""r1 .VliV. - i ' j , . i& "V ' V, M'S EVltfiNJUNtf iuj&jujlU LiiiJDCiJWK llJADJUFHiA, THURSDAY, Aoauwi 19, fS w? , ' 7!HE PARADISE MYSTERY By J. S. Coturight, ttit, tu mix HTAHTS THE BTORV ' Ihc Uttte tinnllth cathedral town of W-uchesler with its peaceful close is ' the scene 0 miMjeri and intrigue. ru Bewery, ninetctn years old, and t.Ji-ihr nicie. seventeen. a xr broiner vkk, ,"i '". ., rtortor Ransford. A strange man. w.ii for Doctor Ransford ana a lew WinJet later is found dead at the foot if Saint Wryha's Stair. The theory i. that he fell, but is objected to as vnrner. ( stonemason, insisted that tie lad see a man's hand. Hansford has ilatv purchase flowers for the dead mfli funeral. A banker offers a re ward for information. Uryce finds an .ntni in a parish register where Mark Hansford had acted as best man at Ihemarrhwe of John make and Mary nrtceni. Gossip is rife In tonncctlon with Hansford and tho dead man. , I'oWshaw, the laborer who said he could throte Hpht on the Drake murder, "found dead under a tree with his dinner pail and an old tin bottle be ,ule him. Detectives, surmise Rons tnrd is the murderer on the nround ll at he prescribed for Coltishaw aiut kit wife the.nlaht before und Ransfortl ,cas left aton with Colltshaw's -tip bottle, AND 1IKIIB IT CONTINUKK BRyCE, who had been listening attenr tlcly. looked steadily nt the In rpector. "You're suspecting Ilansford already?" he said. Mltchlngton shook his head. What's It look like?" he answered, almost nppeallngly. "I put It to you, n0what docs It look llko? Here's this man been poisoned, without a doubt I m certain of It. And there were those rumors It's Idle to deny that they cen tered In nansford. And this morning nansford had the chance 1" "That's arguing that nansford pur noscly carried a dose of poison to put tnto Oolllshaw's tin bottle.'' said Bryce. half sneerlngly. "Not very probable, you know. Mltchlngton." ..... Mltchlngton spread out his hands. "Well, there It 1st" he. said. "As I av. there's no denying the susplclovip look of It. If I were only certain that those rumors about what Colllshaw hinted ho could say had got to nans ford's cars why, then " "What's being done about that post mortem?" asked Bryce. "Dbctor Coates and Doctor Everest sre going to do It this afternoon," re plied Mltchlngton. "The coroner went to them at once, as soon as I told him." "They'll probably have to call In an expert from London," said Bfyce. "How ever, jou can't do anything definite. you l,now, until the result's known, Don't roy anything of this to anybody. I'll drop In at your place later and hear If Coates can say anything really certain." Mltchlngton went away, and Bryce upent the rest of the afternoon won dering, speculating nnd scheming. If Hansford had really got rid of this man ho knew something why. then. It was certnlnly Hansford who killed Braden. He weiit round to the pollco station at 5 o'clock. Mltchlngton drew him nnlde. "Coates says there's no doubt about It"' he whispered. "Poisoned! Hydro cyanic acid!" Mltchlngton stepped aside Into a private room, motioning Bryco to follow Hm Ho carefully closed the floor, and looking significantly at his companion, repeated his last -words, With a shake ef the head. "Poisoned ! without tho very least doubt," ho whispered. "Hydrooyanic add which, I understand. Is tho same thing a what's commonly called prussic acid They say thev hadn't the least difficulty In finding that out! so there jou are " 'That's what Coates has told you, of course?" asked Bryce. "After the sutopsv?" "Both of 'em told me Coates. and Everest, who helped him," replied Mitch; tagton. "They said It was obvious fronl the ery start. And I