Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-20
THE MIDDLE TEMPLE MURDER
4 Detective Story byJ. S. Fletcher

i or hIv
Spargor' '"''
He had backed to tbc inrer door no
he spoke, and he now closed il and
turned again to the two men, looking
from one to the other The detective,
on ms part. was looking at the Young
oarrister: He saw a tall, simly built
youth, OF handsome features and enaae-
ing presence, perfectly groomed and
ilmimaculately garbed, and having unon
nm general air of we'll to do ness
ana he formed the impression from
ti,ese matters that Mr. Breton was one
OF those fortunate young men who NAV
TAKE . up profession, but are certainly
~ nDC dependent upon it. He turned and
gianced at the journalist.
How do you do?" said Spar9o
slowly. "I-the fact is. / came here
with Mr.; Rathbury, He-wants to see
you. Detective Sergeant Ratbburyo
OF New Scotland Yard"
npaIgo pronounced this formal in
PRODUCTION as if he We're renontinv p,
lesson: But he was watching the vonnS
Darristcr,s face. And Breton turned 70
tne .detsctiye with look of surprise.
~ he said. you wish-''
as nsuthoury had been fumb,inp in his
p'hinl pJGmtI lor the scrap of gray paper,
rn,nh mm,Jn ne mad carefully bestowed in a
x,;,h u.HIn worn memorandum book. az
w. %,Sueu 70 ASK "a question, Mr.. Breton
quarter to three, mau--eiderlv man
was found dead in Middle TEMPLE lane.
ana There seems little doubt that he was
murdered Mr.. Spargo here-he was
present when the body was found >,
rev minutes after
a. When this, body was examined Mt
thc mortnary,' continued Rathbury. in
MS matter of fact, business like
tones nothing was found that could
iead TO identification. The man ar.
pears 10 nave been robbed. There was
~ Lmio'nins Whatever on him-but this bit
u .orn paper, which was found in a
nole IN the lining of his waistcoat
pocket. It's got your name and address
on it, Mr.. Breton. See?'' '''@
Ronald Breton took tbe ,or,r ,e
paper and looked at it with knitted
brows. A''eo
BY Joye'' he muttered. 80 it
mas, aas' t that's t.; queer. What's he like,
"Wiil you step round and take q ,oo,
at him. Mr.. Breton?" he said. "It's
close by
"Well-I-the fact is, I've got a
case on, in Mr.. Justice Borrow's
court, I Breton answered, also glancing
at his clock. But it won't be called
until after eleven. will"
Plenty of time, sir said Rath-
bury 1T wont take you ten minutes
to go round and back agaip--a look will
DO. You don't recognize this hand
writing, | suppose?"
Breton still held the scrap of paper
in his fingers. lie looked al it again,
iutently.
",No!' he answered. Il don't. |
don't know it at ALL cant think, of
course, who this man could be, to have
my name and address. / thought he
might have been some country solicitor
wanting my professional services, yo,
know he went on, with shy smile
ut Spargo, but 3-3 o'clock in the
morning, eh?"
The Doctor observed Rathbury
the doctor thinks he had been deat
about two and Il half hours"
breton turned to the inner door.
.l'll-I'll just tell these ladies Tn
going out for quarter of an hour, ;
he said. "They're going over to til,
court with me- got my first bric
yesterday he went on with q boyisl
laugh, glancing right and left at hi
VlSltOrS. IL nothing much-Smal
case-but l promised my fiancee an,
her sister that they should be present
you know. a moment"
He disappeared into the next room
and came back a moment later in al
the glory of new silk hat. Spargo
Il young man who was never very par
ticular about his dress, began to con
trast his own attire with the buttert1,
appearance of this youngster; he ha,
been quick to notice that the two girl
who had whisked into the inner room
had been similarly garbed in fine raj
ment, more characteristic of Mayfai
than of Fleet Street. Already he felt ,
strange curiosity about Breton, ant
about the young ladies whom he heart
talking behind the inner door.
well. come on" said Breton. "Let'!
go straight there"
The mortuary TO which Rathbury lee
the way was cold, lrab. repellent tc
the general gay sense of the. summer
morning. Spargo shivered involuntarily
as he entered it and took a first glance
around. But the young barrister
showed no sign of feeling or concern
he looked quickly about him and stepped
alertly to the side of the dead man
from whose face the detective was turn
ing back cloth. He looked steadily
and earnestly at the fixed features
Then he drew back, shaking his head.
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