Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-19

Il /
not know about
Yet even as he spoke, the man re.
membercd the crumpled paper he had
taken from the waste basket and he felt
In his pocket. though he made no sign.
'Oh, people. 10 my aunt here?"
1t was Pinky Payne. who. all excite.
ment, came running in.
I've just heard. and I want to see
Aunt Emily"
Here I am. dear. Come here. my
boy and she drew him down beside
her on the sofa.
What do they cay. Pinky? What's
the talk in town." Lockwood asked.
oh. the place is in turmoil. There
are the widest reports. Some say it's
n--.a--that he killed himself. you know.
and some say--he didn't. Which was
it?''
The boys lips quivered as he looked
about at the silent people.
Tell him. Gordon" begged Mrs.
Bates. and Lockwood told the principal
details Of the mystery.
Never suicide. Never Pinck-
ney Payne declared. II knew Doc
Waring too well for that. Suicide
means q coward and he was never
that No. Aunt Emily. it was murder.
Oh. how terrible" aud the boy almost
lost control OF himself. "You were at
the bottom Of IL. Auntie. I'm sure it
was cithts one of those men you re.
fused when you took up with Doc
Waring."
why. Pinckncy. How dreadful Of
you. Don't say such thing
But know it. II you'd heard Jim
Haskell and Philip Leonard talk-I
felt sure they meant to kill DR.. War.
ing
.'pinky. | forbid you----''
But it's true. Auntic. And if it's
true. You want them shown up, don't
you. whichever one it was!'
Hush. Pinky-,hush -
, Yes. shut up. Pink Lockwood
spoke stcrnly. "What you suggest is
highly improbable. but even II there's
suspicion Of such n thing. don't bnbblc
about it. That's the detectives work"
"Yes-and who's your detective? Old
blind.as-a.bat Morton. I'll bet. who
can't see hole through a ladder. I'll
show him now
! ''Pinky. beg Of you. hush" said
his aunt. losing her self.control.
! There. Auntic. dear. don't cry.
didn't mean TO worry YOU. but some.
thing must b" done---"
Something will be done. Pnky.'
Lockwood assured him, But ] tell YOU
right now. II you try to stick your in
experienced finger in this pic you II
make trouble for us all--trom your aunt
down. Now. behave yourself. Try to
be a man, not Il foolish boy"
"rhat's what I'm doing. And ! don t
propose to lie down on the job. either.
tell you. Gordon. know Il lot about
detective work.
~. 4 YYn1r Il
her words seemed TO have an effect or,
the irrcpressible youth. ''ro read de :
tectiv" stories is one thing--to solve
Il real. live mystery is quite another.
"That's right. llel"n.' and Lock
wood nodded approval. "Many per-
s"n thinks he has bir Of detective in.
stinct. when all he has is curiosity and
maginntion.
Helen, pleased al this appreciation.
Went OH TO lay down the law fo'
Iinckney PayE".
She wns interrupted by the entrance
Of Morton. who wanted TO learn more
OF the departed japanese. \ogi.
What other servants nr" there: ht
asked Mrs. reyton.
"Only the two japanese. she 70.
piled. They do all the cooiling an(
serving at table: all the cleaning Of th'
house: and til" rest. my daughter ant
myself attend TO.
'"rhcre Is Il chauffeur:
YES. but the garage is a few block
away, and the chauffeur lives al home.
'You had Nogi but short time
'pnly few days
lie came well recommended:
He had very fine written recon.
mcndations. hut from people did not
know. and too fnr away to inquire OF
| took him OF trin!,
'He seemed honest and faithful:'
''IIe seemed Su.-blr h" was silent aud
mo"dy--a mun one could nrarcrI}
understand.
"Can yo, Imagine his ki'Fg hi,
ma maSter-erantms ia" opport
MrN. Pcyton considered. 81 ral
imagine it, she said. bat ! shoNldn I
like to say ! would suspect him of il.
kIc was soft footed. and went nbov'
with sort of stealthy manner. but lr
not prepared to say he was wrong III
any way
call in Ito. TIE other one.
Ito came. ard stood stolidly by. Ills
impassivp dcmcanor was not IN ike that
! OF Gordon Lockwood. Waving had
sometimes remarked this in chatting
= way 10 his secretary.
lyon knew this NOsi: asked Nor
ton.
"OnIy SIur" be cam" h"rc. answered
tn. butler. in perfect English.
"Y"u liked him:
"Ncither YES or no. II" knew liltlr
of his duties, but h" was willing lo
, learn. lie was respectful 10 ne. and
friendly enough. ! had no reason &c
, dislike him.
Morton didn', seem TO get anywhere
with this man.
chsroctrr;" he said. Would you say
he was capable of killing his employer:
, ".All men are capable OF crin", Fnit
, thc Jan. IN a low, even voice. but h'
!, could not kill DR.. WarinG and go awe,
[ leaving the study locked on the inside.
. .Why did he so away, then:
D THAT do not know. IL may be h'
was tired of the place here.
''But there was money due hun
. Yes; that makes it hard to under
( stand
I ing thut the Japanese was scorntu
I of him. and. worse still, that the othe
, liH,'ncrS were also.
=, You mas go, h" told Ito. nn'
/, thrn, tlrning to Lockwood. h" said.
littlr tnliscrrntly. ''Who i" i'll chnrs
@ here? TO whom do make luy report
t The question was lik" bombsh"l'
d All we're silent until Mrs. Bates said
ff II suppo>c ! am what might y" Gale
in charge. You may report to 'ae.
:, TO you. lna'am:' Morton wa
- Yes: AZ Dr.. Warins's alliance
. wife, and rs his hcir, | feel ! NJ