Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-18
THEMLDDLETE2MPLE LEMURDER
A Detective Story by j. s. Fletcher

knew more about the disposition of
that nancy than he'd ever told, and
tney wanted to induce him to tell what
they hoped he knew-between ourselves.
Mr. Spargo, they were going 20 make it
worthwhile to tell.''
Spargo tapped the newspaper, which
ne had retained while the old gentle
man talked.
Then they didn't believe what his
counsel said--that Chamberlayne got
all the money!" he asked.
Mr.. Quartcrpagc laughed.
No-nor anybody else! ~ he an
swered. There was strong idea In
the town--you' zee why afterward--
that 1t was all a put up Job, and that
Maitland cheerfully underwent his
, punishment knowing that there was
n,ce fortune waiting for him when he
came out. And az ! say, the bank
people meant to get hold of,him. But
tnoagh they sent a special agent to
meet nm on his release. they never did
get mold OF him. Some mistake arose
when Maitland was released, he got
clear away. Nobody's ever heard a
word of him from that day to this.
Unless Miss Bnylis has,"
Where does this Miss Baylis livc?"
aked Spargo.
We'll, l don't know replied Mr..
Quarterpage. "She did live In Brigh.
ton when she took the child away, and
her address was known, and have II
somewhere. But when the bank people
sought her out after Maitland's re-
lease, she, too, had clean disappeared,
and oil efforts to trace her failed. In
fact, according to the folks who lived
near her in Brighton, she'd completely
disappeared, with the child, FIVE years
before. So there wasn't clue to
Maitland. He served his time--.made
model prisoncr-thcy did find that
much out learned the maximum re.
mission. was released, and vanished.
And for. that very reason there's o
theory about him In this very town to
this very day ~
"What?" asked Spargo.
This. That he's now living com.
fortably, luxuriously abroad on what
Quarterpage. They say that the sis-
ter in law was in at the game that
when she disappeared with the child.
she went abroad somewhere and made
4 home ready for Maitland, and that
he vert off to them as soon as he came
out. Do you see?"
II suppose that was possible" said
Spargo.
"Quite possible, sir, But now,''
continued the old gentleman. replenish
ing the glasses, ''now we come on ia
the Chamberlaync story. It's n good
deal more to do with the Maitland
story than appears at first sight. I'll
| tell 1t to you and you can form your
own conclusions. Chambcrlayne was
man who came to Market MilcasteI
Il don't know from wherein 1885,
five years before the Maitland smash
up. He was then about Maitland.
age-a man of thirty seven or eight
He came as clerk to old Mr.. Vallas
the rope and twinc manufacturer Val
lass place is still there, at the bottom
of ,'c High street, near the river
though old Vallas is dead. He was
smart, cute. pushing chap. this Cham
sable to old Vallas, and old Vallas pal
him rare good salary. He settlc
down in the town. and he married
town girl one of the Corkindalcs. tn
saddlers, when he'd been here thre
years. Unfortunately she died 4
childbirth within a year of their mar
riagc. 1t was very soon after tha
that Chamberayne threw up his pos
at vallas's, and started business as
stock and share broker.
He'd been saving man; he'd &c
nice bit of money with his wife; h
always let it be known that he ha
money of his own, and he started in
good way. He was man of the mos
plausible manners; he'd have coaxe
butter out of dogs throat IL he
wanted to. The moneyed men of tn
town believed in him-I believed i
him myself, Mr.. Spargo-I'd many
transaction with him, and never los
aught by him-on the contrary, he di
very we'll for me. He did we'll fo
most of his clients--there were, Q
course, ups and downs, but on th
whole he satisfied his clients uncom
monty well. But, naturally, nobod
ever knew what was going on betwee
him and Maitland.
} II gather from this report" sal
Spargo, that everything came ou
suddenly-unexpectedlyY
THAT was So. sir" replied Mr
Quarterpagc. Sudden? Unexpected
Aye, as crack of thunder on a fin
winters day. Nobody had the ghos
of notion that anything was wrong
John Maitland was much respected Il
the town; much thought of by every
body; we'll known to everybody.
can assure you, Mr.. Spargo, that i
was no pleasant thing to have to sit OF
that grand jury as did was it
foreman. sir-and hear man sen
fenced that you'd regarded as bosom
friend. But there it was! ~