say!" "Well?" said Bryce. "It wasn't In that tin bottle, anyway." remarked Mltchlngton, who was evi dently greatly weighted with mystery. "No! of course It wasn't!" ninrmed Bryce. "Good Heavens, man I know that!" "How do you know?" asked Mltch lniton. "Because I poured a few drops from that bottle Into my hand when I first found Colllshaw nnd tasted tho stuff," nsnered Bryce readily. "Cold teai with too much sugar In It. Thero was no H C. N. In that besides, wherever It Is, there's always a smell stronger or fainter of bitter almonds. There was tone aboutthat bottle." "Yet jou were very anxious that we houU tako car of that bottle?" ob ten 'd Mltchlngtdn. "Of course ! because I suspected the uo of somo much rarer poison than mat, retorted Bryce. "Pooh ! It's a clumsy way of poisoning anybody! quick though It Is." "Well, there's where It Is !" said Mltchlngton. "That'll bo the medical evidence at tho Inquest, anyway. That s how it was done. And tho question now Is , "Who did It?" Interrupted Bryce Precisely Well I'll say this mucn at ence, Mltchlngton. Whoever did It was Jlther a big bungler or damned ctcer! That's what I aay!" "I don't understand you," said Mitch Ington "Plain enough my meaning." rcnlled f rce, smiling. "To finish anybody with jnat stuff Is easy enough hut no poison ' more easily detected. It's an amateurish way of poisoning anybody -...cm yOU can ao 11 in such a rasnion 1.J?0 susPicIon can attach you to. And in this case It's here whoever admln utered that poison to Colllshaw must H&Ve DeAn rertflln oltanlllfali, Ka.tnln una you: that It Was Impossible for ny ono to find out that he'd done so. ""'fore. I say what I said the man must bo damned clecr Otherwise, ho'd ,? found out pretty quick. And nil literea?" m lBhow waa u dmln- "? ,much would hill nnbody rettv quick?" asked Mltchlngton. ItmZ much". One drop would cause instantaneous death'" answered Bryce. then ?p.ara ?'B ?. ot tne heart, there and "'y. instantly'" lool! nl1""61?," remained silent a while, turn. iB ,meU",atlvely at Bryc.'. Then he Lev .J'? u. l0,cld drawer, produced 11 drav.,r ,00k. something out of the Paper S'"a" obJect- wrapped In h m"i!i te)kns yu " Kood deal, doctor," "O U "nilt nu . m. t,.. v. ..1 u7..' ill tell )ou a. bit more. Look at a imn0!?6"6'1,!?18 hnnd nd showed Bryce lo of n,ChirftbouJ'1 Pillbox, ucross the Oni h.lcn " fow w""1" were written ' "Whn.atteL "els Mr. Colllshaw." 'Mitcttr'" thntr ue- ".'oolfed closer, nnd Htared. lord? 8n'?rda! ,10 muttered. "Ilans ..i? of course '," eoat nit0... wn? ltl Colllshaw's waist re t,m,CV t.a,d Mltchlngton. "There th 1. rt8 '5,'(Je u. ,10w- Su!" He took off &r-.c.?ate". I'"'". urar..nn. . no ?ox a"d revealed four ftoV' Xn I"1L'' "U wou'lln't B?vc' an.,1x- ,th "" hB observed, uryce extracted n nin n,i .,., hold 11010 in rl.r?.c,ei1 Pi" and u. nlB little of L ie BUBn;,".?.V..HCra,c,lln IeJrgBa,:cat''? aK. ie u "Mere i Couw- 'Coiim 1V1 V" P's," ue annoui the,. l'Tnav" been given In he announced. "Po4ihi. ..n8lel Mltchlngton. 1.1 ..?,slble," ronllp.i irr.A 1 one thlnklne ' & rP"ed Bryce. n stood ttn tlE.P. i"!' ""?v you Merest?" VT. ,"" '" i-uuien aim ''ot v.h aslted at """ We4toy,'mi re"jled Mltchlngton. "I " box tl n,J,0 ', ' ,nrat' lf "nusford gnv llng to f?ni0i"8,,,nw' and when. I'm ' ceri.inlll8.ha-w s, h0U8 Presently laov'll kin, ln5u'rle to make. Ills "Vou'L now about these plllB." Vc?Ur?Twpec,mi1 Hansford." said Mltehin1. ts certain!" W'&x indJl. 1 cVBJuy put nway the "I've JS re'oked the drawer. tk' luefs-w?"