05:40):
a most personal and private nature, he smiled confidingly. I
will admit, however, that I went to Alvin's house the
night he was shot intending to speak to him about
the check, But as you already know, I found the
house dark and spent the night in a Turkish bath.
(06:02):
Pardon me, mister Fife. It was Vance who spoke. But
did mister Benson take your note without security? Of course,
Fife's tone was a rebuke. Alpin and I, as I
have explained, were the closest friends. But even a friend,
don't you know, Vance submitted, might ask for security on
(06:25):
such a large amount. How did Benson know that you'd
be able to repay him. I can only say that
he did know, the other answered, with an air of
patient deliberation. Vance continued to be doubtful. Perhaps it was
because of the confession you had given him. Fife rewarded
(06:47):
him with a look of beaming approval. You grasp the
situation perfectly, he said. Vance withdrew from the conversation, and
though Markham questioned Fife for nearly half an hour, nothing
further transpired. Fife clung to his story in every detail
and politely refused to go deeper into his quarrel with Benson,
(07:12):
insisting that it had no bearing on the case. At last,
he was permitted to go not very helpful Markham observed,
I'm beginning to agree with Heath that we've turned up
a mayor's nest in Fife's frenzied financial deal. You'll never
be anything but your own, sweet, trusting self, will you,
(07:35):
lamented vance Sadly, Fife has just given you your first
intelligent line of investigation, and you say he's not helpful.
Listen to me and not a bene. Fife's story about
the ten thousand dollars is undoubtedly true. He appropriated the
money and forged Benson's name to.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
A check with which to replace it.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
But I don't for a second believe that there was
no security. In addition to the confession, Benson wasn't the
type of man, a friend or no friend, who'd hand
over that amount without security. He wanted his money back,
not somebody in jail. That's why I put my oar
(08:22):
in and asked him about the security. Fife, of course
denied it, but when I pressed as to how Benson
knew he'd pay the note, he retired into a cloud.
I had to suggest the confession as the possible explanation,
which showed that something else was in his mind, something
(08:44):
he didn't care to mention, and the way he jumped
at my suggestion bears out my theory. Well what of that,
Markham asked impatiently. Oh, for the gift of tears, moaned Vance,
don't you see that there's someone in the background, someone
connected with the security. It must be so, you know,
(09:08):
otherwise Fife would have told you the entire tale of
the quarrel, if only to clear himself from suspicion. Yet,
knowing that his position is an awkward one, he refuses
to divulge what passed between him and Benson in the
office that day. Fife is shielding someone, and he is
(09:30):
not the soul of chivalry, you know. Therefore, I ask
why he leaned back and gazed at the ceiling. I
have an idea amounting to a cerebral cyclone. He added
that when we put our hands on that security, we'll
also put our hands on the murderer. At this moment,
(09:54):
the telephone rang, and when Markham answered it, a look
of startled amusement came into his He made an appointment
with the speaker for half past five that afternoon. Then,
hanging up the receiver, he laughed outright at Vance, your
auricular researches have been confirmed he said, Miss Hoffman just
(10:18):
called me confidentially on an outside phone to say she
has something to add to her story. She's coming here
at five thirty. Vance was unimpressed by the announcement. I
rather imagined she'd telephone during her lunch hour. Again, Markham
gave him one of his searching scrutinies. There's something damned
(10:42):
queer going on around here, he observed. Oh quite returned
Vance carelessly queerer than you could possibly imagine. For fifteen
or twenty minutes, Markham endeavored to draw him out, but
Vance seemed suddenly possessed of an ability to say nothing
with the blandest fluency. Markham finally became exasperated. I'm rapidly
(11:08):
coming to the conclusion, He said, that either you had
a hand in Benson's murder, or you're a phenomenally good guesser.
There is, you know, an alternative rejoined Vance. It might
be that my esthetic hypotheses and metaphysical deductions, as you
(11:29):
call them, are working out a what A few minutes
before we went to lunch, Swacker announced that Tracy had
just returned from Long Island with his report. Is he
the lad you sent to look into Fife's affel ducer.
Vance asked Markham for if he is I'm all a flutter,
(11:51):
he's the man send him in Swacker. Tracy entered, smiling silkily,
his black notebook in one hand, his pass nay in
the other. I had no trouble learning about Fife, he said.
