W5WT S! ?k.'A' V.V li'-lX MV9 rmm4't ' l.A"l , V ilM H V aH "V v ' u"- ""'"? &i ' f . - EVENING PUBLIC LEDGlSR-PHinABBLPHIA, FRIDA-V, AUGUST 6, 1920 rt v-" :pftl5tfflsfp!''fw 7HE PARADISE MYSTERY .'By J, S. Fletcher CopvrioMt " w -Vr Knopf, me. .... .fAHTH TUB STOnv' . inii rnnllift catftedrol loton o t tctnr oj ""i" ", . i trtiino " - i Iriffue. .Vary nincrw. ann ioiina Aer brother K'01? i..Ifc f leventetn.'are wards "CK' .V nmiiorrf. Doctor Brvce w DoF'.Itoni Bruce to owe w"h "Juknlo atk hlm to ceate his htr guardian to "' M ft """' icrcViHon which '""" Baulori dim $ turnlnp me erv'Mtrnu,t in mv opinion would a J(" g JJ 'B&eru 'would con YntTlUnv'nc. That; the plain ""AND HKHK IT CONTINUES ivflTOnD allowed himself to take a RA, Jnd.tcady look at Brycc. Tho V long "'"L and ha dlamiued lli na" ord' curiosity n aroW. , Wt know whether you're tho most a". ounB man I over moor Ih.ih.r you'ro tho roost obtuse WX th.l"t. anyway." interrupted I assure you u ' BrKJ. . .....Atf thnn. man. rnn't OU SOS lor j'" - -n ' ' . .. ..., vmi?" said ,ht the Blrl doesn't w ...rrf "HanK It! i "Hang It! tor anym.-s W v to the contrary, .M may .. t.k hae other Ideas 1" "5 1 had been staring out of i jf for tho last minute or tlde "' "d? J ,1 .hed and, lifting a two, MUUB...J ---' nrd0. And Mnu. I,u : ...... ... Mnrv Bowery SrvUrTnUwhomho iJd ono Sackvllle Bonham, S "of Mr. FoUlot. a wealthy res. . . , .hn close Tho two young peo V 1 lauSg and chatting together "Pf Lhan" run "n-tht direction 7 In 'h'1-, 'S Doctor nansford, you'll have billon case -",tl"' KoI0t mother of trouble tor Mr ' , ,e ot jonder callow outl w no ,l 1Uv6"Jn(1Ie8 her0)e la""0,"' tSid you, and If her Pf "hT,. himself wh anybody, she'll ,on unites hJ'"Blxact y who that any ',nt , vSS'd far better have support Tm " nrsptrant 1 Howover-I h.r-': &$? AanXd. "Ex- 't'noddntd silently, and Iton'tard. fft'Jr'Brwe saw him crossing tho close. U5.BJuminrlly dismissed ass s.a.u. ,., ,,. nione. stood for a moment in MMltneatlv. and put It away In hw e fi yE GtJMPSA Beautiful Sight to See By Sidney St eoiieoi . i-YL, m ,.nrloUB drawers 7Sk H.via. Placing these thlncs In a small handbag when a gentle Up bounded on the door by . which patients approached the surgery. "Come In !" he called. Thero was no Teaponse, filthough tne oor was sllghtlv ajar; Instead, the knock wan lepeatcd. and at that Bryce crossed the room and flung the door "a1' man stood outside an elderly. illKht-ncured, qutet-looklng man, who looked at Bryco with a half-deprocatlnB. half-nen-ous air ; the air of a man who u shy In manner and evidently fearful of seeming to Intrude. Bryce a quick, observant ejeB took him In nt a glance, noting a much worn nnd lined face, thin jray hair and tired eyes; this was a mm. he said to himself, who had seen trouble. Nevertheless, not a poor man, ' If his general appearance wah anything to go by he was well and even expon ihely dreBsed. In tho etyle generally affected by well-to-do merchants and city men ; his clothes were fashionably cut, his silk hat was new, his linen and boots irreproachable ; a fine diamond pin (learned In his carefully arranged eraat. Why, then, this unmistakably furthe and half-frightened manner which seemed to bo somewhat relieved at the sight of Bryco? "Is this Is Doctor Ransford within?" asked tho stranger. "I was told this Is his house." "Doctor Ransford is out," replied Brjce "Just gone out not five minutes aw This Is his surgery. Can I be ot use'' The man hesitated, looking beyond Brjce Into the room "Xo. thank you," he