!? d;c,d,!dly uncomfort-Sav'--abo7 nicl' x ?, much rather not When on f?iOC,or Hansford." he said. otHVhat '",? Be.emJt ,t t Into an Hn thai twB ,0 tnll,kT If l wel-e jarat-w ow. had got to Ransford'a irUavino?iSifor B0?d beforo N fining XTtn.ndTnoxi tlrnc' PT.hapK, iu "mt that ti.;.. i ' ",c" "ce neg n S'Kl oto 1, It h y,.V.now "om.ethlng, they hiMlleii nii..'"?', -'olllshaw might v frye nsk.,1 ' "rluo long to usl" "Wing 0? ih" ,a nucstiQn about the Aa afUjrtnA,,tou8t an,d went. away. "w thinking things, oyer, ti ' '.... -:jM:, Fletcher Alrfd A, Knopf, tne. n7r. V8 dl"cllon of the cathedral, nnd mado his way through the cloisters oJL cl0,e' "e was going to make fh.0rl.hc.r move ln ,,ls ow" Bame. while S?re was a good chance. Everything nt card3ffiCtUHrr. Z, ftR, ff W Ish, he thought, not to play them to ad-. itnn.fM't ?d s0 he made straight for1 Ti : Ur r ,; " """"e, nnu ueiore ne reacnea !.V.i!Icl Ilansford and Mnry Bewery, who Wni croa8 ", the close from another SiiiL.lMl?lr ,wn' from 'he railway ?i n,,,2n,Jvh tller Mary nfld Kn especial Z 1?. J"c,et her Kuardlan. They were .. 1 t,eep conversation that Bryce was close upon them before thoy ob !r.?ed.i n ". P'nce. When nansford 2nrls ,'ate assistant, he scowled tin ??a'0U,!ly"Dr.vce' nnd the Interview of iS PrevoU1', afternoon, had been much ,nn.''r thoughto all day, and he had an uneasy feeling that Bryce was playing Boms game. Bryce was quick to see iVo. s.CuW,aPd ,0 observe the sudden start which Mary could not repress and he was Just as quick to speak, n x .wnJ..golnB to your house, Doctor .i-Jlf ford'. - Q? remarked quietly. "I uon t want to force my presence on you, Eowor ,ftt any time but I think you'd better give me a few minutes." k .iey. wero at Ransford's garden gate ?yitnat time, apd Ransford flung It open and motioned Bryco to follow. Ho led the way Into the dining-room, closed the door on the, three, and looked nt Bryce. Bryce took the glance as a ques tion, and put another, In words. h...X.J,.? ,ear,d.of what's happened during tho day?", he said. n,oui foll'sbaw yes," answered Ilansford. "Miss Bewery has Just told of UT brother told her. What .inH-i1?'0 Au!! come frorn the police station." said Bryce. "Coates and Ever est have carried out nn autopsy this afternoon. Mltchlngton told me the result." ft vYonr aemanucd nansford, with no attempt to conceal his Impatience. "And what then?" "Colllshaw wan poisoned." replied Bryce, watching nansford with a close ness which Mary did not fall to observe. If:F-..'N' 5"' doubl at nil about It." . JVell.""and wl,at then?" asked Ilans ford, still more Impatiently. "To be ex pllclt what's all this to do with me7" "I came here to do you a service," answered Bryce. "Whether you like to take It or not Is your lookout. You may ns well know It you're In danger. Col llshaw Is the man who hinted as you heard yesterday in my rooms that he could say something definite about the Braden affair If he liked." "Well?" said nansford. "It's known to the police that you woro at ColIIshaw'n house early this morning," said Bryce. "Mltchlngton knows it." Ilansford laughod. "Docs Mltchlngton know that I over heard what he said to you, yesterday afternoon?" hn inquired. "No, he doesn't." answered Bryce. Ho couldn't nosslblv know unless I mid him, I haven't told him I'm not going iu ion mm. uui no a suspicious al ready." "Of me, or course," suggested nans ford, with another laugh. He took a turn across the room nnd suddenly faced round on Bryce, who had remained standing near tho door. "Do you really mcun 10 ten mo tnat .Mitcnington is such a fool as to believe that I would poison a poor working man and In that clumsy fashion?" ho burst out. "Of course you don l.V "I never said I did," answered Bricc, "i m only telling you what Mltchlngton thinks his grounds for suspecting. He connuea in mn Dccauso well. It