Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-03

eNeiyihhb
"a. mean about recent matters, re-
them---for reasons of my own. Ever
since Braden was found at the foot OF
those stairs in Paradise, and was
fetched to him, I've interested myself.
more. much moro than's known to any
body"
Folliot threw ono leg over tho other
and began to jog his foot.
''oh" he said after a pause. Dear
me And---what might you know. nov,
doetorp Aught you can tell me---eh?'
tell you you---on H seeing hat dlassdaie had
been with you. Beoause--1 was with
Glassdale this morning"
Folliot made no answer. But Bryce
saw that his cool. almost Indifferent
manner was changing---he was begin
ming. under the surface, to get anxious
continued Bryce, 'Td no idea--and I
don't think he had-that he was coming
to see you. But / know what put the
notion into his head. gave him copies
Of those two reward bills He no doubt
thought he might make a bit--and go
no came In to town. and--to you"
''well?" asked Folliot.
II shouldn't wonder" remarked Bryce
rehectively. and almost as II speaking
to himself II shouldn't at all wonder II
Glassdale's the sort OF man who can be
bought. He, no doubt, has his price
But all that Glassdale knows is nothing
Folliot had allowed his cigar to 81
out. He threw II away, took a. fresh one
from the box, and slowly struck match
and lighted Il.
asked after another pause.
I've a bit of faculty for finding
things out" answered Bryce boldly.
And I've developed Il. ! wanted to
know all about Braden.-.and about who
way of doing all that sort Of thing,
you know. You've got TO 20 back--a
long way back--to the very beginnings.
l won't back--to the time when Braden
but as who he really was---John
Brake. That was at place called
Braden Medworth. near Barthorpe. in
Lelcestershire,"
He paused there watching Tolliot
But F'olliot showed no moro than close
attention, and Bryce went on.
mot much in that---for the really i'm
portant part Of the story" he contin-
ued. But Brake had other associations
with Barthorpe--a bit later. He got to
Barthorpe man who, about the time Of
Brakes marriage, left Barthorpe and
settled In London. Brake and this man
began to have some secret dealings to.
them, too---a man who was a sort OF
partner Of the Barthorpe mans. Brake
had evidently a belief In those men, and
he trusted theni-unfortunately for him.
self he sometimes trusted the banks
--he used to let them have money for
short financial transactions--to be re-
FUNDED within a very. brief space. But
he went to the fire too often. and got
his fingers burned in the end. The two
r,en did him--one Of them in particu.
lar--and cleared out. He had to stand
"He stood It to the tune of ten years
he'd finished his time. he wanted to md
those two men--and began long
names of the men. Mr. Folliot?"
em fo9 ansMsTeS Isnt %eFslHn PeIio. emf you know
The name Of the particular one was
promptly. "of the other-the man Of
lesser importance--F1ood."
The two men looked quietly at each
other for full moments silence. And
II was Bryce who first spoke with n
ring of confidence In his tone which
showed that he knew he had the whip
hand.
Shall I tell you something about
it,s deeply interesting. Mr.. Falkiner
Wr3ye' H.ny' after cheating and deeeiyins
atty Of his overtrustfulness, cleared out
Of England and carried his money-mak-
Ing talents to foreign parts. He sue.
ceeded IN doing wel--he would and
rich widow and settled himself down in
an out-of-the-world English town to
grow roses; You're ;Falklner wraye,
you know. Mr.. Folliot"
accusation. and sitting forward in his
chair pointed first to Folliot's face and
then TO his left hand.
"Falkiner Wraye." he said, had an
which marked him for iifo. He lost the
middle finger Of his left hand, and he
got bad scar on his left jaw. There
they are, those marks Fortunate for
know MI ali HSo tSat nos sns hs Sr R9Ss ssy d9n aS
those marks would have done for you
For a minute or two Folliot sa.
Ssgng ens his ess r1ss bad hag sign ,n in him hnoa Of
Il, While he remained silent he watched
Bryce narrowly, and when he spoke.
his voice was calm as ever,
And what use do you intend to put
your knowledge to. II one may ask7" he
Just now that you'd no doubt that man
Glassdale could be bought, and I'm In
clining to think that you're one Of those
men that have their price. What 10
We've not come to that" retorted
Bryce, You're a bit mistaken. II
have my price, It's not In the same com:
nS,dny mnSdity that diassdaie would want Ru.
sort Of thing, want to add to my stock
OF knowledge. Look here Well be
candid. ! don't care a snap of my
fingers that Brake, or, Braden,s dead, or
his neck broken, and the other was
poisoned, but--whose hand was that
which the mason. Warner saw that
morning. when Brake was fiung out Of
confidentiy @ % That's III It's a 1TY'0 fact f''''''
Bryce hesitated, giving Folliot a
searching look. And Folliot. nodded
sspe ssls%aa ia 'f naussSs sSSg to not DO %Is Win Hs
Then who had2" demanded Bryce,
Was It the other man-Flood? And
n so, who Is Flood?'
Folltot got Up UP from from his S chair and: and:
the tails Of his old coat walked silently
about tho quiet room for while
He was evidently thinking deeply, ana
Bryce made no attempt to disturb him,
Some minutes went, by before .Folliot
took the oigar from his lips and leaning
against the ohimneypiece looked fxedly
at his visitor.
Look here. my Iadr, he said, earn
sssS scoS hand as 1dns HSs' ns you ana
you've doubtless done good bit or
ferreting, and done It well enough in
your own opinion. But there's one thipE
you can't md out. and the police can't
lind out either, and that's the precise
truth about Bradens death. ia no hand
In tit couldn't be fastened on to me.
anyhow"
Bryce looked UP and interJected one
word.
"CollishawT'
Nor that neither" answered FoIiiot,