t 'V
i
.
fHEMIDDLETEMPLEMURDER
A Detective blory by J. b. Fletcher
EVENING PUBLIC LEDaERr-PHXL'A.DEPHIA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1020
THE GUMPS Button, Button, Who's Got the Button?
'i
. .i Frrrt A Ttldn
tyitNh' V W rublic Lfdaer Co.
this starts thk stohy'
i Prant Spargo, London newspaper
U returning home from work sees
'!" V peering Into a comer of an
"'1" In hhpovUcl is found the name
Ji Breton, Ban Met. hint's
'fit ho?cl registered as "John
i,.,,r,i" He received but one
". r a IM wclt-dresicd man with
f!, L ,fail lol&l'iP m Ac House
ilJZrd-Slephen AvlmorejM. P.
'la left ' ' looether. The
uielkctpcr shows Spat go n shimnji
tC'ccH'a ' Zbetheslnes
trlbrv's table 'chile Aylmore
" "..!..'. Anuahter s cnaaaed
Tllnm tire ton, who is the adopted
" Jo 1r Elphick, an attornev.
iZrJo receiief a visit from A. P.
'Til. trcrctary to a safe deposit
" horn whom Marbury rented
TS J posited in it a small
f...iV. w. "Where else did he go,
TJichnt did he dot" Jfo answer to
AND HEBE IT CONTINUES
iniTEhh, you know what I mean,"
Wsaid Breton. "London's nn ant-
leap, isn t It UUU uumuu ...... ...u... .
lcja doesn't count, xnis man iunruui?
nntt have gone about a pretty .tidy lot
dutiis those six hours. He'd ride on n
-almost certain. He'd get into a
tjiicab 1 think that's much more cer
iln because It would be a novelty to
Mm' HcM want some tea anyway.
Wd be sure to want a diink, and he d
lorn in somewhere to (jet one or the
Jihpr He'd buy things In shops these
n.i..:.i. nlunvs do. He d go some-
. L 1. t .linn AM TTa1 Til if
where to gei u" u,uu. "- " ""
hat's the use o enumeration in this
'""A mere piling up of platitudes," an
.wered Spargo. ,,..,
"What 1 mean is, rauimu mew.i,
.i...i r,(lou nt nonnle must have BCCn
Mm, and yet it's now hours and hours
tioce your p iper came out this morning,
(tdnobodj's come forward to tell any-
ttlW. . i ..-! 1 , ...
"nd wnen you romr 10 uiiiik 01 it,
itat should they? Who'd remember an
ordinary mnn in a gray tweed suit?'
" 'An ordinary man in a gray tweed
nit,' " repeated Spargo. "Good line.
You haven't any copyright in it, re
member. It would make a good cross
leading." Breton laughed. "You're a queer
ehsp. Spargo," he said. "Seriously,
Jo ion think you're getting any. nearer
iDjthing?"
"Ira getting nearer somctnuig v. mi
wrjtliiug that's done," Spargo. lin
gered. "You can't start on n business
like this without evolving fcomelhing out
fit. you know."
"Well, said Ureton. to me there s
ot so much mystery in it. Mr. Ayl-
nere's explained the reason why my
iddresswas found on the body; uricuir,
the stampman. hns explained "
fparso mddenly looked up.
What.' he said Rhnrplv.
"Whj. the reason of Maiburv's being
found where he was found." replied
Breton. "Of course, I sec it nil ! Mar-
tury was mooning around Fleet street ;
If slipped into Middle Temple Lane.
ntc as it was, just to see where old
Cwdlestone hangs out. and he was set
upon and done for. The thing's plain
to me. The only thing now is to find
hodidit."
"Yes, that's it," agreed Spargo.
"hat's it." He turned over the leaves
l the diary which lay on his desk.