He's well known in Port Washington, quite a character, in fact,
and it was easy to pick up gossip about him.
(12:14):
He adjusted his glasses carefully and referred to his note book.
He married a miss Hawthorne in nineteen ten. She's wealthy,
but Fife doesn't benefit much by it because her father
sits on the money bags. Mister Tracy, I say, interrupted Vance.
(12:34):
Never mind the nay Hawthorne and her doting papa. Mister
Fife himself has confided in us about his sad marriage.
Tell us if you can about mister Fife's extra nuptial affairs.
Are there any other ladies? Tracy looked inquiringly at the
district attorney. He was uncertain as to Vance's locus Standaeiving
(13:00):
a nod from Markham, he turned a page in his
note book and proceeded. I found one other woman in
the case. She lives in New York and often telephones
to a drug store near Fife's house and leaves messages
for him. He uses the same phone to call her
by He had made some deal with the proprietor, of course,
(13:24):
but I was able to obtain her phone number as
soon as I came back to the city. I got
her name and address from information and made a few inquiries.
She's a missus Paula Banning, a widow and a little fast,
I should say, and she lives in an apartment at
two sixty eight West seventy fifth Street. This exhausted Tracy's information,
(13:51):
and when he went out, Markham smiled broadly. Advance, he
didn't supply you with very much fuel.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
My I think he.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Did unbelievably well, said Vance. He unearthed the very information
we wanted. We wanted, echoed Markham. I have more important
things to think about than Fife's amour's.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
And yet you know.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
This particular amour of Fife's is going to solve the
problem of Benson's murder, replied Vance, and would say no more. Markham,
who had an accumulation of other work awaiting him and
numerous appointments for the afternoon, decided to have his lunch
served in the office, so Vance and I took leave
(14:39):
of him. We lunched at the eighty z dropped in
at Knoedler's to see an exhibition of French plantilism, and
then went to Aeolian Hall, where a string quartet from
San Francisco was giving a program of Mozart. A little
before half past five, we were again at the District
(15:00):
Attorney's office, which at that hour was deserted except for Markham.
Shortly after our arrival, Miss Hoffman came in and told
the rest of her story in direct, business like fashion.
I didn't give you all the particulars this morning, she said,
and I wouldn't care to do so now unless you
(15:22):
are willing to regard them as confidential. For my telling
you might cost me my position, I promise you. Markham
assured her that I will entirely respect your confidence. She
hesitated a moment, and then continued. When I told Major
Benson this morning about mister Fiffe and his brother, he
(15:45):
said at once that I should come with him to
your office and tell you also. But on the way
over he suggested that I might omit a part of
the story. He didn't exactly tell me not to mention it,
but he explained that it had nothing to do with
the case and might only confuse you. I followed his suggestion,
(16:08):
but after I got back to the office, I began
thinking it over, and knowing how serious a matter mister
Benson's death was, I decided to tell you anyway, in
case it did have some bearing on the situation. I
didn't want to be in a position of having withheld.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Anything from you.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
She seemed a little uncertain as to the wisdom of
her decision. I do hope I haven't been foolish, But
the truth is, there was something else besides that envelope
which mister Benson asked me to bring him from the
safe the day he and mister Fife had their quarrel.
It was a square, heavy package, and like the envelope,
(16:52):
was marked Fife Personal. And it was over this package
that mister Benson and mister Fife seemed to be quarrel.
Was it in the safe this morning when you went
to get the envelope for the major, asked vance, Oh, no,
After mister Flife left last week, I put the package
(17:14):
back in the safe along with the envelope, but mister
Benson took it home with him last Thursday, the day
he was killed. Markham was but mildly interested in the
recital and was about to bring the interview to a
close when Vance spoke up. It was very good of you,
miss Hoffman, to take this trouble to tell us about
(17:36):
the package. And now that you are here, there are
one or two questions I'd like to ask. How did
mister Alvin Benson and the major get along together? She
looked at Vance with a curious little smile. They didn't
get along very well, she said, they were so different.
(17:58):
Mister Alvin Benson was not a very pleasant person and
not very honorable. I'm afraid you'd never have thought they
were brothers. They were constantly disputing about the business, and
they were terribly suspicious of each other. That's not unnatural,
commented Vance, seeing how incompatible their temperaments were. And by
(18:21):
the by, how did this suspicion show itself?
