And what put the notion of fire-arms into your mind?
That query, explained Vance, was a corollary of your own questions about barred windows and Bensons fear of burglars. If he was in a funk about house-breakers or enemies, hed be likely to have weapons at handeh, what?
Well, anyway, Mr. Vance, put in Heath, your curiosity unearthed a nice little revolver thats probably never been used.
By the bye, Sergeant, returned Vance, ignoring the others good-humored sarcasm, just what do you make of that nice little revolver?
Well, now, Heath replied, with ponderous facetiousness, I deduct that Mr. Benson kept a pearl-handled Smith and Wesson in a secret drawer of his center-table.
You dont sayreally! exclaimed Vance in mock admiration. Postively illuminatin!
Markham broke up this raillery.
Why did you want to know about visitors, Vance? There obviously hadnt been anyone here.
Oh, just a whim of mine. I was assailed by an impulsive yearning to hear what La Platz would say.
Heath was studying Vance curiously. His first impressions of the man were being dispelled, and he had begun to suspect that beneath the others casual and debonair exterior there was something of a more solid nature than he had at first imagined. He was not altogether satisfied with Vances explanations to Markham, and seemed to be endeavoring to penetrate to his real reasons for supplementing the District Attorneys interrogation of the housekeeper. Heath was astute, and he had the worldly mans ability to read people; but Vance, being different from the men with whom he usually came in contact, was an enigma to him.
At length he relinquished his scrutiny, and drew up his chair to the table with a spirited air.
And now, Mr. Markham, he said crisply, wed better outline our activities so as not to duplicate our efforts. The sooner I get my men started, the better.
Markham assented readily.
The investigation is entirely up to you, Sergeant. Im here to help wherever Im needed.
Thats very kind of you, sir, Heath returned. But it looks to me as though thered be enough work for all parties. Suppose I get to work on running down the owner of the hand-bag, and send some men out scouting among Bensons night-life cronies,I can pick up some names from the housekeeper, and theyll be a good starting point. And Ill get after that Cadillac, too Then we ought to look into his lady friendsI guess he had enough of em.
I may get something out of the Major along that line, supplied Markham. Hell tell me anything I want to know. And I can also look into Bensons business associates through the same channel.
I was going to suggest that you could do that better than I could, Heath rejoined. We ought to run into something pretty quick thatll give us a line to go on. And Ive got an idea that when we locate the lady he took to dinner last night and brought back here, well know a lot more than we do now.
Or a lot less, murmured Vance.
Heath looked up quickly, and grunted with an air of massive petulance.
Let me tell you something, Mr. Vance, he said, since I understand you want to learn something about these affairs: when anything goes seriously wrong in this world, its pretty safe to look for a woman in the case.
Ah, yes, smiled Vance. Cherchez la femme[34]an aged notion. Even the Romans labored under the superstition,they expressed it with Dux femina facti[35].
However they expressed it, retorted Heath, they had the right idea. And dont let em tell you different.
Again Markham diplomatically intervened.
That point will be settled very soon, I hope. And now, Sergeant, if youve nothing else to suggest, Ill be getting along. I told Major Benson Id see him at lunch time; and I may have some news for you by to-night.
Right, assented Heath. Im going to stick around here a while and see if theres anything I overlooked. Ill arrange for a guard outside and also for a man inside to keep an eye on the Platz woman. Then Ill see the reporters and let them in on the disappearing Cadillac and Mr. Vances mysterious revolver in the secret drawer. I guess that ought to hold em. If I find out anything, Ill phone you.
When he had shaken hands with the District Attorney, he turned to Vance.
Good-bye, sir, he said pleasantly, much to my surprise, and to Markhams too, I imagine. I hope you learned something this morning.
Youd be postively dumfounded, Sergeant, at all I did learn, Vance answered carelessly.
Again I noted the look of shrewd scrutiny in Heaths eyes; but in a second it was gone.
Well, Im glad of that, was his perfunctory reply.
Markham, Vance and I went out, and the patrolman on duty hailed a taxicab for us.
So thats the way our lofty gendarmerie[36] approaches the mysterious wherefores of criminal enterpriseeh? mused Vance, as we started on our way across town. Markham, old dear, how do those robust lads ever succeed in running down a culprit?
