Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-28
III1E MIDDLE 7ElMPLEMURDER
A Detective Story by J. S. Fletcher

quiet tongue in your head--no more
talk--or there'll be no annuities on Sat
urday mornings"
SO Spargo took Mother Clutch to the
cashiers department and paid her her
first weeks money, and he got her a
taxicab and paid for it, and saw her
depart, and then he went to the editors
room, strangely thoughtful. The editor
and the proprietor were talking, but
they stopped when Spargo entered and
looked at him eagerly.
II think we've doneFit," said Spargo
quietly. =.
out?" asked the editor.
"a great deal more than I'd antici-
pated," answered Spargo, ''and don't
know what fields 1t doesn't open out.
If you look back, you'll remember that
the Only thing found on Marbury's body
was q scrap Of gray paper on which was
name and address-Ronald Breton,
Kings Bench Walk"
N"Well2" ..,.y....
Breton Is young barrister. Also
he writes bit--I have, accepted two or
three articles of his for our literary
"Wen?"
= Further, he is engaged to Miss Ayl-
more, the eldest, daughter Of Anymore,
the member Of Parliament who has been
charged at Bow street today with the
murder of Marbury."
~ know. Well, what then, Spargo?'
But the most important matter" !"
continued Spargo, speaking very delib-
crately, lis this--that is, taking that
old woman 8 statement to be true, as 1
personally believe 1t is--that Breton, as
he has told me himself Il have seen a
good deal of him) was brought up by
guardian. That guardian is Mr..
Septimus Elphick, the barrister. "
The proprietor and the editor looked
at each other. Their faces wore the
expression of men thinking on the same
lines and arriving at the same conclu.
sion. And the proprietor suddenly
turned or Spargo with a sharp inter-
rogation You think them"
Spargo nodded.
II think that Mr.. Scptimus Elphick
is the Elphick, and that Breton is the
young Maitland of whom Mrs. Clutch
has been talking" he answered e
The editor got up, thrust his hands
in his pockets, and began to pace the
! room.
IF that's so," he said, "if that's
80, the mystery deepens. What do you
propose to do, Spargo?"
II think said Spargo, slowly. II
thing that without telling him anything
of what we have learnt, / should like
to see young Breton and get an in
PRODUCTION from him to Mr.. Elphick.
can make good excuse for wanting an
interview with him. If you will leave il
in my hands"
Eyes, yes!" said the proprietor, wav-
ing hand. Leave it entirely in
Spargo's hands"
Keep me informed said the editor
do what you think. 1t strikes mt
you re on the track"
Spargo left their presence, and, goini
back to his own room, still family red
O.Cnt of the personality of Mrs. Clutch
got hold of the reporter who had beer
present at Bow street when Aylmor
was brought up that morning. Their
was nothing new; the authorities ha
merely asked for another remand. 8
Jar as the reporter knew, Aylmore ha
n nothing fresh to anybody.
Spargo went round to the Temple an
up to ionald Breton's chambers. Ii
found the young barrister just pre-
pairing to leave, and looking UNUSUAL
grave and thoughtful. At sight Q
Spargo he turned back from his QUITE
door, beckoned the journalist to folio,
, him, and led him into an inner room.
II say, Spargo!" he said, as he mo
toned his visitor to take chair. ."Thi
: is becoming something more than seri
, Gus. You know what you told me
, do yesterday as regards Aylmore?"
, ''To get him to tell all?-ies," sal
, Spargo.
! Breton shook his head.
, 'Stratton-his solicitor, you know
: and / saw him this morning before tn
) Doice court proceedings" he contin
ued. II told him of my talk with you
l even went as far as to tell him tina
| his daughters had been to the Watch
: man office, Stratton and both begge
him to take your advice and tell al
everything, no matter at what cost
his private feelings. We pointed ou
to him the serious nature of the evi
| dence against him; how he had damage
himself by not telling the whole trut
, Mt once; how lie had certainly done
great deal to excite suspicion agains
himself; how, as the evidence stands q
present, any jury could scarcely do les
than convict him. And 1t w@ all n
good, Spargo!"
'IIe won't say anything?"