Speaker 2 (18:26):
Well?
Speaker 1 (18:26):
For one thing, they sometimes spied on each other. You see,
their offices were adjoining, and they would listen to each
other through the door. I did the secretarial work for
both of them, and I often saw them listening. Several
times they tried to find out things from me about
each other. Vance smiled at her appreciatively. Not a pleasant
(18:51):
position for you. Oh, I didn't mind it, she smiled back.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
It amused me.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
When was the last time you caught either one of
them listening? The girl quickly became serious. The very last
day mister Alvin Benson was alive, I saw the Major
standing by the door. Mister Benson had a caller, a lady,
and the Major seemed very much interested. It was in
(19:19):
the afternoon. Mister Benson went home early that day, only
about half an hour after the lady had gone. She
called at the office again later, but he wasn't there,
of course, and I told her he had already gone home.
Do you know who the lady was? Vance asked her, No,
(19:40):
I don't, She said she didn't give her name. Vance
asked a few other questions, after which we rode uptown
in the subway, with Miss Hoffman taking leave of her
at twenty third Street. Markham was silent and preoccupied during
the trip, nor did Advance make any comment until we
(20:02):
were comfortably relaxed in the easy chairs of the Stuyvesant
Club's lund room. Then, lighting a cigarette lazily, he said,
you grasp the subtle mental processes leading up to my
prophecy about miss Hoffman's second coming.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Hey what, Markham? You see?
Speaker 1 (20:21):
I knew friend Alvin had not paid that forged check
without security, and I also knew that the tiff must
have been about the security, for Fife was not really
worrying about being jailed by his alter ego. I rather
suspect Fife was trying to get the security back before
(20:44):
paying off the note, and was told there was nothing
doing moreover Little Goldilocks. Maybe a nice girl and all that,
but it isn't in the feminine temperament to sit next
door to an altercation between two such rakes and not
listen attentively. I shouldn't care, you know, to have to
(21:07):
decipher the typing she said she did during the episode.
I was quite sure she heard more than she told,
and I asked myself why this curtailment. The only logical
answer was because the major had suggested it, And since
(21:27):
the Guinnedigus Freulein was a forthright Germanic soul with an
inbred streak of selfish and cautious honesty, I ventured the
prognostication that as soon as she was out from under
the benevolent jurisdiction of her tutor. She would tell us
the rest in order to save her own skin if
(21:50):
the matter should come up later. Not so cryptic when
explained what that's all very well, conceded Markham petulantly.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
But where does it get us?
Speaker 1 (22:03):
I shouldn't say that the forward movement was entirely imperceptible.
Vance smoked a while impassively. You realize, I trust he
said that the mysterious package contained the security One might
form such a conclusion, agreed Markham. But the fact doesn't
(22:26):
dumbfound me. If that's what you're hoping for, and of
course pursued Vance easily. Your legal mind, trained in the
technique of Ratioshanasen, has already identified it as the box
of jewels that missus Platt's espied on Benson's table that
(22:47):
fatal afternoon. Markham sat up suddenly, then sank back with
a shrug. Even if it was, I don't see how
that helps us. Unless the Major knew the package had
nothing to do with the case, he would not have
suggested to his secretary that she omit telling us about it.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Ah.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
But if the Major knew that the package was an
irrelevant item in the case. Then he must also know
something else about the case. Ah what Otherwise he couldn't
determine what was and what was not irrelevant. I have
felt all along that he knew more than he admitted.
(23:30):
Don't forget that he put us on the track of Fife,
and also that he was quite positive Captain Leacock was innocent.
Markham thought for several minutes. I'm beginning to see what
you're driving at, he remarked slowly. Those jewels, after all,
(23:51):
may have an important bearing on the case. I think
I'll have a chat with the Major about things. Shortly
after dinner at the club that night, Major Benson came
into the lounge room where we had retired for our smoke,
and Markham accosted him at once. Major, aren't you willing
(24:12):
to help me a little more in getting at the
truth about your brother's death?
Speaker 2 (24:16):
He asked?
