Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-06

rection In which, ten minutes before. he
nad sent the strange man. He had
rSoms IN quiet lane on the farther side
ent intention was to go to them to leave
MS bag and make some further arrange
menus. ne had no Idea Of leaving Wry-
c,hester-he knew Of another doctor In
the city, who was badly in need Of help
ne would go to him--would tell him, II
need be. why he had left Ransford. He
had a multiplicity of schemes and ideas
IN his head and he began to consider
some OF them as he stepped out Of the
Close into the ancient inclosure which
an Wrychester folk knew by It's time
honored name OF Paradise. This was
really an outer. court Of the old cloisters
It's nigh walls, half-ruinous. almost
panse Of turf, literally furnished with
yew and cypress and studded with
tombs and gravestones. In one corner
rose gigantic elm; In another broken
high In the walls Of the nave across
the inclosure itself was a pathway
which led toward the houses in the
southeast corner of the close. It was a
eurlous, gloomy spot, little frequented
save by people who went across 1t rather
than follow the graveled paths outside.
and II was untenanted when Bryce step
ped into II. But just as he walked
through the archway he saw Ransford.
Ransford was emerging hastily from a
postern door in the west porch--so has
tily that Bryce checked himself to look
at him. And though they were twenty
yards apart, Bryce saw that Ransford's
face was very pale. almost to whiteness
and that he was Enthusiastically agitated.
instantly he connected that agitation
with the man who had come to the sur
| gerry door.
They've met! !" unused Bryce. and
stopped. staring after Ransford's re-
treating figure. Now what Ia It in the
ford? He looks like man who's had
nasty. unexpected shock--a bad 'un "
He remained standing in the arch
way, gazing after the retreating figure,
until Ransford had disappeared within
his own garden still wondering and
speculating but not about his own at
fairs. he turned across Paradise at last
| and made his way toward the farther
corner. There was n little wicket gate
there. set In the ivied wall: as Bryce
| opened II, a man In the working dress
| Of a stone mason, whom he recognized
as being one of the master masons
staff, came running out of the bushes.
His face too was white. and his eyes
nizing Bryce. he halted. painting.
what is It. varner?" asked Bryce
calmly. Something happened?"
The man swept his hand across his
forehead as II he were dazed. and then
jerked his thumb over his shoulder. G..
"a mani" he gasped. Foot OF ST.
wrythas stair there. doctor, Dead--or
II not dead. near II. 7 saw It!
Bryce seized Warmers arm and gave
It shake.
you saw-what?" he demanded. ~,
Saw him-fall Or ratherMhuns !:
who. nohow-hung him right through
yon doorway. UP there. He fell right
| over the steps-crash !"
Bryce looked over the tops of the
and expresses ncb al tHs Hsrnep poiSted
"a low, open archway gained ny tne
half-ruinous stair. 1t was forty rect AZ
least from the ground. 49,
"You saw him-thrown he & ex'
"Teli you I saw It," asserted Warner
doggedly. 81 was looking at one OF
those old tombs yonder-sonebody
wants some repairs doing-ana 'np np
there by the roof I glanced up at them.
And saw this man thrown through
that door-fairly flung through II! Coo
do YOU think could mistake my own
"Did you see who fung him." asked
mo; I saw a hand-just for one sec
ond as 1t might be-by the edge OF the
doorway" answered Warner was
more for watching him. He sort OF
tottered for a second on the step out.
side the door, turned over and screamed
Il can hear It now and crashed down
on the flags beneath
"How long since?" demanded Bryce
: Five or six minutes" said Warner
, IT rushed to him-I've been doing what
I could But saw 1t was no good. SC
I was running for help"
, Bryce pushed him toward the bushes
! by which they we're standing.
Take me to him." he said. Come
on!
Warner turned back. making way
| through the Expresses. He led Bryce tt
, the foot of the great wall of the nave
There in the corner formed by the angle
: of nave and transept. on broad pave
: ment OF fiagstones, lay the body Of q
| man crumpled UP In curiously twisted
position. And with one glance. even
before, he reached 1t. Bryce knew what
body It was--that of the man who had
: come, shyly and furtively. to Ransford's
door.
Look" exclaimed Warner suddenly
: pointing. Hes stirring"
Bryce. whose gaze was fastened on
the twisted figure, saw slight move.
had occurred. Then came stiffness.
That's the end" he muttered The
mans dead I'll guarantee that before
put a hand on him, Dead enough :
he went on, as he reached the body ant
, dropped on one knee by 1t. His neck''
broken"
The mason bent down and looked
half-curiously. half-fearfully, at thu
. dead man. Then he glanced upward
= at the open door high above them in the
walls.
3 TITS fearful drop, that, sir" h,
said. And he came down with sucl
Q violence. You're sure It's over will
him?"
n He died just as we came up.
t answered Bryce. That movement w
! saw was the last effort-involuntary
of course. Look here, Warner !--you'l
y have to get help. You'd better fetcl
some of the cathedral people-some o
the vergers. MOI" he broke off sud
denly, as the low strains of an orgaI
They're just beginning the morninI
service-of course, It's 10 o'clock. Neve
!, mind them--go straight to the police
d Bring them back--Tl stay here"
: The mason turned off toward tn
Q gateway of the close, and while tn
:, strains Of the organ grew louder, Bryc
bent over the dead man. wondering wha
u had really happened. Thrown from al
, | open doorway In the clerestory over 81
i Wrytha's Stair?--it seemed almost i'm
. possible! But a sudden thought strucl
! him--supposng two men. Wishing L
. talk In privacy unobserved, had gone VI
a into the clerestory of the cathedral-a
q they easily could. by more than on
. door, by more than one stair-and sup
I posing they had quarreled, and one o
' them had flung or pushed the othe
n And on the heels of that thought hur
4 ried another-this man, now lying dead
r had come to the surgery, seeking Rams
z ford, and had subsequently gone away
r presumably In search of him. and Bryc
! himself had Just seen Ransford