By the bye." he said, looking up with
jome interest, "the adjourned inquest
li at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning.
ire you going? '
."I shall certainly go." answered
Breton "What's more, I'm going to
(ke JIiss Almore and her sister. As
at gruesome details were over at the
Wit Sitting nm! no ft.nm'11 t, ,!.!
m tins new evidence tomorrow, and ns
ttey ve never been in a coroner's court
.'Mr Ajlrnore'll he thn nrininnl
WtMs tomorrow." interrupted Spar
f. 'I suppo'.c Iie'll be nble to tell n
"'more than lie told me."
Breton shriu,! h. on..ir7AHM
' "I don't see that there's much more
0 Ml" he said "But." he ndderl.
'" a sly laugh, "f suppoie you want
more good copv, eh?"
orarro cl.inm J m .iu
InH nM.i 1, . "" "', lose,
N pieled up his hat. "I'll tell you
P1" I want." he Rnlrl T ,-.,.,. .
etoliT, wh John Marburv was. That
c"m...imae K?0,l copy. Who he was
jp-incDiy.nve forty years ago.
K?dSdBriSn.Mr A"
Wt r,Kim?rl?' Jan!OTered Spargo as
Si!?dTtSwari th9 oor. "if the
'tailed lUfT i met g? far wb0 hBS
nek K.I" . .,? auln l te" aie
J'erhaps he'll tell the coroner
Cojrlht, 1050, liy Tti Tribune Co.
By Sidney Smith,
T.
lallr
5JJI
i.
hl.
dlnf!
It!
nnd his Jury more. Now, I'm off,
Breton I've nn nppolntraent."
And leaving BTOton to find his own
way out, Spargo hurried nway, jumped
into n taxlcub nnd speeded to the Lon
don and Universal Safe Deposit. At
the corner of its building ha found
Rnthbury awaiting him,
"Well?" said Spargo, as he sprang
out: "How Is It?"
"It's all right," nnswercd Ilathbury.
"You can be present; I got the neces
snry permission. As there are no rela
tions known there'll only bo one or two
olhcials nnd you and the safe deposit
people and myself. Como on It's about
time.
"It sounds," observed Spargo, "like
nn exhumation."
Ilathbury laughed. "Wellrf we're cer
tainly going to dig up n dead man's
nccrets," he said, "At least wo may
be going to do so. In my opinion, Mr.
Spargo, we'll find some duo In this
leather box."
Spargo made no answer. They en
tered the office, to bo shown Into a
loom where were already assembled
Mr. Myerst, a gentleman who turned
out to be the chairman of the company,
nnd the ofllclnls of whom Rathbury had
spoken. And In another moment Spargo
heard the chairman explaining that the
company possessed duplicate keys to all
safes and that the proper Authorization
having been received from the proper
authorities those present would now
Iirocced to the 'safe recently tenanted
y the late John Marbury and take from
it the property which he himself had
deposited there, a small leather box,
which they would afterward bring to
that room and cause to be opened In
each other's presence.
It seemed to Spargo that there was
an unending unlocking of bolts and bars
before he nnd his fellow procession!ts
come to the safe so recently rented b
the late John Marbury. now undoubt
edly decensed. And at first sight of It
he saw that It was so small an affair
that It seemed ludicrous to imagine
that it could contain anything of any
importance. In fact, it looked to be no
more than n plain wooden locker, one
among many in a small strong room ;
it reminded Spargo irresistibly of the
locker in which, in his school days, he
had kept his personal belongings and
the jam tarts, sausage rolls and bard
bake smuggled in from the tuck shop.
Marbury's name hnd been newly painted
upon it; the paint was scarcely dry.
But when the wooden door the front
door, as it were, of this temple of mys-
tery had been solemnly opened by the
chairman, a formidable door of steel was
revealed and expectation still leaped in
the bosoms of the beholders.
"The duplicate key, Mr. Myerst, if
you please," commanded the chairman,
"the duplicate key!"
Myerst, who was fully as solemn as
hi3 principal, produced a curious-looking
key; the chairman lifted his hand
as if he were about towiristcn a battle
ship; the steel door swung slowly back.