was who found Colllshaw. Mltchlngton is In posesslon of a box of digestive pills which you eviacnuy gave uoiusnaw. , "Bah!" exclaimed Ilansford. "Tho man's a fool ! Let him come and talk 10 me. "He won't do that vet." nnld Brvce "But I'm afraid he'll bring all this out ui mo inquest, xno ract is ne s sus picious wnat with one thing or an otherabout the former affair. He thinks you concealed the truth whnt oer It may be as regards any knowl- euge or uraaen wnicn mayn't hnve." you may or ."I'll tell you what It Is!" said nans ford suddenly. "It Just comes to this I'm suspected of having had a hand tho hand, If you llko! In Brnden's death, and now of getting rid of Colll shaw because Colllshaw could prove that I had that hand. That's about It !" "A clear way of putting it, certainly," assented Bryce. "But there's a very clear way, too, of dissipating any such ideas." "What way?" demanded nansford, "If you do know anything about the Braden affair why not reveal It, and ba dono with the whole thing," suggested Bryce. "That would finish matters." Ilansford took a long, silent look at his questioner. And Bryco looked steadily back and Mary Bewery anx iously watched both men. "That's my business," said Ransford nt last. "1 m neither to' be coerced, bullied nor cajoled. I'm obliged to you for giving mo a hint of my danger, I suppose! And I don't propose to nay any more." "Neither do I," said Bryce. "I only came to tell you " And therewith, having successfully done all that he wanted to do, he walked out of th$ room and the house, nnd Ilansford, standing In the window, his handn thrust In his pockets, watched him go nway acroea the Close. "Guardian 1" said Mary softly. nansford turned sharply. "Wouldn't It be best," she continued, speaking nervously, "If If you do know anything about tnat unfortunate man if you told It? Why have this suspi cion fastening Itself on you? You!" Ilansford made an effort to calm him self. Ho was furiously angry angry with Bryoe, angry with Mltchlngton, angry with the cloud of foolishness and stupidity that seemed to be gathering. "Why snouiu 1 supposing mu 1 ao know something, which I don't admit why should I allow myself to be coerced and frightened by these fools?" ho asked. "No man can preem suspicion falling on him lt'n my bad luck In this Instance. Why should I rush to the pollco station and say: 'Hero I'll blurt out all I know everything " Why?" "Wouldn't that be better than know ing that people iito saying things?" she asked. ... .... "As to that," replied Ilansford, "you can't prevent people saying things especially In a town like this If It hadn't been for tho unfortunate fact that Braden came to the surgery door, nothing would have been said. But what of that? I hnve known hundreds of men In my tlmi aye, and forgotten them! No' I am not going to fall a victim to this devlc It all springs out of curiosity As to this last affair It's all nonsense'" "But If the man wjas really poi soned?" suggested Mary. "Let the pollco tlnd the poisoner" said Ilansford, with a grim smile. "That's their Job " Mary Bald nothing for a moment, and Ilansford moved restlessly about the room "I don't truBt that fellow Bryce," he said suddenly. "He's up to something I don't forget whnt he said when I bundled him out thnt morning," "What?" sho asked "rim! Iib would bo a bad enemy, answered Ilansford "He's posing now eriuTid hut a man s never to be so mh aiiHtierted as when he comes doing what you may call unnecessary acts of friendship. I'd lathei- that anybody was mixed up In my affulrs your affairs than Pemberton Bryce!" "So would I!" sho said. "But" She paused there u moment and then lookod nppeallngly at Ilansford. "I