Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-28
CHAPTER xxyI
Still Silent

CyPARGO dropped his pen on the desk
( tObefore him with sharp clatter that
made Mrs. Clutch jump, A steady
devotion to the bottle had made her
nerves to be none Of the strongest, and
.she looked at the startler Of them with
'Sengry malevolence.
xAV"Don't do that again, young man y
abe exclaimed sharply. ~ can't a-bear
10 be Jumped out Of my skin, and it's
bad manners. observed that the gen.
tlemans name was Elphick."
* Spargo contrived to, get in glance
at his proprietor and his editor--a
glance which came near to being a
wink. ..a
~ "Just so--Elphick, he said. "a
law gentleman l think you said, Mrs.
, GutchT'
II said" answered Mrs. Clutch, las
how he looked like lawyer gentle
man. And since you're so particular
young man, though wasn't addressing
you but your principals, he was
that wears wigs and gowns-ain't ]
seen his picture in Jane Baylis's room
at the boarding house where you saw
her this morningT'
Elderly MANI asked Spargo.
Elderly he will be now," replied
the informant; but when he took TN,
boy away he was n middle aged man.
About his nge," she added. pointing to
the editor in fashion which made
that worthy man vince and the pro-
n prietor desire to laugh unconsumetly !,
nI ilrn
being one as had no hair on his face. 1"
2. "Ah ~ said Spargo. And where
did this Mr.. Eiphick take the boy, Mrs.
! Gutch?"
But Mrs. Clutch shook her head.
=, "Ain't no idea she said. 'Hc
took him. Then, as ! told you. Matt
land came, and Jane Bayis told him
that the boy was dead. And after that
she never eve tod me anything abOut
the boy. She kept tight tongue.
Once or twice l a ,ked her, and she
says, Never you mind she says
he's. all right for life, If he lives to
be as old as Mcthusalcm.' And she
never said more, and never said more.
But" continued Mrs. Clutch. whose
pocket flask was empty, and who. began
to wipe tears away, shes treated
q, sme hard has Jane Baylis, never allow
Z. ing me little comfort such as lady
of my age should have. and when
hears the two Of you atalking thi>
morning the other side Of that privet
hedge, thinks /, 'Now's the time t.
have my knife into you, my fnC
madam And hope done it.
Spargo looked at the editor and tn,
proprietor, nodding his head slightly
He meant them to understand that h'
had got oil he wanted from Mothei
Clutch. e.
"What are you going to do. Mrs
Clutch, when you leave here?" he
asked. You shall be driven straigh
back to Bayswater, if you like"
(Which / shall be obliged for, yount
man" said Mrs. Clutch. ''and like
wise for the first week Of the an
nuity, and will call every Saturday TO
the same at IL punctual, or can b.
posted to me on Friday, whichever i
agreeable to you gentlemen. And having
my first week in my purse, and bein
driven to Bayswater, / shall take III.
boxes and go to a friend of mine whcr
] shall be hearty welcome, shaking tn
dust of my feet off against Jane Bayii
and where I've been living with her"
Spargo, with some anxiety, "if 20,
go back there tonight, you'll be yer.
careful not to tell Miss Baylis tha
!, you've been here and told us all this =
" Mrs. Clutch rose, digrifed and com
Z posed.
Young man." she said ''you meal
well, but you amt used to dealing witt
ladies. l can keep my tongue as still a
anybody when l like. wouldn't tel
Jane Baylis my affairs-my new affairs
gentlemen, thanks to you-not for TIVE
annuities, paid twice a week -
Take Mrs. Clutch downstairs, Spar
~ 20, ard see her all right, and then com,
to my room" said the editor. "AnC
don't you forget, Mrs. Gutch-keep {