Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-25
THE TEMPTING OF TKNERNAKE

indignantly. IT don't believe 1t for a
moment. If she is associating with these
people, it's because she doesn't know who
they are"
Pritchard hlcked the ash from his
cigar.
WELL" he said, every man has right
to his own opinions. and for my part l
like to hear any one stick up for his
friends. 1t makes no odds to me. How
ever, here are few facts l am going
to bring before you. Four months ago.
one of the turns at a vaudeville show
down Broadway consisted of a perform
ance by Professor Franklin and his two
daughters, Elizabeth and Beatrice. The
professor hypnotlzed, told fortunes, felt
heads, and the usual rlgmarole. Beatrice
sang, Elizabeth danced. People came to
see the show, not because it was any
good, but because the girls. even in New
York, were beautiful"
"A music-hall in New York; Taver-
make muttered.
The detective nodded.
Among the young bloods of the city,"
he continued, were two brothers, as
much alike as twins, although they aren't
twins, whose names were Wenham and
Jerry Gardner. There's nothing In fast
life which those young men haven't tried
Between them. ! should say they rep
'NSN''NNN NNNl lHdL WAS Known
debauchery and dissipation. The eldest
can't be more than q today. but If you
were to see them in the morning, either
of them, before they had been massaged
and galvanized into life, you'd think they
were little old men, with just strength
enough left to crawl about. Well, TO
cut long story short, both of them fell
in love with Elizabeth"
"Brutesw Tavernake interjected.
81 guess they found Miss Elizabeth a
pretty tough nut to crack" the detective
went on. Anyhow, you know what her
price was from her name, which Ia hers
right enough, Wenham, who was a year
younger than his brother, was the first TO
bid It, Three months ago, Mr.. and Mrs.
Wenham Gardner, Miss Beatrice. and the
devoted father left New York in the
Lusltahia and came to London"
Where Is this Wenham Gardner
then?" Tavernake demanded.
Pritchard took his cigar case from his
pocket and selected another cigar.
Say, that's where you strike the nail
right on the head" he remarked. "Where
Is this Wenham Gardner? don't mind
telling YOU Mr.. Tavernake. that to dis
cover his whereabouts is exactly what
am over on this side for. have a COM
mission from the family 10 ind out. and
a blank check TO do IL with"
DO you mean that he has disappeared
them" asked Tavernake.
on the face of the earth. SIR" Pritch-
ard replied Something like two months
ago, the young married couple, with Miss
Beatrice, started for a holiday tour
somewhere down in the west OF England.
A few days after they started, Miss Bea-
triee comes back TO London alone. She
goes to boarding house, Is practically
penniless, but she has shaken her sister
mas / believe. never spoken with her
since. A little later, Elizabeth alone
turns up In London. She has plenty OF
money, more money than she has ever
mad the control OF before In her life, but
no husband"
80 far, / don't see anything remark
aole about that" Tavernake interposed.
That may or may not be-, Pritehard
answered drily. This creature, Wenham
Gardner-I hate TO call him a man-was
her abJect slaYe-up TIL the time they
reached London. at any rate. He would
never have quit OF his own accord He
stopped quite suddenly communicating
with all his friends None OF their cables,
even. We're answered"
why don't you 80 and ask Mrs.. Gard
neF where ne is?" Tavsrnake demanded
bluntly
u have already" Pritehard declared
taken that liberty. With tears Ia her
ayess she assured me that after some
slight quarrel. IN which she admits that
he was the one 70 blarns. her husband
walked out 81 the house where thay Wera
sfaSine. ena she has not seen hiln since
sAa Was quite really vita az the par