Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-26

very day Braden was killed. This man
waited until this very. morning and
with him to us this afternoon. and TO.
| night we made search and found
everything Buried-there In Paradise
Dug 'em up, dootorW
Bryce showed no great interest He
took leisurely sip at his liquor and
set down the glass and pulled out his
cigarette case. The two men, watch
Ing him narrowly, saw that his fingers
were steady as rocks as he struck the
Yes" he said. as he threw the match
away. II saw you busy"
In spite of himself Mitchington could
tison. But Jettison was as imperturb-
able az Bryce himself, and Mitchington
raised forced laugh.
You did," he said, incredulously.
And we thought we had It all to our
doctor7'
Young Bewery told me what was 60
Ing on replied Bryce, 30 I took a look
at you. And fetched old Harker to
take a look, too. We all watched you
the boy Harker. and I--out Of sheer
curiosity, of course. We saw you get
up the parcel But, naturally, I didn't
KNOW what was in it---tii now"
Mitehington, thoroughly taken aback
by this candid statement, was at a loss
for words, and again he glanced at Jet
uson. BUT Jettison gave no help, and
Mitehington fell back on himself.
SO you fetched old Harkerr" he said.
"What-what for, doctor? II one may
| ask, you know"
| Bryce made a careless gesture with
| his cigarette.
| "Oh-old Harker's deeply interested in
what's going on" he answered "And as
| young Bewery drew my attention to your
proceedings, why. I thought I'd draw
! Harker's And Harker was-interested." 1"
MitShlngton hesltated before saying
! ha vi a
Ing question. -,
And special reason why he should
| be; doctor2" he asked.
| Bryce put his thumbs in the armhoies
OF his waistcoat and looked half-lazily
| az bis questioner.
DO you know who old Harker really
.roN mo ~ answered Mitchington. =
nes said to be O retired tradesman from
time ago."
Bryce suddenly turned on Jettison.
IL, Sir = exclaimed Jettison. II don't
Know this gentleman--at all I"
Bryce laughed--with his usual touch
or cynical meering.
is. Mitohington." he said. You may as
well know. I thought Mr.. Jettison might
recognize the name. Harker Is no re-
tlred London tradesman--he's a retired
| m,
He was in his day one of the smartest
men In the service Of your department.
Only he's transposed his name-ask
them at the yard II they remember Har-
Mitch!ngton: Well, as you're here. per-
haps I'd better startle you a bit more. "
There was n sudden determination
and alertness In Bryoe's last words
which oontrasted strongly, and even
differences that had characterized him
since his visitors carne In and the two
men recognized It and glanced question
ingly at each other. There was an al.
teration. too, In his manner: instead OF
lounging lazlly In his cnnlr. as II he
had no other thought than Of persona
ease. he was now sitting erect. looking
sharply from one man to the other. HIS
whole attitude. bearing, speech seemed
to indicate that he had suddenly made
up his mind to adopt some definite course
Of action.
"I.I tell you more" he repeated
And since you're here-now!
MItchington. who felt a curious un.
easlness. gave Jettison another glance
And this time II was Jettison who spoke
II should say" he remarked: quietly
knowing what I've gathered OF tn,
, information Doctor Bryce can give us.
"Oh. to be sure" assented Mitching
ton, You know more. then, doctor?'
Bryce motioned his visitors to draw
their chairs nearer to his. and when he
spoke It was In the low. concentrated
tones of n man who means business
and confidential business.
, Now look here. Mitchlngton." ht
said. "and you too. Mr.. JettisOn, ~
you're on this job-I'm going TO talI
straight to both OF you. And TO begir
with. I'll make a bold assertion-I know
more of this wrychester Paradise mys.
Braden and Coilishaw-than any mar
living. because. though you don't know
It, Mitchington, I've gone right into It
And I'll tell you In confidence why
went into it--I want to marry Doctor
Ransford's ward. Miss Bewery."
Bryce accompanied this candid admis
sion with look which seemed t" say
} Here we are. three men Of the world
who know, what things areMwe under
merely nodded comprehendingly. Mitch
ington put his thoughts into words
ITO be sure, doctor, to be sure" he
said. "And ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS theiI
affairs IL yours. OF COURSE"
Something like that assented Bryce
Naturally no man wishes to marry un'
less he knows as much as he can get 70
know about the woman he wants, her
family, her antecedents. and all that
Now, pretty nearly everybody In Wry-
chester who knows them knows that
there's mystery about Doctor ltans,
ford and his two wards--it's been talked
OF no end among the old dowagers
and gossips OF the close. particularly
you know what they are. Miss Bewery
herself and her brother, young Dick, In
q lesser degree, know there's II mystery
And n there's any man In the woric
who knows the secret. It's Ransford
And up to now. Ransford won't tell
he won't even tell Miss Bewery, I know
that she's asked him--he keeps up an OBJ
stnats silence AT ana nSs.l so1i determined s'
"Aye-and when did you start on that
little game, now, doctor?" asked Mitch
ington. was It before. or since thi'
affair DEVELOPER"
I'm a really serious way-since,' re-
piled Bryce what harp haEp"mea nee 90 on tbor on'
oughly into the whole matter. NOW
what did happen? I'll tell you frankly
now, Mitchington. that when we talkec
once before about this anair. l didn
! tell you all might have tod. ,i "a mN
reasons for reticence. But now I'll give
YOU full particulars Of wht happened
that morning within my knowledge-pa!
i. attention. both of you, ana yonii see now
one thing FITS into another That morn
InK about half-past ., lansford left M
surgery and went across the close. No
long after he'd gone this man Brader
came 10 the door and asked me if hoc
tor Ransford was in. | said he WASH
he'd Just gone out and J showed IN
once known a Doctor Ransford, and wen,
away, A little later ] followed. Ncal
the entrance OF Paradise | saw Rans
ford leaving the west pnrch OF the cathe
drai He was undeniably IN u state o,
ogItation---pale, nervous. re didn't set
Ina I went on and met Warner, who
| told me OF the accident. ! went Wit
. bim to the foot OF st. Wrytha's stair nnt
Inmn, the man who had recently called
at the surgery. He died lust as ! reached
! I''',; = Vent back to the surgery-l fount
ponsford there In q state OF most un