Bald at last. "I no, I don't want professional services I Just called to nee Doctor Ransford 1 the fdet is, 1 once knew some ono of mat name It's no matter at present." Brjce stepped outside and pointed cross the closo. ,'t),or "nHford," he said, "went .... ncre i ratner rancy ho's gone to '"e Ucanery he has a case there. If flou went through Paradise, you'd very .rvT")et h m cdmlng back the Dean 1 wider " '" tl' far corner Adrnr fonoWd DrC0'8 out- 'TOatr'sdlha7tr h Sa'd' wonder'"Bly. wal r Ll'1,10.1,' I'rolected from thn south ww of the cathedral Into tho close. POMi mi1 'ilcl0!lure-"et"c.n tho south of old fnmh. l anatl". "" --aiu ' u.i l.. .mb3 and trees a sort of wilder TherT's'lT ffitf? Pfladlse ""on't know. fleaneiv .,n. " C.M ttcros3 " to th ' If "on U,Cllwy J'"" B-'U Uut ltc toim.,tOUDoc,SrCrl55or almBt HUr itranrmu?i,y.'wl l you." said the tiu f tiuiiiu you. BrKVh"ddimna.y,,n H,e J"-ectlon which taJk-oX "nl1ateU.'...nn'1 Diyce went i . bu uul iiiriiin nnri mi m "Iter him' Jo'u'll 11 ill!.'.1 K01;' hlm- "hall I 8"y hat namc'? '"' ;, aske1' "An"- itHBf.ranB,r shook ''la head 'IS llnnilltarliil 1.- .. him, .-.. v.r"; '" '""". - ee hlm sn,,, ' ' "e anHWered. "r thanks "lcwhcror later. Many Arjw return1? 'uWard Paradise, comiiicted hi. S to.,tnq Burscry and me a ?.a, rcparutlons for depart. re than t. .' ?.".r .?.?. ..!?. lie aiw Intn i, '""'" wirougn mo win Be y stli i ,fttir.l,cn nMd B'lw M"fy Ilk I'U LlUllfUIMI "'o," ho muttered won't r, .. '"ul,Kr.pti to -not A""'?.' exenango any farewells himself. -not beeniiHn n n b.u 'iny areweii8 because trsl,, Hansford's hint, but "link, h,'i L. " Mea- If Ransford JVr.KhcsTe A d'l. " "X of fa?'we11Ub tlmo e"'" ," -and tiat' o11 ,' tn'.my departure bonder who ,haf 'i'? J,U8t yct' Now I onie one or n oldcl,nl was? Knew he' nli?f, ,nHn"?nl'H name onco. did hlih casr,?,,. ' .'l',Brord hlmself-in than ,n!E, .e,kn v '."ore of Ransford nhody "in Wri'.i 7cnc,sU'r knows for heyonil ,n Wl'eHt. r knowB anything Mtord'i"," XTt N. Doctor A mere "ewitu I ' "inf Tto anyly' nut nrjco u.mTii".1 lurn u" "Bain." 'he old housr . u.?,h0t .,0 Ret HWay "'om ture of u far-?iUt 0"'cthtngyn tho ?,' 'he urVry ,vI,,.,Ah '!, wal,e, out Mary Bew.rv yJiy, lh,0, sldo entrance, otWK Bonha'n '.? tiftU Just,l"rted from about t" vis.1?' " tl,,e Ba,do nd was ard. came ,,iL.r tos in tlle "taW" face to he'7h; slI0. "!,l I!ryco "et. nuch from Lhl Blrl ""shed, not so atlon; n?vcP aa9mcnt as 'm vex ?'of any e'mh1i.n" evcr" ""owed no laughed . tnimme JnnBHi,mc2L' Instead. h car.r' un('cprln0eJ1,Xn,;nndbnB which ho bnUJte'uUn,iy,.,,'"-nod r- " I ad 'I eo-lwi hB,llJ ,?,n? lle remarked 13 my nrg reH.,i,aH '""Rlnss- This "1 Iih" imfhi Ld7,f0r ('votlon." ere m ,".?,"J"lt 'V av to you," an NWV dlL?i ll He;l"n- hlm with a Jouhiive hrouit ?e Kxcm( that "A Very rSini U on yorlf.'' 5rwe. "rmt!5hni"0 , "torti" observed Your anger wo,vtrf la po ma,lco n 1" ? a. Say?" pt more ,han ahall TtoMW.25Ky what you ilk . .,,h . 1 to .ay-TnTo' '"" "W. I have, nothing marked Bryce. 'The phrase W one of much. elasticity. 