Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-09
THE PARADISE MYSTERY
BY ]. S. Fletcher
conyricnt, 1890. op Auted A. Knopt rnc.

Second--why did he wish to make
personal call on the Duke of Saxon
steade?
Third--was he some man who had
known Ransford in time past-and
whom Ransford had no desire to meet
again2
Fourth.-Did Ransford meet HMM
the cathedral?
Fifth-was 1t Ransford who flung him
to his death down st. Wrytha's stair?
Sixth-Was that the real reason of
the agitation in which he. Bryce, had
found Ransford few moments after
the discovery Of the body?
There was plenty of time before him
for the due solution Of these mysteries,
reflected Bryce--and for solving another
relationship to them-that Of the exact
connection between Ransford and his
two wards. Bryce, In telling Ransford
that morning of what was being said
among the tea table circles of the old
cathedral city, had purposely only told
him half tale He knew, and had
known for months. that the society OF
the close was greatly exercised over the
position Of the Ransford menage. Rans-
ford, bachelor, well-preserved, active,
alert man who was certainly of no more
than middle age and did not look his
years, had come to WINCHESTER only
few years previously, and had never
shown any signs Of torsaking his single
state. No one had ever heard him mem
tion his family or relations; then, sud
denly, without warning, he had brought
into his house Mary Bewery, a hand--
some young woman of nineteen, who was
said to have only just left school, and
her brother Richard, then a boy of
sixteen, who had certainly been at a
public school of repute and was entered
at the famous Deans School OF Wry-
chester as soon as he came to his new
home Doctor Ransford spoke or these
two as his wards, without further ex-
planation the society of tho close was
beginning to want much more explana-
ton. VINO we're they--these two young
people? Was Doctor Ransford their
uncle, their cousin--what was he to
them2 In any case, In the opinion OF
| the elderly ladies who set the tone Of
society in WINCHESTER, Miss Bewery was
much too young, and far too pretty, to
be left without a chaperon. But, up TO
then. no one had dared to say as much
TO Doctor Ransford.-instead, everybody
said 1t freely behind his back.
Bryce had used eyes and ears In rela-
ton to the two young people. He had
been with Ransford year when they
arrived admitted freely to their COM
pany. he had soon discovered that what
ever relationship existed between them
and Ransford. they had none with any
| body else-that they knew of.
No letters came for them from uncles,
| aunts, cousins, grandfathers, grand
mothers. They appeared to have no
memories or "reminiscences Of relatives,
nor Of father or mother; there was a
curious atmosphere of isolation about
| them. They had plenty OF talk about
what might be called their present
their recent schooldays, their youthful
experiences, games, pursuits-but none
! Of what, under any circumstances, could
have been very far-distant past.
Bryces quick and attentive ears dis
l l.sa- o.. l.,N NhAA ENr
many years past Ransford had been IN
the habit of spending his annual two
months holiday with these two. Year
after year-at any rate since the boys
tenth year-he had taken them travel
ing: Bryce heard scraps of reminis-
| cences Of tours in France, and In
Switzerland, and in Ireland, and in Scot
land-even as far afield as the far north
| of Norway II was easy to see thai
both boy and girl had a mighty venera-
ton for Ransford; just as easy to see
that Ransford took infinite pains to
and comfortable for both. And Bryce
who was one Of those men who firmly
believe that no man does anything fol
nothing and that self-interest Is the main
spring OF life, asked himself over anc
over again the question which agitatet
two. and what is the bond between tnen
and this sort Of fairy-godfather
guardian?
And now. as he put away the scrai
Of paper in a safely locked desk. Bryc,
asked himself another question: Hac
the events Of that morning anything L
do with the mystery which hung arounc
Doctor Ransford's wardsH II 1t had
then all the more reason why he shoulc
solve 1t. For Bryce had made up hi:
would marry Mary Bewery. and he wa!
only too eager to lay hands on anything
that would help him to achieve tina
ambition. If he could only get Rams
ford into his power-if he could ge
Mary Bewery herself into his power
would be good enough to her--in hi
| way.
Having nothing, to do. Bryce went ou
after a while and strolled around TO th'
Wrychester Cuban exclusive institu
tion, the members of which were drawn
from the leisured, the professional. the
clerical, and the military circles Of the
| old city. And there. as he expected. ht
found small groups discussing the morn
ings tragedy, and he Joined one of them
in which was Saokville Bonham, his pre-
sumptive rival. who was busily telling
three or four other young men wha,
his stepfather. Mr.. Folliot. had to say
| about the event.
my stepfather says---and I tell you
he saw the man." said Sackville. who
/ was hSlcu III "IySIcotct ShSico tao q
loquacious and forward youth: 'he say:
that whatever happened must have hap
pened aa soon as ever the old chap go
up into that clerestory gallery. Looi
here Its like this Ny stepfather hat
gone In there for the morning service
strict old churchgoer he is. you know
and he saw this stranger going up tn
stairway. He's positive, Mr.. Folllot
that II was then five minutes to 10. Now
then. ask you-isn't he right, my step
father. when he says that 1t must hav
happened at once--immediatelyT
Because that man, Warner. tn
fore 10. Whatr
One Of the group nodded at Bryce
II should think Bryce knows wha
time i happened as we'll as anybody,
| After Warner" answered Bryc
iaconically. "As to the time-I coul
} fix 1t In this way--the orsanist wa
Just beginning q voluntary or some
thing OF the sort"
THAT means 10 o'clock-to the min
sackvilie tr1umphantly. "of course, he,
fallen a minute or two before that
which proves Mr.. Folliot to be right
Now what does that prove? Why, tha
the old chaps assailant. whoever he was
dogged him along that gallery as sool
to the open doorway. and flung hin
through Clear as--as noonday!"
One OF the group. a rather older MAJ
than the rest, who was leaning bacl
In q tilted chair. hands in pockets
watching Sackville Bonham smilingly
shook his head and laughed a little.
You're taking something for granted
saolie. my son !" he said. "You'r
adopting the mason's tale as true. Blu
don't believe the poor man was thrown