Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-02
TEIEMLDDLET'ElNPL LEMURDEP
A Detective Story by j. S. Fletcher

how i notice things ] saw that the
papers were stained with age, and that
the red tape was faded to mere
washed out pink" "
,"Good--good!" murmurcd Spargo
Excellent Proceed, sir"
lie put his hand under the top
most papers and drew out an .envcl-
ope, continued Mr. Criedir. From
the envelope he produced an exceed
ingly rare, exceedingly valuable set Of
Colonial stamps-the very first ever is
sued. I've just como from Australia, ;
he said. promised a young friend Of
mine out there to sell these stamps for
him in London, and as ] was passing
this way | caught sight Of your shop.
VIII you buy 'em. and how much
will you give for emp y
| Prompt muttered Spargo.
He seemed to me the sort of man
who doesn't waste Words" agreed Mr..
Criedr. well there was no doubt
about the stamps, nor about their
great value. But I had to explain
to him that ! was retiring from bust
ness that very day, and did not wish
to enter into even single deal, and
that, therefore | couldu't do anything.
No matter he iIys, i dare say there
are lots OF men IN your line of trade
perhaps YOU can recommend me to
good frm?' 4 could recommend you
to q dozen extra good firms ! an
swered. But ! can do better for you.
|1'll give you the name and address of
a private buyer who. haven't the
least doubt, will be very glad to buy
that set from you and will give you a
big price. Write it down, he says,
and thank you for Your trouble So
j gave him a bit Ot advice as to the
price lie ought 10 get. and I wrote the
pame and address Of tho man | referred
to on the back of on, OF my cards.
Whose name and address, asked
Spargo.
Mr.. Nicholas. Cardlestouc. ., Pilcox
Buildings, Middle Temple Lane re-
piled Mr., Cricdir. MIR. Cardlestone
is one of the most enthusiastic and
accomplished philatelsts in Europe.
Aud ! knew he didn't possess that set
of stamps"
~ know Mr.. Cardlestonc. re-
marked Snarso. 1T was at the. foot
of his stairs that Marbury was found
murdered"
''Just so. said Mr.. Cricdr. (which
makes me think that he was going to
see Mr. Cardlestone when he was set
upon murdered and robbed"
Spargo looked fxedly at the retired
stamp dealer.
"What, going to see an elderly gen
tleman in his rooms in the Temple, to
offer to sell him phiateic rarities at
past midnieht?" he said. II think
not much y
IAN right" replied Mr.. Criedir.
"You think and argue on modern lines
| which are, of course, highly superior.
| Hnt--how do you account for my hav-
| ing given Marbury Mr.. Cardestone's :
| address and for his having been found
| dcad--murdercd- the foot of Car
dicstone's stairs few hours later"
II don't account for it, said
Spargo. I'm trying to-
| Mr.. Cricdir made no comment on
| his. lie looked his visitor up and
down for n moment; gathered some
idea of his capabilities and suddenly
offered him a cigarette.
Spargo accepted it with nconic
word Of thanks. and smoked halfway
through Il before he spoke again.
YES" hr said. I'm trying to ac-
count. And ! shall account. And I'm
much obliged to you, Mr.. Credir, for
what you've tokl me. Now. then, may
| ask you question or two?"
"a thousand! !" responded Mr.. Cric
dir with great geniality.
Very well. Did Marbury say he'd
call on CardlestoneT"
HE did. Said he'd call as soon as
he ,could--that day,
'.Havc you told Cardlestone what
you've Just told mc?"
II have. But not until an hour ago
on my way back from your Office, in
! fact. | met him in Fleet street and told
him."
'1lad he received call from Mar
bury?'
"No Never heard of or seen the man.
At least. never heard of him until he
heard of the murder. He told me he
and his friend, Mr.. Elphick. another
philatelist. went to see the body, won
dering if they could recognize it as any
man they'd ever known, but they
couldn't
~ know they did" said Spargo. 81
saw 'em at the mortuary. um Well
one more question. When Marbury
left you, did he put those stamps il
his box again, as bebrc?'
NO" replied Mr.. Criedir, "He put
them in his right hand breast pocket,
off swinging it in his left hand"
Spargo went away down Fleet street,
seeing nobody. He muttered to himself.
and he was still muttering when he got
into his room at the Office. And what he
muttered was the same thing, repeated
over and over again
six hours-six hours--six hours !.
Those six hours !"
Next morning the Watchman came
out with four loaded columns of up
date news about the Marbury case,
and right across the top Of the four
ran a heavy double line of great capi.
tails, black and staring:
Who Saw John Marbury Between 3 10
p. NJ. and 9.15 p. NJ. on the Day
Preceding His Murder?