'But for the present I go I" He walked out Into' the close, and without as much as a backward look struck oft across the sward In the di rection In which, ten minutes before, he nad sent the strange man. He had rooms In a quiet lane on the farther tide or the cathedral precinct, and his pret ext Intention was to go to them to leave niB bag and make some further arrange ments. He had no Idea of leaving Ayry chcsler he knew of another doctdr in the city who was badly In need of help: ho would go to him would tell him, If need be, why he had left Ransford. He had a multiplicity of schemes and Ideas in his head, and he began to consider some of them as ho stepped out of the C'oso Into the ancient Inclosure which nil Wrychcster folk knew by Ita time honored name of Paradise. This was really an outer court of the old cloisters: Its high walls, half-rulnous. nlmost wholly covered with Ivy, shut In an ex panso of turf, literally furnlBhed with yew and cyprcaa and studded with tombs and gravestones. In one corner rpso a glgantlo elm ; In another a broken stairway of stone led to a doorway set nigh In the walls of the nave! across the Inclosure Itself was a pathway which led toward tho house In the southeast corner of the close. It was a curious, gloomy spot, little frequented save by people who went across U rather than follow the gravejed paths outside, and It was untenanted when Bryce step ped Into It. But Just as ho walked through tho archway he saw Ransford. Raniford was emerging hastily from a postern door In the west porch so has tily that Brycoi checked himself to look at him. And though they were twenty' yards apart, Bryco saw that Rnnsford's face was very pale, almost to whiteness, and that he was unmistakably neltated. Instantly he ennnrctnri thnt neltatlon with the man who had come to the sur gery door. "They've met!" musrd Bryce. and stopped, staring after Ransford'n re treating figure. "Now what Is It In the man's mere presenca that's upset Rans ford? Ho looks like a man who's had a nasty, unexpected shock a bad 'un 1" Ho remained standing In the arch way, gazing after the retreating figure until Ransford had disappeared within his oivn garden ; still wondering and speculating but not about his own af fairs, he turned across Paradise nt last and made his way toward the farther corner. Thero was a llttlo wicket gate there, set In the Ivied wall : as Bryce opened It, a man In tho working dress of a stone mason, whom he recognized as being one of tho master mason's stnff came running out of the bushes. His face, too. was white, and IUb eyes woro big with excitement. And recog nizing Brvce. he halted, panting. "What Is It. Varner?" asked Bryce calmly. "Something happened?" Tho man swept his hand across his forehead as If ne were aazen. ana men Jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "A mnn !" he canned. "Foot of St. WrvthaV Stair thero. doctor. Dead or If not dead, near It. I saw It !" Bryce seized Varner's arm and gave It a FhaKe. . . "Vm nnw whnt?" hn dpmanopn. "Saw him fall. Or rather flung! panted Varner. "Somebody couldn't see who. nohow flung him right through yon doorway, up there. Ho fell right over tho step crasn r- Bryce- lpoked over the tops of the vews and cypresses at the doorway In tho clerestory to which Varner pointed a low, open archway gained by the half-rulnous stair. It was forty feet at least from the ground. "You saw hlm thrown! ho ex claimed. "Thrown down there? Imj possible, man!" - "Tell you I saw It." asserted Varner rtoggedlv. "I was looking at one of those old tombs yonder somebody wnnts some repairs doing nnd the tackdaws were making suoh a to-do up there by the roof I glanced up at them. And I saw this man thrown through thnt door fairly nunc through it ! Ood ! do vou think I could mistake my own "Did you sco who flung him?" asked Brvce. "No ; I saw a hand just for one sec ond, bb It might be by the edge of the doorway," answered Varner. ' I was more for watching him! He sort of tottered for a second on the step out