Speaker 1 (24:18):
The other gazed at him searchingly. The inflection of Markham's
voice belied the apparent casualness of the question. God knows,
it's not my wish to put obstacles in your way,
he said, carefully, weighing each word. I'd gladly give you
any help I could, but there are one or two
(24:40):
things I cannot tell you at this time. If there
was only myself to be considered, he added, it would
be different. But you do suspect someone, Vance put the
question in a way. Yes, I overheard a conversation in
(25:01):
Alvin's office one day that took on added significance after
his death. You shouldn't let chivalry stand in the way,
urged Markham. If your suspicion is unfounded, the truth will
surely come out.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
But when I don't know, I.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Certainly ought not to hazard a guess, affirmed the major.
I think it best that you solve this problem without me.
Despite Markham's importunities, he would say no more, and shortly
afterward he excused himself and went out. Markham, now profoundly worried,
(25:41):
sat smoking restlessly, tapping the arm of his chair with
his fingers. Well mould bean a bit involved, what, commented Vance.
It's not so damn funny, Markham grumbled. Everyone seems to
know more about the case than the police or the
District attorney office, which wouldn't be so disconcertain if they
(26:05):
all weren't so deuced. Reticent supplement, Advance cheerfully and the
touch and part of it is that each of them
appears to be keeping still in order to shield someone else.
Missus Platt began it. She lied about Benson's having any
collar that afternoon because she didn't want to involve his
(26:26):
tea companion, Miss Saint Clair. Miss Saint Clair declined point
blank to tell you anything because she obviously didn't desire
to cast suspicion on another. The Captain became voiceless the
moment you suggested his affianced bride was entangled. Even Leander
refused to extricate himself from a delicate situation lest he
(26:51):
implicate another. And now the major most annoying. On the
other hand, don't you know it comforting, not to say,
upliften to be dealing exclusively with such noble self sacrificing souls.
Hell Markham put down his cigar and rose, the case
(27:13):
is getting on mine nerves. I'm going to sleep on
it and tackle it in the morning. That ancient idea
of sleeping on a problem is a fallacy, said Vance
as we walked out into Madison Avenue, an apologia, as
it were, for one's not being able to think clearly.
(27:35):
Poetic idea you know all poets believe in it. Nature's
soft nurse, the balm of woe, childhood's mandragora tired, nature's
sweet restore, and that sort of thing. Silly notion. When
the brain is keyed up and alive, it works far
better than when apathetic from the torpor of sleep. Slumber
(27:59):
is an annalne, not a stimulus. Well, you sit up
and think, was Markham's surly advice. That's what I'm going
to do, blithely returned vance, but not about the Benson case.
I did all the thinking I'm going to do along
that line four days ago. End of chapter sixteen,
Chapter sixteen of the Benson murder Case by S. S.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Van Dyne.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Admissions and Suppressions. Tuesday,
June eighteenth afternoon. An hour later, Phelps, the operative Markham
had sent to ninety five Riverside Drive, came in, radiating satisfaction.
(00:27):
I think I've got what you want, Chief, His raucous
voice was covertly triumphant. I went up to the Saint
Clair woman's apartment and rang the bell. She came to
the door herself, and I stepped into the hall and
put my questions to her. She sure refused to answer.
(00:47):
When I let on I knew the package contained the
gun Benson was shot with. She just laughed and jerked
the door open. Leave this apartment, you vile creature, she
says to me.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
He grinned.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
I hurried downstairs, and I hadn't any more than got
to the switchboard when her signal flashed. I let the
boy get the number, and then I stood him to
one side and listened in. She was talking to Lecoq,
and her first words were, they know you took the
pistol from here yesterday and threw it in the river.
(01:25):
That must have knocked him out, for he didn't say
anything for a long time. Then he answered, perfectly, calm
and kind of sweet. Don't worry Muriel, and don't say
a word to anybody for the rest of the day.
I'll fix everything in the morning. He made her promise
to keep quiet until tomorrow, and then he said good bye.
