Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-24
|THE MIDDLE TEMPLE MURDER
A Detective Story by J. S. Fletcher

my name and address on him. Now.
If | had been we'll known man in my
!. profession, you know, why
Yes, said Spargo, as they got into
cab, 'yes, that would have explained
a lot. IL seems to me that we'll get
at the murderer through that scrap OF
paper lot quicker than through Rath =
bury's line. Yes, that's what | think. -
Breton looked at his companion with
interest
"But--you don't know what Rath :
bury's line is," he remarked.
Yes, / do" said Spargo. "Rath-
| is with whom Marbury left the Anglo
| Orient Hotel last night. That's his
| line
And you want---?'
II want to find out the full signifi =
cance of that bit of paper, and who
wrote it," answered Spargo. ~ want
to know why that old man was coming
to you when he was murdered.
Breton started.
by Jove!" he exclaimed. IL
never thought of that You--you really
think he was coming to Inc when he
was struck DOWN."
Certain. Hadn't he got an ad :.
dress in the Temple? Wasn't be in
the Temple? OF course, he was trying
to find you. -
'But-the late hour?"
No matter. How else can you cx-
plain his presence in the Temple,
think he was asking his way. That's
why | want to make some inquiries in
this block
1t appeared to Spargo that con
siderable number Of people, chiefly Of
the Office boy variety were desirous of
| making Inquiries about the dead man.
BEING luncheon hour, that bit of Mid l.
die Temple Lane where the body was
| found was thick with the inquisitive
and the sensation SEEKER, for the news
of the murder had spread, and though
there was nothing to see but the bare
stones on which the body had lain, there
were more open mouths and staring eyes
around the entry than Spargo had seen
for many a day.
And the nuisance had become so great
that the occupants of the adjacent
chambers had sent for policeman to
move the curiouk away, and when
Spargo and his companion presented
themselves at the entry this policeman
was being lectured as to his duties by
little weazen faced gentleman, in
very snuffy and old fashioned garments.
and an ancient silk hat, who was
obviously greatly exercised by the un =
wonted commotion.
Drive them all out into the street ~
exclaimed this parsonage. Drive them
all away, consta able-into Fleet street or
upon the Embankment-anyw so
long as you rid this place of them.
This is a disgrace, and an inconveni
ence, nuisance, Il"
That's old Cardlestone," whispered
Rratrp nlwDVS irpspihIp and
I don't suppose We'll get anything out
of him. Mr.. Cardlestone,' he con
tinucd, making his way up to the old
gentleman who was now retreating up
the stone steps, brandishing an UNI
| brella as ancient as himself, Il was
just coming to see you, sir. This is
Mr.. Spargo, a journalist, who is much
interested in this murder. He"
81 know nothing about the murder
my dear sir - exclaimed Mr.. Cardle-
stone. "And I never talk to journal
| ists-a pack of busybodies, sir, saving
your presence. | am not aware that
any murder has been committed, and
object to my doorway being filled by @
pack of Office boys and street loungers
Murder indeed I suppose the man fel
down these steps and broke his neck
drunk, most likely"
He opened his outer door as HI
spoke, and Breton, with a reassurinl
smile and nod at Spargo, followed
him into his chambers on the first land
ing, motioning the journalist to keel
at their heels.
Mr.. Elphick tells me that he was
with you until late hour last evening
| MIR. Cardlestone," he said. 'Of course
neither of you heard anything suspi'
cious?'
''What should we hear that was sus
picious in the Temple, sir?' demanded
Mr.. Cardlestone, angrily. II hope th'
Temple is free from that sort of thing
young Mr.. Breton. Your respected
guardian and myself had quiet eve
ming on our usual peaceful pursuits
and when he went away all was as
quiet as the grave, sir. What may
have gone on in the chambers above
and around me I know not! Fortu
nately, our walls are thick, sir-sub
stantial. / say, sir, the man probably
fell down and broke his neck. What
he was doing here, I do not presume
Ito say
"Well, it's guess, YOU know, Mr..
Cardlestone," remarked Breton, again
winking at Spargo. But all that was
found on this man was scrap OF
paper on which my name and address
were written. That's practically all
that was known of him, except that
he'd just arrived from Australia"
fcpNrINIrEr NfoNnAv,