Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-10
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Detective Story by J. S. Fletcher

mare: all that he saw was mapnifed
and heightened; the darkening skv
above; the faint outlines OF the tower.
ing hills: the gaunt specters OF fir ana
pine; the figure Of Breton forging stol.
idly and surely ahead. Now the ground
was soft and spongy under his feet now
1t was stony. and rugged; more than
once he caught an ankle In the wire
like heather and tripped, bruising his
knees.
And in the end he resigned himself 70
Keeping his eye on Breton, outlined
against the sky, and following doggedly
In his footsteps.
WAS there no other way than tbisp,
he asked. after long interval of q;
lence. "Do you mean to saw those
two Elphick and Csrdlestone-would
take this way?"
There is another way-down the
valley. by Tbwaite Bridge and Har.
draw" answered Breton, "but it's
miles and miles round. This Is a
straight cut across country, and in day
light it's delightful walk But nj
night - Cad = here's the rain, Spar.
got"
The rain came down as it does in
that part Of the world, with O sudden.
ness that was as fierce as it was heavy.
The whole of the gray night was blotted
out; Spargo was only conscious that he
stood In vast solitude and was being
gradually drowned. But Breton. whose
sight was keener, and who had more
knowledge Of the situation, dragged his
companion into the shelter Of a group
OF rocks. He laughed little as they
huddled closely together.
This is a different sort Of thing to
pursuing detective work in Fleet Street
spargo,'' he said. "You would come
on, you know"
I'm going on il we 60 through cata.
II might have been induced to stop at
the Moor Cock overnight IL we hadn t
heard OF that chap in front. IL he's
after those two he's somebody who
knows something. What 1 can't make
out is-wbo he can be-"
"Nor :" said Breton. 81 can't think
Of anybody who knows OF this retreat.
But-has IL ever struck you, Spargo,
that somebody besides yourself may have
been investigating?" I'D.
Possible" replied Spargo. Zone
never knows. only wish we'd been a
few hours earlier. For I wanted to
have the first word with those two."
The rain ceased as suddenly as 1t had
come, Just as suddenly the heavens
cleared. And going forward to the top
of the ridge which they were then cross
ing. Breton pointed an arm to some :
thing shining far away below them.
You see that?" he said. "That's
q sheet Of water lying between us and
Cotterdale. We leave that on our right
hand, climb the fell beyond it. drop
down into Cotterdale, cross two more
ranges Of fell, and come down into
Fossdale under Lovely Seat. There's &
a good two hours and half stiff pull
yet. Spargo. Think you can stick it?"
Spargo set his teeth.
Go .on !" he said.
Up hill. down dale, now up to his
ankles in peaty ground, now tearing his
shins. now bruising his knees, Spargo,
yearning for the London lights, the
well paved London streets, the convent
ent taxicab. even the humble omni-
bus. plodded forward after his guide.
1t seemed to him that they walked for
ages and had traversed whole cont
nent OF mountains and valley when at
last Breton. hating on the summit Of
a wind-swept ridge, laid one hand on
his companions shoulder and pointed
downward with the other.
"There!' he said. There"
That's the cottage" said Breton.
Late as 1t is, you see. they're up.
And here's the toughest bit of the jour
ney. It'll take me all my time to find
the track across this moor, Spargo, so
step carefully after me-there are bogs
and holes hereabouts."
|, Another hour had gone by ere the
two came to the cottage. Sometimes
the guiding light had vanished, blotted