(01:49):
Markham sat awhile digesting the story. What impression did you
get from the conversation? If you ask me, chief, said
the detective, I'd lay ten to one that Lecock's.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Guilty and the girl knows it.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Markham thanked him and let him go. This sub Potomac chivalry, commented,
vance is a frightful nuisance. But aren't we about you
to hold polite conversation with the gentle leander. Almost as
he spoke, the man was announced. He entered the room
(02:25):
with his habitual urbanity of manner, but for all his suavity,
he could not wholly disguise his uneasiness of mind. Sit down,
mister Fife directed Markham brusquely. It seems you have a
little more explaining to do. Taking out the manila envelope,
(02:46):
he laid its contents on the desk, where the other
could see them. Will you be so good as to
tell me about these with the greatest pleasure, said Fife,
but his voice had low its assurance. Some of his poise, too,
had deserted him, and as he paused to light a cigarette,
(03:07):
I detected a slight nervousness in the way he manipulated
his gold match safe. I really should have mentioned these before,
he confessed, indicating the papers with a delicately inconsequential wave
of the hand. He leaned forward on one elbow, taking
a confidential attitude, and as he talked, the cigarette bobbed
(03:32):
up and down between his lips. It pains me deeply
to go into this matter, he began, But since it
is in the interests of truth, I shall not complain.
My uh, domestic arrangements are not all that one could desire.
My wife's father has curiously enough taken a most unreasonable
(03:57):
dislike to me, and it pleases him to deprive me
of all but the meagerest financial assistance, although it is
really my wife's money.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
That he refuses to give me.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
A few months ago I made use of certain funds
ten thousand dollars to be exact, which I learned later
had not been intended for me. When my father in
law discovered my error, it was necessary for me to
return the full amount to avoid a misunderstanding between missus
(04:31):
Fife and myself, a misunderstanding which might have caused my
wife great unhappiness.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
I regret to say I.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Used Alvin's name on a check, but I explained it
to him at once. You understand offering him the note
and this little confession as evidence of my good faith.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
And that is all, mister Markham.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Was that what your quarrel with him last year week
was about? Fife gave him a look of querulous surprise. Ah,
you heard of our little contretant. Yes, we had a
slight disagreement as to the shall I say, terms of
the transaction. Did Benson insist that the note be paid
(05:19):
when due? No, not exactly. Fife's manner became unctuous. I
beg of you, sir, not to press me as to
my little chat with Alvin. It was, I assure you,
quite irrelevant to the present situation. Indeed, it was of
(05:40):
a most personal and private nature, he smiled confidingly. I
will admit, however, that I went to Alvin's house the
night he was shot intending to speak to him about
the check, But as you already know, I found the
house dark and spent the night in a Turkish bath.
(06:02):
Pardon me, mister Fife. It was Vance who spoke. But
did mister Benson take your note without security? Of course,
Fife's tone was a rebuke. Alpin and I, as I
have explained, were the closest friends. But even a friend,
don't you know, Vance submitted, might ask for security on
(06:25):
such a large amount. How did Benson know that you'd
be able to repay him. I can only say that
he did know, the other answered, with an air of
patient deliberation. Vance continued to be doubtful. Perhaps it was
because of the confession you had given him. Fife rewarded
(06:47):
him with a look of beaming approval. You grasp the
situation perfectly, he said. Vance withdrew from the conversation, and
though Markham questioned Fife for nearly half an hour, nothing
further transpired. Fife clung to his story in every detail
and politely refused to go deeper into his quarrel with Benson,
(07:12):
insisting that it had no bearing on the case. At last,
he was permitted to go not very helpful Markham observed,
I'm beginning to agree with Heath that we've turned up
a mayor's nest in Fife's frenzied financial deal. You'll never
be anything but your own, sweet, trusting self, will you,
(07:35):
lamented vance Sadly, Fife has just given you your first
intelligent line of investigation, and you say he's not helpful.
Listen to me and not a bene. Fife's story about
the ten thousand dollars is undoubtedly true. He appropriated the
money and forged Benson's name to.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
A check with which to replace it.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
But I don't for a second believe that there was
no security. In addition to the confession, Benson wasn't the
type of man, a friend or no friend, who'd hand
over that amount without security. He wanted his money back,
not somebody in jail. That's why I put my oar
(08:22):
in and asked him about the security. Fife, of course
denied it, but when I pressed as to how Benson
knew he'd pay the note, he retired into a cloud.
