Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-06
THE MLDDLETEMPLEMURDE
A Detective Story by J. S. Fletcte,

"And you really expect to get some
information through that?' asked Bre.
ton, who came into Spargos room about
noon on the day on which the promis .
ing announcement came out. "You
really dot" ....
Before today is out" said Sparpo
confidently. "There is more magic in
thousand pound reward than Vol,
fancy, Breton. I'll have the history Of
that stick before midnight"
"How are you to tell that YOU won't
be imposed upon?" suggested Breton tm
Anybody can say that he or she stole
the stick"
"Whoever comes here with apy taIo
of a stick will have to prove to me how
he or she got the stick and what wos
done with the stick" said Spargo. az
haven't the least doubt that that sticl,
was stolen or taken away from Ayl-
mores rooms in Fountain Court. md
that It got into the hands Of"
Eyes, of whom"
That's what want to know in some
fashion. I've an idea, already but
I can afford to wait for definite in /.
formation. I know one thing-whep
I get that information--as / shall
we shall be long way on the road
toward establishing Aylmore's limo.
cence."
Breton made no remark upon this.
He was looking at Spargo with a medi
tative expression.
'Spargo," he said, suddenly, "do
you think you'll get that order for the
opening, of the grave at Market Mil
eastern
~ was talking to the solicitors over
the phone just now" answered Spargo.
They've every confidence about Il.
In fact, it's possible 1t may be made
this afternoon. In that case, the open
ing will be made early tomorrow morn
ing;"s, =,
Certainly. And YOU can 20 with
me, IL you like. Better keep in touch
with us all day in case we hear. You
ought to be there--you're concerned"
II should like to go--I will go," said
Breton. "And IL that grave proves Ia
be.-empty-Fll-I'll tell you some
thing"
Spargo looked up with sharp instinct.
"Never mind-wait until We see Il
that coffin contains a dead body or lead
cud sawdust. If there's no body
there
At that moment one Of the senior
messenger boys came in and approached
Spargo. His Countenance. usually sub
dued to an official stolidity, showed signs
Of something very like excitement
There's IA man downstairs asking
for you, Mr.. Spnrgo," he said.
Hes been hanging about a bit, sir
seems very shy about coming up. HC
won't say what he wants. and he won
fill up form, sir. Says all he wants il
word or two with you"
Bring him up at once ~ commanded
Spargo. lie turned to Breton when tn,
boy had gone. There !" he said
laughing. "This is the man about tn,
stick--you see if it isn't"
You're such cocksure chap
Spargo," said Breton. You're always
going on straight line"
Trying to, you mean" .retorteC
spargo. "Well, stop here and heal
what this chap has to say: it'll no doub
be amusing"
The messenger boy, deeply conscious
that he was ushering into Spargo's foon
an individual who might shortly carr,
away thousand pounds Of good Watch
man money in his pocket, opened tn,
door and introduced q shy and self
conscious young man, whose nervous
ness was painfully apparent to every
body and deeply felt by himself, ii,
halted on the threshold, looking roun(
the comfortably furnished room, and a
the two well dressed young men which
it framed as IL he feared to enter on {
scene of such grandeur.
Come in, come in ~ said Spargo
rising and pointing to an easy chair al
the side of his desk. Take seat
You've called about that reward, o.
course
The man in the chair eyed the two Of
them cautiously, and not without sus
picion. He cleared his throat with q
palpablc effort.
"Of course" he said. cts all OF
the strict private. Name of Edward
Mollison, SIR"
"And where do you live, and what
do you?" asked Spargo.
''You might put it down Rowtor
House, Whitcchapel, answered Edward
Mollison. "Lcastways, that's where
generally hang out when / can afford it
And-window cleaner. LcaStways,
was window cleaning whcn--whcu---"
"When you came in contact with tho
stick we've been advertising about, "
suggested SpargO. Just so. We'll,
Mollison--what about the stick"
Molison looked round at the door. and
then ut the windows, and then at Bre-
ton.