Evening star., 1923-07-15


to receive an invitatSon?" Francis
asked.
Il should think it possible" was
the calm reply.
What about Margaret"
my entertainment would not ap-
peal to her" Sir Timothy declared.
''The women whom have been in the
habit of asking are not women OK
Margaret's type"
And Lady Cynthia?"
Sir Timothy frowned slightly.
II find myself in some difficulty as
regards Lady Cynthia" he admitted.
81 am the guardian of nobody's
morals, nor am I the censor OF their
tastes, but my entertainments are fo'
men. The women whom l have
hitherto asked have been women In
whom I have taken no personal In
terest They are necessary to form
a picturesque background for my
rooms, in the same way that l look
decorations. Lady Cynthia's instincts
however. are somewhat adventurous.
She would scarcely be content TO re-
main a decoration"
THE issuing of your invitations,
Francis remarked, lis. of course,
matter which concerns nobody else
except yourself If you decide to
favor me with one. shall be de-
lighted to come. provided Margaret
has no objection
II
for the future Sir Timothy OBJ
served, with gentle sarcasm. Here
comes Margaret. looking very well.
am glad to see"
Margaret came forward to greet
her father before stepping. into the
car. They exchanged onlyf d few
sentences, but Francis, whose inter-
est in their relations was almost alb
normally keen. fancied that he could
detect signs of some change in their
SlenH9nnr toward another The
cold propriety of department which
had characterized her former attitude
toward her father seemed to have
given place to something more uncer-
. tain. to something less formal. some
thing which left room even for q
measure of cordiality. She looked az
him differently. 1t was as though
some evil thought which lived in her
heart concerning him had perished.
You are busy over there, father?"
: She asked
I'm a way" he replied. We are
preparing for some festivities on
Thursday"
Her face fell.
One more" he replied. Perhaps
The last-for the present at any rate
She waited as though expecting
him to explain. He changed the sub
ject. however.
II think you are wise to run up to
up at the gray skies. "By-the-bye,
If you dine at Curzon street tonight.
do ask Hedges to serve you some OF
the SO Cliquot. A marvellous wine.
as you doubtless know, Ledsam, but
1t should be drunk. Au revoir!'
Francis, after pleasant lunch at
Ranelagh, and having arranged with
Margaret to dine with her in Curzon
street. spent an hour or two that
afternoon at his chambers As he
was leaving, just before five, he came
face to face with Shopland descend
ing from a taxi.
Are you busy, Mr.. Ledsam?" the
latter inquired. Can you spare me
half an hour?"
AN hour, if you like" Francis as
sented
Shopland gave the driver an ad-
dress and the two men seated them
selves in the taxfcab.
Amy news?' Francis asked Curl
ously.
Not yet" was the cautious reply.
at will not be long, however"
Before you discover Reggie Will
The detective smiled in a superior
way.
Il am no longer particularly inter
ested in Mr.. Reginald Wilmore." he
declared II have come to the con-
clusion that his disappearance Is not
serious affair"
It's serious enough for his rela-
tives," Francis objected
Not If they understood the situa-
ton" the detective rejoined. AS
sure them from me that nothing of
consequence has happened to that
young man. / have made inquiries at
the gymnasium in Holborn and in
other directions. l am convinced that
his absence from home is voluntary,
and that there is no cause for alarm
as to his welfare"
Then the sooner you make your
way down to kensington and tell his
mother SO, the better" Francis said.
little severely. Don't forget that
put you on to this"
Quite right, sir" the detective ac-
Quiesced, ''and 1 am grateful to you.
The fact of it is that in making my
preliminary Investigations with re-
gard to the disappearance of Mr.. VIII
D more l have stumbled upon a bigger
thing. Before many weeks are past.
! nope to be able to unearth one of
the greatest scandals of modern
times"
The devil!" Francis muttered.
He looked thoughtfully. almost
anxiously at his companion Shop
lands face reflected to the full his
usual confidence. He had the air of
man buoyant with hope and with
stified self-satisfaction.
am engaged" he continued.
upon a study of the methods and
habits of one whom l believe to be a
great criminal. l think that when |
place my prisoner in the bar, VAIN
wright and these other great artists
: In crime VIII fade from the memory"
rs Sir Timothy Brast your man?''
Francis asked quietly.
His companion frowned portent-
ously.
mo Names" he begged.
considering that 1t was | who first
put you on to him." Francis expostu-
lated, II don't think you need be so
sparing of your confidence"
Mr.. Ledsam." the detective assured
him, Il shall tell you everything that
is possible. At the same time, l will
be frank with you. You are right
when you say that it was you who
f1rst directed my attention toward Sir
Timothy Brast. Since that time. how
ever. your own relations with him, to
an onlooker. have become a little
puzzling."
Il see.". Francis murmured. You've
been spying on me?'
Shopland shook his head in depre.
eating fashion.
"A study of Sir Timothy during the
last month"; he said, has brought
you many "A time into the focus"
Where are we going to now?
Francis asked. a little abruptly.
Just side show. sir. It's one OF
those outside things 1 have come
the whole affair. We get out here
il you please"
The two men stepped on to the
pavement. They were in a street q
little north of Wardour street, wher,
the shops for the most part were o.
a miscellaneous variety. Exactly II
front of them, the space behind &
transformed into a sort of show-plac.
for dogs There were twenty or thirt,