Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-19
CHAPTER XN
Maitland Alias Marbury

!
4 such new conception of matters in
Spargo's mind, aroused such Infinitely
new possibilities in his Imagination,
that for full moment he sat silently
staring at his informant. who chuckled
with quiet enjoyment at his visitor
surprise. :,
DO you mean to tell me, said
Spargo at last. that there are people
in this town who still believe that the
coffin in your cemetery which is said
to contain Chamberlayne's body con-
tains-lcad?'
Lots OF 'em. my dear sir y replied
Mr.. Quarterpage. Lots Of 'em! Go out
in the street and ask the first six men
you meet. and I'll 90 bail that four out
of the six believe 1t.
"Then why, in the sacred name of
common sense did no one ever take steps
to make certain?' asked Spargo. "Why
didn't they get an order for exhuma'
tion?'
because it was nobody's particular
business to do so, answered Mr..
Quarterpage. 'You don't know country
town life, my dear sir. In. towns like
Market Milcaster folks talk and gos-
sip great deal. but they're always
slow to do anything. It's case OF
who II start first-of initiative. And IT
they see it's going to cost anything
then they'll have nothing to do with
it,
"But--the bank people?'' suggested
Spargo.
Mr.. Quarterpagc shook his head.
They're among tho lot who believe
that Chamberlayne did die he said.
.tThey're very old fashioned, conserva-
tive minded people, the Gutchbys and
the Hostables. and they accepted the
version of the nephew. and the doctor.
and the solicitor. But now I'll tell
you something about those three. There
was a man here in the town, n gentle
man of your own profession, who came
to edit that paper you've got on your
knee. He got interested in this Cham
berlayne case. and he began to make in :
quires with the idea of getting hold Of
some good-what do you call it?''
II suppose he'd call it copy, " said
Spargo.
" 'Copy-that was his term agreed
Mr.. Quarterpage. well, he took the
trouble to go to London to ask some
quiet questions of the nephew, Stephen.
That was just twelve months after
Chamberlayne had been buried. But he
| left England-months before. Gone,
they said. to one of the colonies. but
they didn't know which. And the So
'icitor had also gone. And the doctor
couldn't be traced, no. sir. not even
through the Medical Register. What
do you think of all that, Mr.. Spargo?"
II think" answered Spargo, chat
Market Milcaster folk are considerably
slow. / should have had that death
and burial inquired into. The whole
thing looks to me like conspiracy.
well, sir, it was. as ! say, no
body's business said Mr.. Quarter
page. 'The newspaper gentleman tried
to stir up interest in it, but it was no
good. and very soon afterward he left.
And there it is.'
Mr.. Quartcrpage. said Spargo,
what's your own honest opinion?'
The old gentleman smiled.
"Ah ~ he said. 1--WE often won
dered Mr.. Spargo, if l really have an
opinion on that point. think that
what I probably feel about the whole
affair is that there was a good deal OF
mystery attaching to it. But we seem,
sir, to have gone long way from the
question of that old silver ticket which
you've got in your purse. Now"
"No!" said Spargo, interrupting his
host with an accompanying wag of his
foretinger NO. | think we're COM
ing nearer to it, Now You've, given me
n great deal of your time. Mr.. Quar-
terpage. and told me a lot, and first
Of all, before tell you lot, I'm going
to show you something"
And Spargo took out of his pocket
book carefully mounted photograph of
John Marbury-the original of the
process picture which he had had made
for the Watchman. He handed it over.
CONTINUED TOMORROW