do wish you'd tell me what you promised to tell me," she said. "You know what I mean about me and Dick. Somehow I llon't quite know how or why I've an uneasy feeling that Bryce knows something, nnd that he's mixing It all up with this! Why not tell me please 1" Ilansford, who was still msrehing ahout the room, came to a halt, ana leaning his hands on the table between them, looked earnestly at her. "Don't ask that now !" he said. I can't yet. Tho fact 1b, I'm wotting tor something some particulars, as soon as I get them, I'll speak to you and to Dick. In the meantime don't ask mo again and don't be afraid. And as 10 thlB affair, leave It to me and If you meet nryce again, refuse to discuss any thing with him. Look hero' there-s only one renson why lie profissc. frlendllne8s nnd a desire to hsvo nn annoyance. He thinks he can Ingratiate himself with you 1" rtxnTitMiTirr Tfixmnnnwi l" l rmai. .. e?VWT TlfE GUMPtfShadi'Rest 'NEAL-WFU 1 VELL F T A1KT OLP r. i fe-rft I TfVinT-f5eysT--TtlT" tae"MJCJ-t2rtir1Jn.. i ti- J PORK KINP WITH TOVf l -tut: LAKE'S I NEVER AV TriS sHL v 'f?K vmat uo you cwue. about y v fc Ae o biuu of ts-3P?)SH ' 7&X&? -V 4vir t7 . S 5 You must have seNYdBBSSP PETEYr-He Read Betufeeil The Young UadyAcross the Way i The young lndy across the way sajs she cvrtaiitly doesn't think It speaks very well for the tinnnolnl stability of the government when it ran afford to pay only 44 per cent on its securities and many of the new oil companies can pay. 2.1. SOMEBODY'S STENOG "CAP" STUBBSAnd He J)W4 wr ' ft' 1"MJ4 KT-swa.:...! f OH MY '.'PElEV PeAfc,HE1?n t V. A LETTEtt FROM CHIEF . -.1.-... .. . . lib :avic T yU 1 gw CWTEp QUE- J M )L(wfHji 1 v 1 . VNEW SWOEb! IT y Cb ViBMiiw4 .1 ySOHiN. -msm -THifflS wort J ffiJ v SS'(3Lo?h ) V t"r! ll riVm VSf ..ffl.. ntjjj a i&.Tj?2r mk'X...... m- $. swimX) rls stt m ...vO i . .- ,ii9tI,Xm- . . . -" VI -0-. Again H5K.WO-' W .... r CCtWN fr " Vfiss c-Z ljl SOHG0Zv-2SRr I nil the Lines PATHETIC FIGURES Quick Thought Saves Her Used to Be a Champion vafAKtafN riti Jr-kt 1 JrTrwl I ? ' I tPT) . Vo wamted?) "EVCSTCR EGeST V lr I , .ail ZTS5&ii& A -V V-iiiJ :UiJu i 7 tSA. . wi-- .';jiX,"r& "v' "'iK .1 "'WKsuD" !.. W'li..XnA VV,l...iiip.iMfc ' -P rT 01"""-" Xvil'" J CBP- v'a"jtftw A . l ' . -w -M. ... ,.,,. .,y,.n-. Z.. ri,-,i. SSMMttbM - is 2' Sab. , . .1 -Af,.wvHJ'IL.'ci , , -v ' ,t mU st. .UfSsJLikSw' , r - IM T4e NAKE OF A MINNOW i WEUCOME XOU mtx nusi VOl WERE COHlNti THEV HUSX WAVE TVr LAKE'S -AVe V0) A to - Mow ABouT mv Hooch?: Embarrassment Zter E Jealous Lover. S&&&&' vKo5 5WETHART (AWAV AT ' P A veRr GAr 5UMMEK Resort) SBHDS 0 MlM A PHOTO OF HER5EJ.F FROM WHICH thrce1 Fourths of rnt picture hs been cot off. 1 , TMEPVV;H FAtVU-V ricora r - SEE E.M PEEKING OVEtt WIL BANK TtPPEP T OF-F TO AUt NEVER AVTriS, SO "FvlUt OF F1BK- MUST HAVE" SCMX- -P0V5YAU CARP soNeoopV M& TheijVSAYAWV(HlH(; ABOUT THAT HE 3ANS"TfHEYTbo0Ufi MOUSTACHE COP- MY MoThet? 's.Picioi?e,toi;r high I MAT AMD IMAT Auu- By Fontaine Fox SCHOOL .ftt &wMm:t s, ,t. vHrL. to F YOJ Mrv& wown this HevRlCMT HVTHHlBll 1 UC DAYS 11 A . L.-l ( rTlUUKCoirt I P.OHT PSI nj ift, I N . 3 ( K cot Tt. s'i W g i Vj ah' V.WU1. Mm lftfe swrts WrCi ? Sfti V O - I TrffgsZ&zr' CcPtm He. Cot A Copyrleht 1920 b Tub Ic Idser Po E-HAVw&RD - By Sidney Smith PONVGEr, HSH iK neip Xoo've got ro aPttMlctJi CARfcOUC ACP ON VOOR. BAY- THEY'LL TAKE ANYTHING tVWT yo)- prop vn;xhe: watbr WE.VVE C.OS5ETK WlYtf HOUtTOE5 they'll Ba OH ANVTYAH6 By C. A. Voight f ( OW 00 1!! IJ UgoodBy.. r. jhooch!! a x By Hay ward By Edwina ihfiAvzj!! 1' j 1 ,'.j ,. .' . w .! l A VI Bi DWIG m fa m .V-'ti 1 I 'td
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