Evening star., 1923-07-14
The EVIL SHEPHERD
By E. Phillips Oppenheim.
Copyright. isss. sy Little. Brow. Z os.)

wonderful vintage"
Francis bent over Margaret.
begged. 1T is perhaps just as well
that your father came. We shall
know exactly where we are
Just So" Sir Timothy agreed.
There was a queer constrained ST.
lence for several moments. Then Sir
Timothy leaned back in his chair and
with a word of apology lit a cigarette.
Let U.s." he said. Consider the sit
uation. Margaret is my daughter.
You wish to marry her. Margaret is
Of age and has been married before.
She Is at liberty, therefore. to make
her own choice. You agree with me
80 far?'
Entirely" Francis assented.
1T happens" Sir Timothy went on,
that / disapprove of her choice. She
belongs to profession which 1 de-
test, and whose efforts In life are
directed toward the determination Of
class of people for whom ] have
every sympathy. To me he repre-
sents the SNUG as against the hui
man. the artificially moral as against
the free thinker. He Is also my per-
sonal enemy. l am therefore nat
urally desirous that my daughter
should not marry this young man"
we VIII let 1t go at that" Francis
commented, but L should like to
point out to you that the antagonism
between us Is in no way personal.
You have declared yourself for forces
other decent-living citizen. Your declara-
ton might at any time be amended"
Sir Timothy bowed.
The situation Is stated" he said.
1 Will ask you this question as a
matter of form. Do you recognize my
right to forbid your marriage with
my daughter. Mr.. Ledsam?"
most certainly do not" was the
forcible reply.
r,masSs aaSs askeGy any rights at all sil? s Sir
under my roof whenever it has suited
her to do so. Since she has taken
up her residence at Curzon street.
she has been her own mistress. her
banking account has known no limit
whatsoeVer. i may be a person of
evil disposition, but l have shown no
unkindness to her"
1T Is quite true" Margaret ad-
mttted. turning a little pale. Since
! nave been alone. you have been
kindness itself"
Then let me repeat my question"
Sir Timothy went on, have / the
right to any consideration at all?"
Yes Francis replied. Short of
Keeping us apart. you have the ordi-
nary rights of parent"
Then / ask you to DELAY the an
! nouncement of your engagement, or
taking any further steps concerning
II, Tor fourteen days" Sir Timothy
said. Il place no restrictions on your
movements during that time Such
hospitality as you, Mr.. Ledsam, care
TO accept at my hands Is at YOUR
disposal. i am Bohemian enough. in
deed, to find nothing to complain of
IN such little celebrations as you are
at present indulging in-most excel
lent pate. that. But 1 request that
no announcement of your engagement
De made. or any further arrange
ments made concerning it, for that
fourteen days"
| II am quite willing father" Mar
Earet acquiesced.
And !. sir" Francis echoed.
IN which case" Sir Timothy con-
| ciuded. rising to his feet lighting
cigarette and taking up his hat and
gloves. Il shall go peaceably away
You will admit. | trust" he added
with that peculiar smile at the cor.
ner of his lips, that l have not in
any way tried to come the heavy
'ather? l can even command a GER
young man who is able to inaugu-
rate his engagement by an impromptu
meal of such perfection. 1 wish you
hio, p1,h good morning. Any Invitation
mn,cn r, margaret extends, Ledsam.
please consider as confirmed by me-"
He closed the door softly. They
| heard his footsteps descending the
stairs. Francis leaned once more
over Margaret. She seemed still
| dazed, confused with new thourbts
She responded. however. readily re bis
| touch. yielded to his caress with an
| almost pathetic eagerness
| FRANCIS. she murmured as his
! arms closed around her, II want to
| forget" "
! CHAPTER XIII
There followed a brief period Of
time. the most wonderful of his life,
the happiest of hers. They took ad-
/ vantage of Sir Timothy's absolute
license. and spent long days at the
Sanctuary, ideal lovers days. with
their punt moored at night among
! the lilies, where her kisses seemed to
| come to him with an aroma and
wonder born Of the spot. Then there
| came morning when he found a
cloud on her face. She was looking
at the great wall and away at the
| minaret beyond. They had heard
from the butler that Sir Timothy had
! spent the night at the villa and that
preparations were on hand for an
| other of his wonderful parties.
Francis. who was swift to read her
! thoughts. led her away into the rose
garden where once she had failed
| him.
You have been looking over the
wall, Margaret" he said reproach-
! fully.
She looked at him with a little
twitch at the corner of her lips
! Francis, dear" she confessed, "I
am afraid you are right. i cannot
| even look toward the Walled House
without wondering why it was built
or catch glimpse of that dome
| RI yhof
| may go on underneath"
Il think very likely" he said
soothingly, I'VE have both exagger-
| ated the seriousness of your fathers
| wonderful gymnasium there, but the
| only definite rumor I have ever heard
about the place is that men fight
| there who have a grudge against one
another, and that they are not too
particular about the weight of the
/ gloves That doesn't appeal to us.
you know. Margaret, but it isn't
] criminal"
IF that were all" she murmured.
| II dare say 1t is," he declared.
| London. as you know. is a hotbed OF
gossip. Everything that goes on is
| ridfculously exaggerated, and I think
that 1t rather appeals to your fathers
curious sense of humor to pose as the
| lawbreaker"
She pressed his arm little. The
/ uoy was ofSICdSI, d Ialu was
beginning to fall.
Francis" she whispered, I'VE had
| a perfect day here yesterday. Now
| the sun has gone and 1 am shivery."
He understood In a moment
Well lunch at Ranelagh," he sug-
gested. 'It is almost on the way up.
Then we can see what the weather
! is like. If it is bad, we can dine in
| town tonight and do a theater"
| You are dear" she told him
1
ready"
Francis went round to the garage