I had to suggest the confession as the possible explanation,
which showed that something else was in his mind, something
(08:44):
he didn't care to mention, and the way he jumped
at my suggestion bears out my theory. Well what of that,
Markham asked impatiently. Oh, for the gift of tears, moaned Vance,
don't you see that there's someone in the background, someone
connected with the security. It must be so, you know,
(09:08):
otherwise Fife would have told you the entire tale of
the quarrel, if only to clear himself from suspicion. Yet,
knowing that his position is an awkward one, he refuses
to divulge what passed between him and Benson in the
office that day. Fife is shielding someone, and he is
(09:30):
not the soul of chivalry, you know. Therefore, I ask
why he leaned back and gazed at the ceiling. I
have an idea amounting to a cerebral cyclone. He added
that when we put our hands on that security, we'll
also put our hands on the murderer. At this moment,
(09:54):
the telephone rang, and when Markham answered it, a look
of startled amusement came into his He made an appointment
with the speaker for half past five that afternoon. Then,
hanging up the receiver, he laughed outright at Vance, your
auricular researches have been confirmed he said, Miss Hoffman just
(10:18):
called me confidentially on an outside phone to say she
has something to add to her story. She's coming here
at five thirty. Vance was unimpressed by the announcement. I
rather imagined she'd telephone during her lunch hour. Again, Markham
gave him one of his searching scrutinies. There's something damned
(10:42):
queer going on around here, he observed. Oh quite returned
Vance carelessly queerer than you could possibly imagine. For fifteen
or twenty minutes, Markham endeavored to draw him out, but
Vance seemed suddenly possessed of an ability to say nothing
with the blandest fluency. Markham finally became exasperated. I'm rapidly
(11:08):
coming to the conclusion, He said, that either you had
a hand in Benson's murder, or you're a phenomenally good guesser.
There is, you know, an alternative rejoined Vance. It might
be that my esthetic hypotheses and metaphysical deductions, as you
(11:29):
call them, are working out a what A few minutes
before we went to lunch, Swacker announced that Tracy had
just returned from Long Island with his report. Is he
the lad you sent to look into Fife's affel ducer.
Vance asked Markham for if he is I'm all a flutter,
(11:51):
he's the man send him in Swacker. Tracy entered, smiling silkily,
his black notebook in one hand, his pass nay in
the other. I had no trouble learning about Fife, he said.
He's well known in Port Washington, quite a character, in fact,
and it was easy to pick up gossip about him.
(12:14):
He adjusted his glasses carefully and referred to his note book.
He married a miss Hawthorne in nineteen ten. She's wealthy,
but Fife doesn't benefit much by it because her father
sits on the money bags. Mister Tracy, I say, interrupted Vance.
(12:34):
Never mind the nay Hawthorne and her doting papa. Mister
Fife himself has confided in us about his sad marriage.
Tell us if you can about mister Fife's extra nuptial affairs.
Are there any other ladies? Tracy looked inquiringly at the
district attorney. He was uncertain as to Vance's locus Standaeiving
(13:00):
a nod from Markham, he turned a page in his
note book and proceeded. I found one other woman in
the case. She lives in New York and often telephones
to a drug store near Fife's house and leaves messages
for him. He uses the same phone to call her
by He had made some deal with the proprietor, of course,
(13:24):
but I was able to obtain her phone number as
soon as I came back to the city. I got
her name and address from information and made a few inquiries.
She's a missus Paula Banning, a widow and a little fast,
I should say, and she lives in an apartment at
two sixty eight West seventy fifth Street. This exhausted Tracy's information,
(13:51):
and when he went out, Markham smiled broadly. Advance, he
didn't supply you with very much fuel.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
My I think he.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Did unbelievably well, said Vance. He unearthed the very information
we wanted. We wanted, echoed Markham. I have more important
things to think about than Fife's amour's.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
And yet you know.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
This particular amour of Fife's is going to solve the
problem of Benson's murder, replied Vance, and would say no more. Markham,
who had an accumulation of other work awaiting him and
numerous appointments for the afternoon, decided to have his lunch
served in the office, so Vance and I took leave
(14:39):
of him. We lunched at the eighty z dropped in
at Knoedler's to see an exhibition of French plantilism, and
then went to Aeolian Hall, where a string quartet from
San Francisco was giving a program of Mozart. A little
before half past five, we were again at the District
(15:00):
Attorney's office, which at that hour was deserted except for Markham.
Shortly after our arrival, Miss Hoffman came in and told
the rest of her story in direct, business like fashion.