side the door, turned over and screamed I can hear It now ! and crashed down nn th flaes beneath.'' "How long sinco?" demanded Bryce "Five or six minutes." said Varner. "I rushed to him I'vo been doing what I could. But I saw It was no good, so I was running for help " Brjce pushed him toward the busheb by which they were standing. "Take me to him," he anld. "Come on!" Varner turned back, making a waj through the cypresses. He led Bryce to the foot of the great wall of the nave. There In the corner formed by tho anglo of nave and transept, on a broad pave ment of flagstones,' lay the body of a man crumpled up In a curiously twisted position. And with ono glance, even beforo. he reached It, Bryce knew what body It was that of the man who had come, shyly and furtively, to Ransford's door. "Look!" exclaimed Varner, suddenly pointing. "He's stirring!" Bryce, whoso gaze was fastened on the twisted figure, saw a slight moc ment which relaxed as suddenly ns It had occurred. Then came stillness. "That's the end!" he muttered. "The man's dead ! I'll guarantee that before I put a hand on him. Dead enough !" ho went on, as he i cached the body and dropped on one knee by It. "His neck'fc broken." Tho mason bent down and looked, half-curloualy. half-fearfully, at, the dead man. Then ho glanced upward at the open d&or high above them In the walls. "It's a fearful drop, that, sir," ho said. "And ho came down with bucii violence. You'ro sure It's over with him?" "He died jUBt ns we came up, answered Bryce. "That movement we saw was the last effort Involuntary, of course. Look here, Varner! you'll havo to get help. You'd better fetch some of tho cathedral people some of tho vergers. No !" ho broKe on sud denly, as the low strains of an organ came from within .the great building. "They'ro Just beginning the morning service of course. It's 10 o'clock. Never mind them go straight to tho police. Bring them back-rl'll Btay here." The mason turned off towawl tho gateway of tho close, and while the strains of the orgnn grew louder, Bryce bent over tho dead man, wondering what had really happened. Thrown from an open doorway In tho clorestorv over Ht Wrytha's Stair? It seemed almost Im possible ! But a sudden thought struck him supposing two men. wishing to talk In privacy unohsorved, had gono up Into the clerestory of tho cathedral aH they easily could, by moru than one door, by more than one stnlr and sup posing they had quarreled, and one of them had flung or pushed the other through the door above what then? And on the heels of that thought hur ried another this man, now lying dead, had come to the surgery, seeking Rans ford, and had subsequently gone away, presumably In search, of him, and Bryce himself had Just seen Ransford, obviously agitated ami pale of cheek, leaving the west porch ; what did It all mean? What was tho apparently obvious Inference to bo drawn? Hero was the stranger dead and Vnrner was ready to swear that he had Been him thrown, flung violently, through tho door forty feet above. That was murder! Then who was the murderer? Bryce looked carefully and narrowly around him. Now that Varner had gone away, there was not a human being In sight, nor anywhero near, so far as ho knew, On one sldo of him nnd the dead man roso the gray walls of navo and transept ; on tho other, the cypresses and yews rising amongst the old tombs and monuments. Assuring himself that no one wns near, no eVe watching, ho slipped his hand Into the Inner brenet pocket of tho doad man's smart morning coat. Such a