And there, in a two-foot square cavity,
lay the leather box.
It btruck Spargo as they filed back
to the secrctarj'H room that the pro
cession became more funereal-like than
ever. First walked the chairman,
abreast with the high official, who hail
brought the necessary authorization
from the all-powerful quarter; then
came Mjcrst carrying the box; fol
Jowe'd two other gentlemen, both legal
lights, charged with watching official
and police interests ; Rathbury and
Spargo brought 1111 the rear. He whis
pered something of his notions to the
detective; Rnthbury nodded a compre
hensive understanding,
"Let's hope we're going to scc
something!" he said.
In the secretary's room a man waited
who touched his forelock respectfully
as the heads of the procession entered.
Mjerst set the box on the table; the
man made n musical jingle of keys;
the other members of the procession
gathered round.
"As we naturally possess no key to
this box," announced the chairman in
grave tones, "it becomes our duty to
employ professional assistance in open
ing it. Jobson!"
He waved a hand, and the man of
the keys stepped forward with alacrity.
He examined the lock of the iox with
a knowing eye; it was easy to see that
he was anxious to fall upon It. While
he considered matters. Spargo looked nt
the Pox. It was pretty mucn wnat tt
had been described to him as being;
a small, square box of old cowhide,
very strongly made, much worn and
tarnished, fitted with a handle project
ing from the lid, and having the ap
pearance of having been bidden away
somewhere for many a long day.
There was a click, a spring; Jobson
stepped back.
"That's it, if you please, sir' he
said.
The chairman motioned to the high
official.
"If you would be good enough to open
the box, sir," he said. "Our duty is
now concluded."
As the high official laid his hand on
the Hd the other men gathered round
with craning necks and expectant eyes.
The lid was lifted; somebody Blghed
deeply. And Spargo pushed bis own
head and eyes nearer.
The box was empty !
(CONTINUED TOMORROW!
-.-- -.- ' --
. " -
J MO BUTTONS ON rA j lxL SWAJfc- HEt - n f yAt OM f &&IN3? ) You dUVT DARE To
UNDERWEAR - PHOrATHBVWAy I'LU SEW trA ON MYSEI.F - ' I &ARTTW fft& ) "K SEWINCr 1 NOWUATE M6 CEfOfc& 'i;
rAVCU.OkfM&& -LOOK VOU'UYNJNK THERE JU. SI T RIGHT DOWN N FRONT (0O SorAe BUTTON X MY MOYN&f4 ' && EVEfe .
MAKING THREAD AN6 THAT ) SEM 6HG To J ZS I'M DONCj A I OhX VQUfe CXOTMfeS? I
fcUW0NjjNER&N0frrN tg-ONTCNO ""TH.- ' X JOB THAT v 'j . '
V$,l&OOrA PIECE fKs&fyi ' Vf SOAC BODY EW5E7 J
,- ' - ..-!
PETEY Compared to This, Everything Was Great -;- -;- -;- -:- -: By C. A. Voigltt
J. OUCLEPeTeY.Wjj .-JT- JK? f Nool fAH. I 1?EMEMT5 )" fa,
. There 5 lv!'ZL-JSfe a ( Thought yoo ) J , evert whkoTe S Kf&
The Youna Lady Across the Way ' VERNON McNUTT WRAPPED HIS WOOL SCARF AROUND HIS GIRL'S MUFF AND "CAP" STUBBS Rotten Luck! -:- -:- By Edtclmt
MmmmmmgMizzz. SAVED HIS TOP HAT -J- -J- -; By Fontaine Fox
'' Mtf'g7iJA I C- I NOWUFABlE-TOUJUaT N S, I
Jy AND YOOT-l. POE1. LOTS ft V I M? I
M S V better ToncrSROw.- h JSsrl
-dS w vyJ , flsFnA . ?L. ' vmy wuzntpp TDx"Sa v lock- b
" ' &p 7 sffitvv ' jijtoto V.schooh M&l 1t
1 V E ---- 1NW $mM m jigfM
' " fiBCA05E THE ETHICS OF -S WM J K5 j7 J K g
v N j-S?..;...r SNOYiBAiUUlHG, ARE AGAINST Hff k5 & (tt V &J
" " TAKlHC A SHOT AT A MAN WHO -, i k gL IIt JfiLM.
