Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-14
~ co,yrioht, 1870. Alfred, A.. Knopt.
o.pI1Trt oopITr tDJ9g0 1870, bD the Public Ledger co
ru1s STARTS THE STORY

THIS STAhIS lHn SlVNA
Frank Spargo, London newspaper
~, sees tlDo men peering into the
sfr.,er of an alleytouy and finds there
o,,yrdered man, knoton as John Mar
J tar. Secretary to safe deposit
mnopv tells of Mdrbury renting
~" and dcpositing in II a small leather
~ but whon official examination is
.yode The bor is found to DO empty.
~ a. Inc coroner'S inquest Stephen
Fillmore, N. P, admits to have taken
Marbury to his rooms IN the Temple
t5e niqht of the murder after IL
n,crook. and that he knep him t,oenty
v(ars dgo, but ,oill not tell in phdt
ssrneotion he kneto him. Spdrgo and
Pothburv examine the leather boa and
S;.corer a ohild's photograph and
.;ircr beroldio device in the lining of
Ibe Id. Spargo makes trip to Mar
nSj Miicaster, carrying tUith him the
.J,sr niece and photograph. At the
Vsliow Dragon, iohero he puts up,
1 ~ foNs in teith three very old men
%"st5sred % there for a nightly confab.
slThere's Mr.. Quarterpage coming
ocross the street noto," announced the
Trmaid, "shaH / put the things on
the table" "Ayc, put them on, hare
ali in readiness"
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES
THE barmaid thereupon place round
l table before the sacred chairs, set
mt upon it fine old punch bowl and
tbe various ingredients for making
nunch, box of cigars, and an old
iaoden tobacco box, and she had just
completed this interesting prelude to
tbe evenings discourse when the door
onened again and in walked one of the
most remarkable old men Spargo had
ever seen. And by this time. knowing
that this was the venerable Mr.. Benja :
min Ouarterpage. of whom Crowfoot
had told him, he took good stock of the
newcomer as he took his place among
his friends, who on their part received
! him with ebullitions of delight which
were positively boyish.
Mr.. Quarterpage was youthful buck
Of nincty--a middle sized, sturdily
built man. straight as dart. still
active of limb, clear-cyed and strong
Of voice. His clean shaven old counte-
nance was ruddy as sun warmed pip
pin; his hair was still only silvered
| bis hand was steady as a rock. His
clothes of buff -colored whipcord were
smart and jaunty. his neckerchief as
gay: as if he had been going to fair.
i It seemed to Spargo that Mr.. Quarter
| page had pretty long lease of life be-
I fore him even at his age.
Spargo, in his corner, sat fascinated
while the old gentlemen began their
symposium. Another, making five. came
| In and joined them-the five had the
end of the bar -parlor to themselves.
Mr.. Quarterpage made the punch with
all due soemnity and ceremony; when
! 1t was ladled out each man lighted his
| pipe or took a cigar, and the tongues
/ began to wag. Other folk came and
|went; the old gentlemen were oblivious
| Of anything but their own talk. Now
and then young gentleman of the
town dropped in to take his modest
half-pint of bitter beer and to daily il
the presence of the barmaid such looked
with awe at the patriarchs as for the
natrarchs themselves they were los
| in the past.
Spargo began to understand what tn,
damsel behind the bar meant when she
SAID that she believed she could writ,
history of Market Milcaster since the
year one. After discussing the weather
the. local events of the day. ant
various personal matters, the old fell
lows got to "reminiscences of the
past. telling tale after tale, recalline
incident upon incident of long years be
iore. At last they turned to memories
of racing days at Market Milcaster
ana at that Spargo determined on 6
Dold stroke. Now was the time to gel
some some information. Taking the silver
ticket from his purse, he laid it, tn,
nera!dlc device uppermost, on the palm
Ol % MS hand, and approaching the groul
win Win, polite bow, said quietly:
Hentlemen, can any of you tell m,
anything about that?' " 1''