man must carry papers papers would reveal some, thing. And Bryce wanted to know any thing anything that would give Infor mation and let him Into whatever secret there might be between this unlucky stranger and nansford, , W5U-HAM GONE , POO'S. HAttA HHR. TACE AlX WRAPPEP VP J cruentJU nnV .Ac" -""""N f i jtiNiVJ'-'i' i vinrt- HER. PLOVTY OF, Roor-l TrMOO&WT SWE HfrO TVAE r-M-UPOX i fi j- m m i. fff.M M mri mk. rm . i ki it. THIS S CERTAINLY A WOHPERFVL.1 AfTBKrAOOtt- 1 WW A HOST BEAUTIFUL. SIGHT A TRAN 601NG OUT- WET -SEEK 'EM 'YNPlN5 AROVJHD THE WPUNTA.IN6 1P;lry'NC through oeAvrnt- VALLEYS 1 : , r-r : -rrr: rWsL x. . t . - -.,.. . a .. i miaiiiJiiai fT-in r ni ii nio uurktl xth r-t i ru - i a. - i i. l I'VE 6Eri 'EM GOING IN AIS P II w u YUC flkri ntrri iiJn 7 MWMmI kr-' VJr.u 4a.wi. vTki - I i i BUNCH OF YIOLCTS WWfcJl "we. V ?-'. j I'VE SB EH TRAWC WVTH J 1 I R M EN&tNEEa PULLED TttE. TrtROTTLET ,(' " A THE. ttOfcT BEMJTKrUL. yf V THREW WM A VOSS AND WtfeH " '! I SCHHVC BACK6O0H0S - X jH ' , j&v g- BAGGAGE mAM PULLEP ' & . .. vT'irwLfc.Tws . JT:..-r S aaaV I FrlfRfl Iff THE OUv Tir iK,uni . ,.,." 'f was a 516MT i iHuvtic --s. im jit u mm ,l through th& vook. nvtv J II SAMV THE. BACK OF X S,. II 1 1 HIM A ClflAR- THfrT CUSBP - rs A TRAIN LOOK JM-m W - -Hi M M HI IL . y'THE'SHOW ,i .. j. sa f-aso beautifou i mj r MWAmMmm Sr V- Y PETE All He Got Was Blisters This Trip By C. A. Voight f- K1oThIM'3)OIH' 1M NOT r . ( GOIW' T3ack APTcioura- : -VPakasoi- Thi5 a a Fshim6 j2j EVPEDOW HOT A EAiTcR. Z PARAGE NOU WOMCW r- M 60IW" AVAN OUTTbDAV V7H ere Then Cow e3c K Au I DOU'T WAKff IO HEAia "Son NPi.P P012 METo 60 HOME cause oure seA-sK. either ." 7 M60MHB1. -VA risw J VHElpNou CO AGAIM A&OUT THE HCAT Vahv DIP NOU FORGET Tf4t 35URKI ( 1H(jjc ? KEEP ?UIET WOW. HE15ES VJHETCE VJE F5M ' r-VJ V" M ri' I -Eli-'R HUH, V "VrHpn S FUWWN, must a Forgot To Put lulHE'BAfCCAW r The Young Lady Across the Way Ilfr jjf THE STARTLING DISCOVERY By FONTAINE FOX SCHOOLDAYS Du DV1G The young lady across the way sajs she hntp,n to see a candidate try to dodge the Issues und If ho only knew it what tlip people like Is a man who comes right out boldly nnd takes hts place ou the fence. S?'" if Jfi- THAT WIULIE. MOST HAVE "y SPENT A500T AN HOUR AFTER. - WNCHEON iHeoTlNG WATERMEL.OM sf VX SEEDS INTO GRAN PA'S BEARD. SOMEBODY'S STENOG Everybody Needs Some Kind of a Vacation Coprlcht. H'20 b Public l.edser Co By Hayward OH-OO' I KAJEW l't h BREAK SOOA1'. I WOAJDER I HOW MAMY HOURS IV f- 3ot To live! gosh I'm "j Dizzv: X rT5RT SPOOF (T AR 5MITHERS VOU ARE CLOSE. To A BPEAK-bOWAi T&U ARE TlREO OUT AAJD A1E&D A VACATIOM. (- (rljb ' - L i-i I y-J AAISS O'Fi AE! -OH XAIS 'PI ACc1 -fiflSH J ( iSAiT that sjrl im 7 i; J Wfcrr'? l,,.' -... r-'r-i it 1 . vmua iaA 1 1 " .m ' .OM. IHE rrOH. S-SZ l WOA1DER ,n( YWL j ' - '"'' jS v 4 X Jt wlfflk b' .., rl, KWBMfA "K 1 ) ffl ..l' sp , v 'XV w - amsTei? SMrnff.Kr.'f This' IS MRS. oflase.. CAM V70M.T be lAi Today, the Doctor says she is tired OUT FROM HER VACATION AND AIEEDS A REST. H-e.- HAVvxxwCi -6" "CAP" STU BBS Sammy Enjoyed the Candy By Edwina HtRE'5 10UR , rm NUMavwMMauaMMW" .K -f-. ttC i()Alt. 4 1 f -iVA- --?t - - r'vr fej tJSgk tL f y .. 7 kXtd fiytm (W-T Iff e-Sl,r THOU&Hf YOU'JQ LIKE 'En-THEV'RE CH0CK'lr Z)ROPb- X fTAME SOMeL n, I ". ,, T " V MORE', yTwo.wwtN " ( JST WRIT TILL I 1 " --y 'Ijet I'LL iHOWl Mlf- .' J o ' ? - "'" ., T - - J . 1 I - . k -v " ll"", "' ' nil WMMMMMa s :m (CONTINUED TOMOnnOW) AV2 lir &Mimk$m "fckt,ftJ!t m ijdj&tiss: Viu3HMKt-i Jir j TU.j.ju' ".f il'