Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-23
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
4 Detective Story by J. S. Fletcher

We'll look at that, il you please, ;
said Rathbury.
Walters fetched in the register ant
turned the leaf to the previous Say',
entries. They all bent over the deat
mans writing.
sJohn Marbury, Coolumbidgec. New
South Wales, F" said Rathbury. "Ah-
now. | was wondering il that writiu,
would be the same as that on the scraJ
OF paper, Mr.: Breton. But you see, /
ism tits quite different"
Quite different said Breton. He
TOO, was regarding the handwriting will
great interest. And Rathbury noticed
his keen inspection of it, and asked an
other question.
Ever seen that writing before?" b,
suggested.
Never" answered Breton. "And We
there's something very familiar abou
it,"
Then the probability is that yo,
have seen it before" remarked Rath
bury. "Well-now we'll hear q little
more about Marbury's doings here. Just
tell me all you know, Mr.. and Mrs
Walters"
My wife knows most said Walters
Il scarcely saw the mani don't re
member speaking with him
No. said Mrs. Walters. "You
didn t-you weren't much in his way
Well" she continued. 81 showed hin
up to his room. He talked bit
said he'd just landed at Southampton
from Melbourne"
Did he mention his ship?" asked
Rathbury. "But if he didn't, it docsn I
matter, for we can find OUT
Il believe the names on his things. ~
answered the landlaGy. There are
some labels of that sort. Well he
asked for chop to be cooked for him
at once, as he was going out. He had
his chop, and he went out at exactly
] o'clock, saying to me that he expected
he'd get lost, as he didn't know Lon
don well at any time, and shouldn I
know it at all now. He went out
side there saw him--looked about
him and walked off toward Blackfriars
way. During the afternoon the car
you spoke of came for him-from Fis-
kic's. So. of course, judged he'd been
Piccacilly way. But he himself never
came in until 10 o'clock. And then he
brought gentleman with him
"Aye?" said Rathbury. "a gentle
man. now? Did you see him."
Just, replied the landady. "They
went straight up to 20, and / just caught
mere glimpse of the gentleman as they
turned up the stairs. A tall, well built
gentleman, with gray beard. very well
dressed as far as ] could see, with O
top hat and white silk muffer round
his throat, and carrying an umbrella y
And they went to Marbury's room?'
said Rathbury. "What then?"
We'll, then, Mr.. Marbury rang fol
some whisky aud soda, continued Mrs
Wa lters. He was particular to hav,
a decanter of whisky; that, and ,
siphon of soda were taken up there
| heard nothing more until nearly mid
night; then the hall porter told me tha
the gentleman in 20 had gone out, an,
had asked him if there was a nigh
porter-as. of course, there is. He wen
out at half past eleven
And the other gentleman? aske,
Rathbury.
"The other gentleman" answered th
landlady, went out with him. Tn
hall porter said they turned toward tn
station. And that was the last any
body in this house saw of Mr.. Mar
bury. He certainly never came back
That observed Rathbury with
quiet smile. that is quite certain
ina a'am? Well suppose we'd bette
sec. this number 20 room. and have
look at what lie left there" ....
Everything" said Mrs. Walters
lis just as he left it. Nothing's bee
touched"
1t seemed to two of the visitors tina
there was little to touch. On tn
dressing table lay few ordinary arti
cles of toilet--none of them of any quail
ity or value the dead man had evident
been satisfied with the plain necessitie
of life. An overcoat hung from a peg
Rathbury, without ceremony, wen
through the pockets; just as uncere
moniously he proceeded to examin
trunk and bag. and finding both un
locked, he laid out on the bed ever
article they contained and examine
each separately and carefully. An
he found nothing whereby he coul
gather any clue to the dead owner
identity.
"There you are - he said. making a
end of his task. you see, it's ius
the same with these things as with tn
clothes he had on him. There are II
papers-there's nothing to tell who h
| was, what he was after, where he
come from-though that we may fin
out in other ways. But it's not ofte
that man travels without some clue t
his identity. Beyond the fact that som
of this linen was, you see. bought j
Melbourne, we know nothing of him
Yet he must have had papers and none
on him. Did you see anything of hi
money, now, ma'am?" he asked, sud
denly turning to Mrs. Walters. "Di
he pull out his purse in your presence
nowT'
"Yes," answered the landlady wit
promptitude. "He came into the ha
for a drink after he'd been up to hi
room. He pulled out a handful @
gold when lie paid for it--a whole hand
| full. There must have been some thirt
to forty sovereigns and half-sov
ereigns."
(CONTJNJTED TOMORROW