You have witnessed only the barest preliminaries, Markham explained. There are certain things that must be done as a matter of routineex abundantia cautelae[37], as we lawyers say.
But, my word!such technique! sighed Vance. Ah, well, quantum est in rebus inane![38] as we laymen say.
You dont think much of Heaths capacity, I know,Markhams voice was patientbut hes a clever man, and one that its very easy to underestimate.
I dare say, murmured Vance. Anyway, Im deuced grateful to you, and all that, for letting me behold the solemn proceedings. Ive been vastly amused, even if not uplifted. Your official Aesculapius rather appealed to me, y knowsuch a brisk, unemotional chap, and utterly unimpressed with the corpse. He really should have taken up crime in a serious way, instead of studying medicine.
Markham lapsed into gloomy silence, and sat looking out of the window in troubled meditation until we reached Vances house.
I dont like the looks of things, he remarked, as we drew up to the curb. I have a curious feeling about this case.
Vance regarded him a moment from the corner of his eye.
See here, Markham, he said with unwonted seriousness; havent you any idea who shot Benson?
Markham forced a faint smile.
I wish I had. Crimes of wilful murder are not so easily solved. And this case strikes me as a particularly complex one.
Fancy, now! said Vance, as he stepped out of the machine. And I thought it extrordinrily simple.
Chapter V. Gathering Information
(Saturday, June 15; forenoon)
You will remember the sensation caused by Alvin Bensons murder. It was one of those crimes that appeal irresistibly to the popular imagination. Mystery is the basis of all romance, and about the Benson case there hung an impenetrable aura of mystery. It was many days before any definite light was shed on the circumstances surrounding the shooting; but numerous ignes fatui[39] arose to beguile the publics imagination, and wild speculations were heard on all sides.
Alvin Benson, while not a romantic figure in any respect, had been well-known; and his personality had been a colorful and spectacular one. He had been a member of New Yorks wealthy bohemian social setan avid sportsman, a rash gambler, and professional man-about-town; and his life, led on the borderland of the demimonde, had contained many high-lights. His exploits in the night clubs and cabarets had long supplied the subject-matter for exaggerated stories and comments in the various local papers and magazines which batten on Broadways scandalmongers.
Benson and his brother, Anthony, had, at the time of the formers sudden death, been running a brokerage office at 21 Wall Street, under the name of Benson and Benson. Both were regarded by the other brokers of the Street as shrewd business men, though perhaps a shade unethical when gauged by the constitution and by-laws of the New York Stock Exchange. They were markedly contrasted as to temperament and taste, and saw little of each other outside the office. Alvin Benson devoted his entire leisure to pleasure-seeking and was a regular patron of the citys leading cafés; whereas Anthony Benson, who was the older and had served as a major in the late war, followed a sedate and conventional existence, spending most of his evenings quietly at his clubs. Both, however, were popular in their respective circles, and between them they had built up a large clientele.
The glamour of the financial district had much to do with the manner in which the crime was handled by the newspapers. Moreover, the murder had been committed at a time when the metropolitan press was experiencing a temporary lull in sensationalism; and the story was spread over the front pages of the papers with a prodigality rarely encountered in such cases.[40] Eminent detectives throughout the country were interviewed by enterprising reporters. Histories of famous unsolved murder cases were revived; and clairvoyants and astrologers were engaged by the Sunday editors to solve the mystery by various metaphysical devices. Photographs and detailed diagrams were the daily accompaniments of these journalistic outpourings.
In all the news stories the grey Cadillac and the pearl-handled Smith and Wesson were featured. There were pictures of Cadillac cars, touched up and reconstructed to accord with Patrolman McLaughlins description, some of them even showing the fishing-tackle protruding from the tonneau. A photograph of Bensons center-table had been taken, with the secret drawer enlarged and reproduced in an inset. One Sunday magazine went so far as to hire an expert cabinet-maker to write a dissertation on secret compartments in furniture.
The Benson case from the outset had proved a trying and difficult one from the police standpoint. Within an hour of the time that Vance and I had left the scene of the crime a systematic investigation had been launched by the men of the Homicide Bureau in charge of Sergeant Heath. Bensons house was again gone over thoroughly, and all his private correspondence read; but nothing was brought forth that could throw any light on the tragedy. No weapon was found aside from Bensons own Smith and Wesson; and though all the window grilles were again inspected, they were found to be secure, indicating that the murderer had either let himself in with a key, or else been admitted by Benson. Heath, by the way, was unwilling to admit this latter possibility despite Mrs. Platzs positive assertion that no other person besides herself and Benson had a key.