I didn't give you all the particulars this morning, she said,
and I wouldn't care to do so now unless you
(15:22):
are willing to regard them as confidential. For my telling
you might cost me my position, I promise you. Markham
assured her that I will entirely respect your confidence. She
hesitated a moment, and then continued. When I told Major
Benson this morning about mister Fiffe and his brother, he
(15:45):
said at once that I should come with him to
your office and tell you also. But on the way
over he suggested that I might omit a part of
the story. He didn't exactly tell me not to mention it,
but he explained that it had nothing to do with
the case and might only confuse you. I followed his suggestion,
(16:08):
but after I got back to the office, I began
thinking it over, and knowing how serious a matter mister
Benson's death was, I decided to tell you anyway, in
case it did have some bearing on the situation. I
didn't want to be in a position of having withheld.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Anything from you.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
She seemed a little uncertain as to the wisdom of
her decision. I do hope I haven't been foolish, But
the truth is, there was something else besides that envelope
which mister Benson asked me to bring him from the
safe the day he and mister Fife had their quarrel.
It was a square, heavy package, and like the envelope,
(16:52):
was marked Fife Personal. And it was over this package
that mister Benson and mister Fife seemed to be quarrel.
Was it in the safe this morning when you went
to get the envelope for the major, asked vance, Oh, no,
After mister Flife left last week, I put the package
(17:14):
back in the safe along with the envelope, but mister
Benson took it home with him last Thursday, the day
he was killed. Markham was but mildly interested in the
recital and was about to bring the interview to a
close when Vance spoke up. It was very good of you,
miss Hoffman, to take this trouble to tell us about
(17:36):
the package. And now that you are here, there are
one or two questions I'd like to ask. How did
mister Alvin Benson and the major get along together? She
looked at Vance with a curious little smile. They didn't
get along very well, she said, they were so different.
(17:58):
Mister Alvin Benson was not a very pleasant person and
not very honorable. I'm afraid you'd never have thought they
were brothers. They were constantly disputing about the business, and
they were terribly suspicious of each other. That's not unnatural,
commented Vance, seeing how incompatible their temperaments were. And by
(18:21):
the by, how did this suspicion show itself?
Speaker 2 (18:26):
Well?
Speaker 1 (18:26):
For one thing, they sometimes spied on each other. You see,
their offices were adjoining, and they would listen to each
other through the door. I did the secretarial work for
both of them, and I often saw them listening. Several
times they tried to find out things from me about
each other. Vance smiled at her appreciatively. Not a pleasant
(18:51):
position for you. Oh, I didn't mind it, she smiled back.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
It amused me.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
When was the last time you caught either one of
them listening? The girl quickly became serious. The very last
day mister Alvin Benson was alive, I saw the Major
standing by the door. Mister Benson had a caller, a lady,
and the Major seemed very much interested. It was in
(19:19):
the afternoon. Mister Benson went home early that day, only
about half an hour after the lady had gone. She
called at the office again later, but he wasn't there,
of course, and I told her he had already gone home.
Do you know who the lady was? Vance asked her, No,
(19:40):
I don't, She said she didn't give her name. Vance
asked a few other questions, after which we rode uptown
in the subway, with Miss Hoffman taking leave of her
at twenty third Street. Markham was silent and preoccupied during
the trip, nor did Advance make any comment until we
(20:02):
were comfortably relaxed in the easy chairs of the Stuyvesant
Club's lund room. Then, lighting a cigarette lazily, he said,
you grasp the subtle mental processes leading up to my
prophecy about miss Hoffman's second coming.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Hey what, Markham? You see?
Speaker 1 (20:21):
I knew friend Alvin had not paid that forged check
without security, and I also knew that the tiff must
have been about the security, for Fife was not really
worrying about being jailed by his alter ego. I rather
suspect Fife was trying to get the security back before
(20:44):
paying off the note, and was told there was nothing
doing moreover Little Goldilocks. Maybe a nice girl and all that,
but it isn't in the feminine temperament to sit next
door to an altercation between two such rakes and not
listen attentively. I shouldn't care, you know, to have to
(21:07):
decipher the typing she said she did during the episode.
I was quite sure she heard more than she told,
and I asked myself why this curtailment. The only logical
answer was because the major had suggested it, And since
(21:27):
the Guinnedigus Freulein was a forthright Germanic soul with an
inbred streak of selfish and cautious honesty, I ventured the
prognostication that as soon as she was out from under
the benevolent jurisdiction of her tutor. She would tell us
the rest in order to save her own skin if
(21:50):
the matter should come up later. Not so cryptic when
explained what that's all very well, conceded Markham petulantly.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
But where does it get us?
