Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-05
rTIIE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
III 4 Detective Story BY J. s. Fletcher

for Charing Gross. They haven't gone
to Paris. That was all blind. For
the present let's 20 back to your cham.
bers. Then I'll talk to you"
Once within Breton's inner room.
with the door closed upon them. Spargo
dropped into an easy chair and looked
at the young barrister with earnest at
teption. ,.r
''Breton ~ he said. 'I believe we're
coming in sight Of land. You want TO
save your prospective father-in law,
don't you?"
'Of coursel" growled Breton. "That
goes without saying. But"
"But you may have to make some
sacrifices in order to do it," said Spargo.
"You SEQ"
Sacrifices exclaimed Breton.
"What--"
"You may have to sacrifice some ideas
You may find that you'll not be able to
think as well Of some people in the
future as you have thought Of them in
the past. For instance, Mr.. Elphick."
Breton's face grew dark.
Speak plainly, sSparso!' he said.
Every well," replied Spargo. "Mr.
Elphick, then, is, in some way con
nected with this affair"
You mean the--murder?"
Il mean the murder. So is Cardle-
stone. OF that I'm now dead certain.
And that's why they're off. i startled
Elphick last night. It's evident that
he Immediately communicated with
Cardlestone, and that they made a
rapid exit. Why?"
why? That's what I'm asking
you! Why? Why? Why?"
Because they're afraid Of something
coming out. And being afraid, their
J first instinct is to run. They've run at
, the first alarm. Foolish-but instinc-
tive"
Breton, who had flung himself into
the elbow chair at his desk, jumped to
his feet and thumped his blottng pad.
"Spargo ~ he exclaimed. "Are you
telling me that you accuse my guardian
and his friend, Mr.. Cardlestone, OF
being-murderers?
Nothing of the sort. I am accusing
Mr.. Elphick and Mr.. Cardlestone OF
knowing more about the murder than
they care to tell or want to tell. l an
also accusing them, and especially your
guardian, Of knowing all about Matt
land, alias Marbury. / made him con
fess last night that he knew this dead
man to be John Maitland.
You did -
''I did. And now, Breton, since it..
~ot to come out, we'll have the truth
Pull yourself together-get your nerves
ready, for you'll have to stand shocl
or two. But / know what I'm talking
about cap prove every word In
going to say to you. And first let mC
ask you n few questions. Do yot
know anything about your parentageT
l. "Nothing-.beyond what Mr.. Elphicl
has told me-"
and what was that?'
THAT my parents were old friend
Of his, who died young, leaving me un
provided for, and that he took me III
and looked after me-"
"And he's. never given you any doc
umertary evidence Of any sort to prov
the truth Of that story?''
''Never! I never questioned hi
statement. Why should II"
You never remember anything o
your childhood-I mean of any persol
who was particularly near you in you
childhood?"
II remember the people who brough
me up from the time l was three year
old. And I have just faint, shadow,
recollection of some woman, tall
dark woman, I think. before that
Miss Baylis.' said Spargo to him
SER. All rlgnC, breton, ne wec
on aloud. "I'm going to tell you tn
truth. I'll tell it to you straight ou
and give you all the explanations after
ward. Your real name is not Breto
at all.
"Your real name Is Maitland, an
J you're the only child of the man VIII
. was found murdered at the foot @
, Cardlestone's staircase -
: Spargo had been wondering ho,
Breton would take this, and he gaze
at him with some anxiety as he got ou
the last words. What would he do?-
what would he say?-what-
Breton sat down quietly at his des
{ and looked Spargo hard between tn
: eyes.
Y prove that to me. Spargo," he said
in hard, matter fact tones. prov
, it to me, every word. Every word
Spargo!"
/ Spargo nodded.
9 II will-every word" he answered
"It's the right thing. Listen, then"
1t was a quarter to twelve. Sparg
Y noticed, throwing glance at the cloc
i outside, as he began his story it wa
- past one when he brought it to an enc
s And all that time Breton listened wit
the keenest attention, only asking
d question, now and then: now and the
Y making n brief note on sheet Of papS
|. which he had drawn to him.
"Thats ALL" said Spargo at last.
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