IS CAKKTlMG A SMAUU BABY. 3HK mCb S 0
! I e 1 r J 1 I il ?&
The jouug lady across the way
tajs she's glad to read about so
much activity in curb stocks and
she supposes the work of paving
the streets that were neglected dur
ing the war will begin as soon as
the weather permits.
SOMEBODY'S STENOG Somebody Talked
rl IViirV "TVmi-u
THAT! ITS
Copyrla
b Pi'bUc rdter Co
By Hayward
Mt&TER SMlTHEIPS
vHATi im This Bottle
on vour desk?
S(
DREAMLAND ADVENTURES
BATTLE OF THE GIANTS
nv nAnnv
th"
lrhm- .B,."V. hr Oiant of
!. "?" bl,d a"d animal
' y "' Jfofielond when Peggy
K' b" Oiant Heree Fangs
" fiery mustang.)
'HAPTnR II
V 10
c
II..
lmmi. c Kitchen Maid
f7. "'t bit like the fir she
Ikfetr JS.11. ,va? ".citing riding
r'0iitPi,' T'n ,I1U, .v mustang
He rS?.,'.0 be M that she was be-
!,.... i "ay tO h llrlnnt.l (II...
5 rtns',,hWnJtF-to";
Sl.f.u Dwnrf Crooked Nose.
Itt.xv'f.ure thai Billy and th. ni,.f.
tth S.?Jll(! wme to her rescue.
'nidbe hit?;, T 7,,e,t0 Rave '
VrcPatit! ,nc O't'e of
!. "i.mt do j, , , . . .
i" v. thonrh n uvle snint flnd K"t
Vl,r.,,t p?Sgy to herself. And
E" tr ..I c?a nc?. "iRl't ahead
mWttoZVW!!&'
Ki a ulnk TC-.KyW. ":
". 10 mato i.i " ."?' iMiitucu r lerce
?Mn,3u,5Ey Th." she gave n
lot'
t U
one.
l!t:
r
TE
Tr upward n in,en w, Bve
'S brardi,a"i,cauBnt hold of
S?Wb TL k'7Cv FflnKS f
"ft tZS h;r. t ne was not cult
PUI ,,.! "Jf l
N tTlil Iar "8 the mustang ci:
pjj,, "t was torn out of his
L t.tt bJ"P sh bad grasp-
Ii Mlf iB-. ai"u?u " "lea to
"Md .(it al tre " cracked
ad. fa ''tting her down to the
WrUlfaDW. tldint. KV n v
.5tS
ht:",' tree, but i"" iy..u
',?nnbbed hVLfo e
&K i?, Olsnt of the WooSs could
T
TS
Phl'Mio
I Vou're a daring younr
lady, hut not daring enough to escape
irom tne clutches ot Fierce Fanes "
roared the giant. Faster and faster
he rode until he thundered across the
drawbridge and Into the courtyard of
the castle on the crag. Behind him rose
the drawbrlflge. nnd Iticv was oneo
more his prisoner.
Fierce Fangs did not ston in the
courtyard. He rode the fiery mustang
up the steps of the castle, into the en
trance hall and thence to the great din
ing room. There he swung Peggy to
the floor, allzhtlnc after her. while hi-
fiery mustang galloped back to the coutt-
yard.
"Now, my proud beauty, let's have
n look at you before I send for my
nephew, the Dwarf Crooked Nose, whose
bride jou ure to be."