Speaker 1 (22:03):
I shouldn't say that the forward movement was entirely imperceptible.
Vance smoked a while impassively. You realize, I trust he
said that the mysterious package contained the security One might
form such a conclusion, agreed Markham. But the fact doesn't
(22:26):
dumbfound me. If that's what you're hoping for, and of
course pursued Vance easily. Your legal mind, trained in the
technique of Ratioshanasen, has already identified it as the box
of jewels that missus Platt's espied on Benson's table that
(22:47):
fatal afternoon. Markham sat up suddenly, then sank back with
a shrug. Even if it was, I don't see how
that helps us. Unless the Major knew the package had
nothing to do with the case, he would not have
suggested to his secretary that she omit telling us about it.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Ah.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
But if the Major knew that the package was an
irrelevant item in the case. Then he must also know
something else about the case. Ah what Otherwise he couldn't
determine what was and what was not irrelevant. I have
felt all along that he knew more than he admitted.
(23:30):
Don't forget that he put us on the track of Fife,
and also that he was quite positive Captain Leacock was innocent.
Markham thought for several minutes. I'm beginning to see what
you're driving at, he remarked slowly. Those jewels, after all,
(23:51):
may have an important bearing on the case. I think
I'll have a chat with the Major about things. Shortly
after dinner at the club that night, Major Benson came
into the lounge room where we had retired for our smoke,
and Markham accosted him at once. Major, aren't you willing
(24:12):
to help me a little more in getting at the
truth about your brother's death?
Speaker 2 (24:16):
He asked?
Speaker 1 (24:18):
The other gazed at him searchingly. The inflection of Markham's
voice belied the apparent casualness of the question. God knows,
it's not my wish to put obstacles in your way,
he said, carefully, weighing each word. I'd gladly give you
any help I could, but there are one or two
(24:40):
things I cannot tell you at this time. If there
was only myself to be considered, he added, it would
be different. But you do suspect someone, Vance put the
question in a way. Yes, I overheard a conversation in
(25:01):
Alvin's office one day that took on added significance after
his death. You shouldn't let chivalry stand in the way,
urged Markham. If your suspicion is unfounded, the truth will
surely come out.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
But when I don't know, I.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Certainly ought not to hazard a guess, affirmed the major.
I think it best that you solve this problem without me.
Despite Markham's importunities, he would say no more, and shortly
afterward he excused himself and went out. Markham, now profoundly worried,
(25:41):
sat smoking restlessly, tapping the arm of his chair with
his fingers. Well mould bean a bit involved, what, commented Vance.
It's not so damn funny, Markham grumbled. Everyone seems to
know more about the case than the police or the
District attorney office, which wouldn't be so disconcertain if they
(26:05):
all weren't so deuced. Reticent supplement, Advance cheerfully and the
touch and part of it is that each of them
appears to be keeping still in order to shield someone else.
Missus Platt began it. She lied about Benson's having any
collar that afternoon because she didn't want to involve his
(26:26):
tea companion, Miss Saint Clair. Miss Saint Clair declined point
blank to tell you anything because she obviously didn't desire
to cast suspicion on another. The Captain became voiceless the
moment you suggested his affianced bride was entangled. Even Leander
refused to extricate himself from a delicate situation lest he
(26:51):
implicate another. And now the major most annoying. On the
other hand, don't you know it comforting, not to say,
upliften to be dealing exclusively with such noble self sacrificing souls.
Hell Markham put down his cigar and rose, the case
(27:13):
is getting on mine nerves. I'm going to sleep on
it and tackle it in the morning. That ancient idea
of sleeping on a problem is a fallacy, said Vance
as we walked out into Madison Avenue, an apologia, as
it were, for one's not being able to think clearly.
(27:35):
Poetic idea you know all poets believe in it. Nature's
soft nurse, the balm of woe, childhood's mandragora tired, nature's
sweet restore, and that sort of thing. Silly notion. When
the brain is keyed up and alive, it works far
better than when apathetic from the torpor of sleep. Slumber
(27:59):
is an annalne, not a stimulus. Well, you sit up
and think, was Markham's surly advice. That's what I'm going
to do, blithely returned vance, but not about the Benson case.
I did all the thinking I'm going to do along
that line four days ago. End of chapter sixteen,
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