Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-01
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
A Detective Story by j. S. Fletcher

other. At any rate, here she was. and
her destination was, surely, E!phick's
chambers. And the question for him,
Spargo, was--what to dop
What Spargo did was to remain in
absolute silence, motionless, tense,
where he was on the stair, and TO
trust TO the chance that the woman
did not look up. But Miss Baylis
neither looked up nor down; she
reached a landing. turned along u cor
ridor with decision, and marched for.
ward. A moment later Spargo heard
sharp double knock on a door: a
moment after that he heard door
heavily shut; he knew then that Miss
Baylis had sought and gained admit.
tancc-somewherG.
To find out precisely where the some.
where was drew Spargo down 10 the
landing which Miss Baylis had just
left. There was no one about--hu had
not, in fact, seen soul since he en-
tered the building. Accordingly he
went along the corridor into which he
had seen Miss Baylis turn. lie knew
that all the doors in that house were
double ones, and that the outer oak
in each was solid and, substantial
enough TO be sound proof. Yet, as
men will under such circumstances, he
walked softly; he said to himself, smil.
ing ut the thought, that he would be
sure to start il somebody suddenly
opened a door on him. But no hand
opened any door, and ut last he came
to the end of the corridor and found
himself confronting u small board on
which was painted in white letters on Il
black ground, Mr.. Elphick's Chambers
Having satisfied himself as to his
exact whereabouts, Spargo drew buck as
quietly as he had come. There was II
window half-wa along the corridor
from which, he had noticed as he came
along, one could catch glimpse of the
Embankmcnt and the Thames; to this
he withdrew, and leaning on the sill
looked out aud considered matters.
Should he go and--if he could gain
admittance-beard these two conspira
tors! Should he wait until the woman
came out and let her see that he was on
the track? Should he hide again until
she went, and then see Elphick alone!
In the end Spargo did none of these
things Immediately. lie let things slide
for the moment. lie lighted cigarette
and stared ut the river and the brown
sails, and the buildings across on the
Surrey side. Ten minutes went by
twenty Misunderstanding happened
| Then, as half past nine struck from all
the neighbOring clocks, Spargo flung
away second cigarette. marched
straight down the corridor and knocked
boldly at Mr.. Elphick's door.
Greatly to Spargo'S surprise, the doOl
was opened before there was any neces
sity to knock again. And there, calmly
confronting him, Il benevolent, ye
somewhat deprecating expression on hi
epectacled and p'acid face. stood Mr.
Elphick. n smoking cap on his head.
tasselCd smoking jacket over his dres
shirt, and short pipe in his hand.
Spargo was taken aback: Mr.. Elphic
apparently was not. lie he'd the doc
well open, and motioncd the journals
to enter.
Come in, Mr.. Spargo." he said. {"
was expecting you. Walk forward int
my sitting. room"
Spargo, much ustonished at this re
ception, passed through an antcroon
into a handsomely furnished apartmen
full of books and pictures. In spit
of the fact that it was still very littl
mast midsummer there was CHEEKY fir
in the CRATE, and on II table set near
roomy arm chair was set such crcatur
comforts as spirit case, n syphon,
tumbler and u novcl-frOm whic
things Spargo argued that Mr.. Elphic
had been taking his case since his din
ncr, But in another arm chair on tn
opposite side of the hearth was tn
forbidding figure of Miss Baylis, b'acker
eloomier, more mysterious than ever
She neither spoke nor moved whe
Spargo entered: she did not even loo
at him. And Spargo stood staring u
lao, 4.
his doors, touched him on the elbow
and motioned him courlcousIy to
seat.
"Ycs. / was expecting you, Nj
Sphrgo.' he said us he resumed hi
own chair. Il have been expecting 20
at any time, ever since you took up you
investigation of the Marbury affair, /
some of the earlier stages of which yo
saw me, you will remember, 0t til
mortuary. But since Miss Baylis tol
me twenty minutes ago that you ha
been to her this morning felt sur" tina
it would not be more than few hour
before you would come to me. -
"Why, Mr.. ElphiCk should YOU sup
pose that ! should come TO you at all?'
asked Spargo, now in full possession 0
his wits.
Because l felt sure that you woul,
leave no stone urturned, no corner un
explored" replied Mr.. Elphick. 9Th
curiosity of the modern pressmau is iu
satiable."
Spargo stiffened.
II have no curiosity, Mr.. Elphick,
he said. II am charged by my pape
to investigate the circumstances OF tn
death of the man who was found il
Middle Temple lane, and, il possible, (,
track his murderer, aud"