Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-11
THE PARADISE MYSTERY
- sr.Brs THE STORY
BY j. S. Fletcher
Copyright. 1890. BY Alfred A. knop,, Inc

asks lor ;Dter Dgss0, ,s found dead at the
minMe0 sainf Wryfhd's stair. Warner,
FOOT 0 ,,ason, says he sdto the man
so W., from a balcony. Later a group
Wo%n W,"Sn discuss the. matter. Ihe theory
y advanced hdt me nsam ~ Suppor thr o,oumd und
tel; ,arSer m, Insisted that he had seen
hdt hand At the inquest nothing
Gman,on maan 10 fdsten the guilt on any
SrV nerson the Duke OF Sdronstedde
o"' o"'.ggicd 10 the ioitness sfdM ana
Brycg,,, "oitsnfipe. might he have
tshs,w J ny appointment aud business Utth
ATM u,,,,
n,,r bIs Grace knew nothing. He had
b rovsr heard the name of John Braden
4. h,s ,ife-so far as he remembered. He
,,d inst seen the body Of the unfor-
,nrote man and had looked carefully at
M features. He was not a man OF
..hor, he had any knowledge whatever
Ma could not recollect ever having seen
Mn, anywhere at any time. He knew lit
.,.llv nothing of him--could not think
A. any reason at all why this Mr.. John
praden should wish to see him.
"your Grace has. no doubt, had busi-
,,ss dealings with a good many people
Al one time or another" suggested the
coroner. Some of them, perhaps. with
men whom your Grace only saw for
bref space of tlme--a few minutes,
posslbly. You don't remember ever see
ug this man in that way"
"Im credited with having an un-
usually good memory for faces" an
swered the duke. "And--if | may say
brightly. But I don't remember this
man at ail--ln fact, I'd go as far as to
nm that I'm positive I've never---know-
| lngly--set eyes on him in my life.'
TCan your Grace suggest any reason
n ali why he should wish to call on
| sou?p asked the coroner.
"None! But then" replied the. duke,
sthere might be many reasons--unknown
10 me, but at which can make n guess.
| n he was an antiquary, there are lots
| Of old things at Saxonsteade which ne
might wish to see. Or he might be
Ioyer of pictures-our collection Is a bit
| famous, you know. Perhaps he was a
| bookman--we have some rare editions.
| could 60 on multiplying reasons-but
10 what purpose?'
"The fact Is, your Grace doesn't know
| him and knows nothing about him." OBJ
served the coroner.
"Just no-nothing agreed the duke,
and stepped down again.
II was at this stage that the coroner
ssnt the jurymen away in charge of his
officer to mako a careful personal inspec-
| ton Of the gallery In the clerestory. And
while they were gone there was some
commotion caused in the court by the
entrance OF a police official who con-
Quoted to the coroner a middle-aged,
wtll.dressed man whom Bryce at once
set down az London commercial mag
nate Of some quality. Between the new
arrival and the coroner an interchange
Of remarks was at once made, shared in
presently by some OF the oificialS at the
| table.
And when the jury came back the
stranger was at once ushered into the
witness box. and the coroner turned to
the Jury and the court.
We are Unexpectedly able to get
some evidence of identity, gentlemen"
he observed. The gentleman who has
Just stepped into the witness box is
Mr. Alexander Chilstone, manager of
the London and Colonies Bank, In
1hreadneede street. Mr.. Chilstone saw
PARTICULARS of this matter in the news
papers this morning. and he at once
set off to WINCHESTER to tell US what
much obliged to Mr.. Chilstone-and
when he has been sworn he will perhaps
kindly tell US what he can"
In the midst of the murmur of sem
ation which ran round tho court.
Bryce ndulged himself with a covert
looH at Ransford. VINO was sitting op-
| posite him. beyond the table In the
| center OF the room. He saw at once
That Ransford however strenuously he
might be fighting to keep his face un-
csr control, was most certainly agitated'
10y the coroner's announcement. His
Cheeks had paled. his eyes were a little
dIated his lips parted as he stared at
the bank altpppfbar Wno
more than mere curiosity that was indi-
Gated on his features. And Bryce, salts
ned and secretly clated. turned to hear
wnat Mr.. Alexander Chilstone had to
That was not much-but It was of
considerable Importance. Only two days
Hiore, said Mr., Chilstone-that was. on
,ne day previous to his death--Mr. John
Braden had called at the London and
yolones Bank, OF which he, Mr.. Chill
sIohe' was manager, and introducing
himseif as having just arrived in Eng
t0H tsna rom Austral "a, where. he said he
nay been living for some years, had
asked to be allowed to open an account.
ne produced some references from
agents of the London and Colonies
psnK In Melbourne, which were highly
ssustaCtory; the account being opened,
se paid into 1t a sum OF 10000 in a
sssn,o sssIt al sight drawn by one of those
IL,
osssmsrklng os casually that he had plenty
Z! money In his pocket for the present
NJ Glu not even take the check book
rnWin snIGh was offered him, saying that he
would it call for It later.
Iob1eer did not give us any address In
nTImuoh' nor In England" continued the
,giesS' srsi,' He told me that he had only
mrmed mnI at Charing Cross that very
SSVL,nlng, having Travelled from Paris
ss,,ins tne hight. He said that he should
~ ,'e Gown for time at some residen-
tjn. Ns hotei IN London. and in the mean
h raI ne hau one or two calls, or visits,
t,e ~ make in the country; when he re-
sam surhed from them. ne said, he would
tIa IN, u. me again. He gave me very lit
nv, No information about himself: IL was
ovr NECESSARY for his references from
asents IN Australia were quite sat
baS 1917, H,E, But he did mention that he
bbsd bsS oeen out there for some years, and
siva sSa speGuated in landed propertyHhe
in 'G Rsaid said that he was now going to settle
n, EIsiand for good. That" concluded
cw, c GnlIstone, rs all ] can tell of my
Gwn IN. knowledge But" he added, draw
an newspaper from his pocket, here
This lis" rnrrI onrrrgIrtisement which I noticed in
YoT ,,Ti ".V, hihg Times as ! came down. |
4 ~ u WI observe" he said, as he passed
b,sw W tne coroner, that II has certainly
toner" ~ oul unfortunate Gus
paSso.. |VIoner glanced at marked |
''W'Ss, 'nrs, and read It aloud,
anpomSoaS n" advertisement is as follows" he
Morddtt this meets the eye of old friend
eS to 80, son ne wv, wlll learn that Sticker wish
caro sec @ nm again. Write J. Braden.
TTSSIe TSreo, Of London and Colonies Bank
R"u'eedle Rrvnu street London."'
Rans;oe, was Keeping a quiet eve on
ieynTD g., Was he mistaken in he
sSSo sS% his cheek flush as he heard ,I' the he
hS Amusement wss read out? He believed
ripbt VAS not mistaken; but IL he was
gained hfGSinsford fSi the next instant re-
no sign 'ui' control Of himself and made
oner and "u n,i,n bryce turned again to cor
,xcep, tne tO witness had no more to say,
bourne 20 suggest that the banks Mel.
!rfOrmatTiGSSen TiSen'S S,nn should be cabied to for
much mora since II was unlikely that |