"I'm not a proud beauty," answered
Peggy. "I'm only an ordinary little
girl, and I'm much too young to be
married."
"Hum I think you are a very pretty
little girl," said the Giant Fierce Fangs,
looking at ber critically. "But I agree
jou are much too young to be mar
ried." "Ob, then you'll let tne go!" exclaim
ed Peggy eagerly.
"Ho, ho, hoi Not so fast, roared
Fierce Fangs. "You have forgotten
that I have adopted you as my step
daughter. You shall stny here and
serve ns my kitchen maid while you
arc growing old enough to marry my
ugly nephew. You shall wash the
dishes, scour the pots and pans, scrub
me noors ana attend to tne nres. lou
shall cat the scraps from my table and
sleep on r bed of straw In the attic.
Oh, hoi you'll be glad to wed Crooked
Nose when lou srow old enoueh. Oh.
hoi away to the kitchen, away to your
pots and pans, your suds and your flres.
Awayl Awayi" And to hasten her
steps Fierce Fangs bulled his pistols
irom ms belt ami began to tiro them.
Bang! Bang! Bang! And Peggy ran
lor aear ure,
(Tomorrow will be told how Peggy
metis Belinda, the Giant's ooofcj
I r ArtlSTE.(? SMlTHEIPS-. A IVmt Tniul S -v II ?ta-.. ...m, . ibt ,ev-rVa.li.T ej'rkMJ.AfSf nu.Avufx
' uul iwui-ni 7 TCH ,iyu VnCU' Jv) tr" jum y (riu v y v t i
THAT! T'C f OUPUif 1 i :. -nl I .Voitx 'P t mm Yu iruinc WOK BI'MSO I I FEEL.-
r medio MB! r ir v...--, r r s?.i7r-fsr MrrX ruLisiK 'A fierce v
rZ V- r-7L - S FAIMT IHrV DIE! J." rh-rj) r
'vv. w'L mi i i r " ywzs. . . ' rs - acscifi i - iwA-mnns.-t am-s' y;
t k$J2- WVn f'fel if IV m v rao;YypHiVWinl
1 ll.-c-MA.v-Rti 3 I r-J. hjs!&v$
DOROTHY DARNITShc Didn't Have Much to Work On
Cor-iTltht 10:0 bj lh Bll Syndlc.tf Inr
By Charles McManm
THERE t. SOt-IE OfM ZY PLAIfsJ
DOROTKV3 DOING.S THI"s
S I ftrtoTuoV
I WA'S PLAVltvJ' REAUTV (
DOCTOR AMO MILDRED WAS
"VJIV FIRST CUSTOMCR.
SHE SAID SHE
A"
Mnomo
LOOKED
D I nt a.m..
, UC-WHU
L-1-f HER VISIT
NU TBI TO TH6
, nrALrrw';iiftO
f - . r f .. . . . f .. . . . y -VII .' .-. !' u
l CAMETOSEEWU WHAT H UUL HOW "rOU- DOROTHV- THERE IS SOt-lE OF E PLAIfsJ
I fuw- i ryjJ it uniu I onr. 13 cw "--v' " ' : 1 i."i-it.ntnc 1 1 uvjku i n T3 LXJINVj3 ) 1 11-11
I . f .0,11-11 r V nriik.irt. ? ' J lf c . 1 c , . ! S 1 tf ifrnTuo1?
j . 11-UJ C ' n-l-Vir - - -w--C,3 JUL S f a(vn - ,1- -W FIRSTCU5TOMCR, IS ?
ja----Bna t-v. r' uul-i. t. i-rf----------w - -j r ua . ---------r,-k i" .suk t v i i-. tiuccAirxcur i bb
n
'i
14
11
re-'i
L
.hihuu.mm.o.iJi.. im-....uj 'IU,JMlolJ..jri..i ..I.,. .. .....JL C-rrr.. II ,, i,.Millimlnl-Tir-"rjT'' ' cmashaku
?
a
'i
,U
.h -