Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-13

can the same" he said, addressing
him, 1--WE shan't release you, because we
believe you're concerned in the murder
Of John Marbury. We're justified in
holding you on that account
"All right, my young friend" said
Myerst. Have your own stupid way.
But said I'd tell you the plair truth.
Well, the plain truth is that / know
no more of the absolute murder Of your
father than I know Of what is going on
In Timbuctoo at this moment! / do
not know who killed John Maitland.
That's a fact! 1t may have been the
old man in there who's already at his
own last gasp, or 1t mayn't. / tell
you L dor't know-though, like you,
Spargo, I've tried hard to find out.
"You expect us to believe that?" ex-
claimed Breton incredulously.
Believe it or not. ais you like-it's
the truth" answered Myerst. Now,
look here-I said nobody knew as much
of this affair as l know, and that's true
also.
And here's the truth Of what know.
The old man in that room. whom you
know as Nicholas Cardlestone, Is in
reality Chamberlayne, the stockbroker,
of Market Milcaster, whose name was
so freely mentioned when your father
was tried there. That's another fact !"
"How," asked Breton, sternly, "can
you prove it? How do you know it?"
BECAUSE" replied Myerst, with a
cunning grin, 81 helped to carry out his
mock death and burial-I was a So
licitor in those days. and my name was
us at it: Chamberlayne's nephew: a
dnnfnr pf M rpputatinp. opd nvsplf
We carried 1t out very cleverly and
Chamberlayne gave us FIVE thousand
pounds apiece for our trouble. 1t was
not the first time that had helped him
and been well paid for my help. The
first time was in connection with the
Cloudhampton Hearth and Home Mu-
tual Benefit Society affair-Aylmore, or
Ainsworth, was as innocent as a child
in that t!-Chamberlayne was the man
at the back. But, unfortunately,
Chamberlayne didn't proft-he lost all
he got by it, pretty quick. That was
why he transferred his abilities to Mar
ket Milcaster."
"You can prove all this, suppose?"
EVERY word-every- letter! But
about the Market Milcaster affair ::
Your father, Breton, was right in what
he said about Chamberlayne having all
the money that was got from the bank.
He had-and he engineered that mock
death and funeral so that he could dis
appear. and he paid us who helped him
generously, as I've told you. The thing
couldn't have been better done. When
it was done. the nephew disappeared I;
the doctor disappeared Chamberlayne
disappeared. l had bad luck-to tell
you the truth, ] was struck off the
rolls for technical offense. So I
changed my name and became Mr..
And it was not until three years ago
that found Chamberlayne. l found
him in this way: After became sec
retary to the Safe Deposit Co., / took
chambers in the Temple. above Car
dlestone's. And I speedily found out
who he was. Instead of going abroad,
the old fox--though he was a compare
lively young 'un. then had shaved
off his beard, settled down in the TEN =
pie and given himself up to his two
hobbies. collecting curiosities and
stamps. There he'd lived quietly all
these years, and nobody had ever rec
ognized or suspected him. Indeed. !
don't see how they could he lived such
tions. his old port, and his little whims
and fads. Butt knew him !"
"And you doubtless profited by your
recognition" suggested Breton.
81 certainly did. He was glad to
pay me nice sum every quarter to hold
my tongue" replied Mverst. land
was glad to take it and. naturally. ]
gained a considerable knowledge Of him.
He had only one friend--Mr. Elphick
in there. Now, I'll tell you about
him."