Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-03

ana MS lury-more. Now, I'm oil,
Breton-fve an appointment.
And leaving Breton to find his own
way out, Spargo hurried away, jumped
don and Universal Safe Deposit. At
the corner Of its building he found
Rathbury awaiting him.
WellV' said Spargo, as he sprong
ITS all right" answered Rathbury.
You can be present; got the neces-
Bary permission. AS there are no rela-
tions known there'll only be one or two
officials and you and the safe deposit
time.
ut sounds" observed spargo, like
an exhumation.
Rathbury laughed. "well, we're GER
secrets" he said. "At least we may
be going to do so. In my opinion, Mr..
Spargo, We'll find some clue in this
leather box
Sporgo made no answer. They en-
tered the Office. to be shown into a
room where were already assembled
out to be the chairman of the company,
and the officials Of whom Rathbury had
| spoken. And In another moment Spargo
heard the chairman explaining that the
company possessed duplicate keys to all
| safes and that the proper authorization
having been received from the proper
authorities those present would now
proceed to the safe recently tenanted
| by the late John Marbury and take from
! it the property which he himself hao
| deposited there. a small leather box,
which they would afterward bring to
that room and cause to be opened in
each others presence.
1t seemed to Spargo that there was
an unending unlocking of bolts and bars
before he and his fellow processionists
came to the safe so recently rented b.
the late John Marbury now undoubt-
edly deceased. And at first sight of it
he saw that it was SO small an affair
that it seemed ludicrous to imagine
that it could contain anything of any
Importance. In fact, it looked to be no
more than plain wooden locker, one
among many in a small strong room !;
it reminded Spargo 1rresistibly of the
locker in which, in his school days, he
had kept his personal belongings and
the jam tarts. sausage rolls and hard
bake smuggled in from the tuck shop.
Marbury's name had been newly painted
upon it; the paint was scarcely dry.
But when the wooden door-the front
door, as it were. of this temple of mys
tery had been solemnly opened by the
chairman, formidable door of steel was
revealed and expectation still leaped in
the bosoms of the beholders.
1.-The duplicate key. Mr.. Myerst, if
you please" commanded the chairman
''the duplicate key !"
Myerst. who was fully as solemn as
| his principal, produced a curious look
ing key the chairman lifted his hand
as if he were about to christen a battle
ship; the steel door swung slowly back.
And there, in two foot square cavity
lay the leather box.
1t struck Spargo as they filed back
to the secretary's room that the pro-
cession became more funereal like than
ever. First walked the chairman.
abreast with the high official, who had
brought the necessary authorization
from the all powerful quarter; then
came Myerst carrying the box: fol-
lowed two other gentlemen. both legal
lights. charged with watching official
and police interests; Rathbury and
Spargo brought up the rear. He whis
pered something of his notions to the
detective Rathbury nodded compre =
hensive understanding.
Lets hope we're going to sec
something" he said.
In the secretary's room a man waited
who touched his forelock respectfully
as the heads of the procession entered
Myerst set the box on the table; the
man made a musical jingle of keys
the other members of the procession
gathered round.
''As we naturally. possess no key to
this box, announced the chairman in
grave tones. ''it becomes our duty to
employ professional assistance in open
ing it. Jobson"
He waved a hand, and the man OF
, the keys stepped forward with alacrity
He examined the lock of the box with
knowing eye; it was easy to see that
he was anxious to fall upon it. While
he considered matters. Spargo looked al
the box. 1t was pretty much what il
had been described to him as being
small. square box of old cowhide
very strongly made, much worn and
furnished, fitted with handle project
ing from the lid, and having the ap-
pearance of having been hidden away
somewhere for many long day.
There was click, a spring; Jobson
stepped back.
'That's it. if you please, siry,' he
said.
The chairman motioned to the high
official
"If you would be good enough to open
the box, SIR he said. Our duty is
now concluded
As the high official laid his hand on
the lid the other men gathered round
with craning necks and expectant eyes;
The lid was lifted; somebody sighed
deeply. And Spargo pushed his own
head and eyes nearer.
The box was empty.
CONTINUED TOMORROW