Because of the absence of any definite clue, other than the hand-bag and the gloves, the only proceeding possible was the interrogating of Bensons friends and associates in the hope of uncovering some fact which would furnish a trail. It was by this process also that Heath hoped to establish the identity of the owner of the hand-bag. A special effort was therefore made to ascertain where Benson had spent the evening; but though many of his acquaintances were questioned, and the cafés where he habitually dined were visited, no one could at once be found who had seen him that night; nor, as far as it was possible to learn, had he mentioned to anyone his plans for the evening. Furthermore, no general information of a helpful nature came to light immediately, although the police pushed their inquiry with the utmost thoroughness. Benson apparently had no enemies; he had not quarreled seriously with anyone; and his affairs were reported in their usual orderly shape.
Major Anthony Benson was naturally the principal person looked to for information, because of his intimate knowledge of his brothers affairs; and it was in this connection that the District Attorneys office did its chief functioning at the beginning of the case. Markham had lunched with Major Benson the day the crime was discovered, and though the latter had shown a willingness to co-operateeven to the detriment of his brothers characterhis suggestions were of little value. He explained to Markham that, though he knew most of his brothers associates, he could not name anyone who would have any reason for committing such a crime, or anyone who, in his opinion, would be able to help in leading the police to the guilty person. He admitted frankly, however, that there was a side to his brothers life with which he was unacquainted, and regretted that he was unable to suggest any specific way of ascertaining the hidden facts. But he intimated that his brothers relations with women were of a somewhat unconventional nature; and he ventured the opinion that there was a bare possibility of a motive being found in that direction.
Pursuant of the few indefinite and unsatisfactory suggestions of Major Benson, Markham had immediately put to work two good men from the Detective Division assigned to the District Attorneys office, with instructions to confine their investigations to Bensons women acquaintances so as not to appear in any way to be encroaching upon the activities of the Central Office men. Also, as a result of Vances apparent interest in the housekeeper at the time of the interrogation, he had sent a man to look into the womans antecedents and relationships.
Mrs. Platz, it was learned, had been born in a small Pennsylvania town, of German parents both of whom were dead; and had been a widow for over sixteen years. Before coming to Benson, she had been with one family for twelve years, and had left the position only because her mistress had given up housekeeping and moved into a hotel. Her former employer, when questioned, said she thought there had been a daughter, but had never seen the child, and knew nothing of it. In these facts there was nothing to take hold of, and Markham had merely filed the report as a matter of form.
Heath had instigated a city-wide search for the grey Cadillac, although he had little faith in its direct connection with the crime; and in this the newspapers helped considerably by the extensive advertising given the car. One curious fact developed that fired the police with the hope that the Cadillac might indeed hold some clue to the mystery. A street-cleaner, having read or heard about the fishing-tackle in the machine, reported the finding of two jointed fishing-rods, in good condition, at the side of one of the drives in Central Park near Columbus Circle. The question was: were these rods part of the equipment Patrolman McLaughlin had seen in the Cadillac? The owner of the car might conceivably have thrown them away in his flight; but, on the other hand, they might have been lost by someone else while driving through the park. No further information was forthcoming, and on the morning of the day following the discovery of the crime the case, so far as any definite progress toward a solution was concerned, had taken no perceptible forward step.
That morning Vance had sent Currie out to buy him every available newspaper; and he had spent over an hour perusing the various accounts of the crime. It was unusual for him to glance at a newspaper, even casually, and I could not refrain from expressing my amazement at his sudden interest in a subject so entirely outside his normal routine.
No, Van old dear, he explained languidly, I am not becoming sentimental or even human, as that word is erroneously used to-day. I can not say with Terence, Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto[41], because I regard most things that are called human as decidedly alien to myself. But, y know, this little flurry in crime has proved rather intrestin, or, as the magazine writers say, intriguingbeastly word! Van, you really should read this precious interview with Sergeant Heath. He takes an entire column to say I know nothing. A priceless lad! Im becoming postively fond of him.
It may be, I suggested, that Heath is keeping his true knowledge from the papers, as a bit of tactical diplomacy.