Evening star., 1923-07-25

l. LedSam, can call one dnothei .
hands. 1 shall have something else
to say to you, but that Is outside the
doings here"
Are we to see the fight In the gym
nasium?" Lady Cynthia inquired.
Sir Timothy shook his head.
any conditions" he said. You and
Margaret had better stay here whilst
that takes place. 1t will probably
be over in twenty minutes. 1t VIII
be time then for us to find our way 10
the launch After that, If you have
any appetite. supper. ! will order
some caviare sandwiches for you
Sir Timothy went on. ringing the
bell, "and some wine.
Lady Cynthia smiled.
+ 1T Is really very Wonuerlui
party," she murmured.
Their host ushered the two men
across the hall, now comparatively
deserted, for every one hao settIeu
down to his or her chosen amusement
down a long passage. throasn q
priyate door which he unlocked with
a Yale key, and into the gymnasium.
There were less than fifty spectators
seated around the ring, ana franSis'
glancing at them hastily. fancleu ina
he recognized nearly every one OF
them. There was Baker, a judge.
couple of actors, Lord Meadowson' the
most renowned of sporting peers, anu
a dozen who followed IN uIs 80,
steps; a little man who had once pe.n @
amateur champion in the baAahi
oiass and who was now considered
the finest Judge of boxing IN the World
a theatrical manager. the present anna
teur boxing champion, ana sPiti III,
king of others. Sir Tlmothy anu ms
companions took their chairs amldst u
buzz of welcome. Almost Immediately
the man who was in charge OF tne pro
ceedings and whose name was Harrl-
son rose from his place
Gentlemen he said, this is
sporting contest. but one under usuai
rules and usual conditions. An ANA
teur. who tips the scales at twelve
stone seven, who has never engaged III
a boxing contest in his HE, Is matcheu
against a young man from a diHerent
sphere of life, who intends TO adopt the
ring as his profession, but who mas
never as yet fought in public. Names,
gentlemen, as you know, are seldom
mentioned here l will only say that
the first in the ring is the nominee of
our friend and host. Sir Timothy Brast;
second comes the nominee OF LORD
Meadowson."
Wilmore, notwithstanding his pre-
knowledge, gave little gasp. The
young man who stood now within
few yards of him. carelessly swinging
his gloves in his hand. was without a
doubt his missing brother. He looked
well and in the pink of condition; NOT
only we'll, but entirely confident and at
his ease. HIS opponent, on the other
hand, a sturdier man, a few inches
shorter, was nervous and awkward,
though none the less look
ing. Sir Timothy rose and whispered
in Harrfson's ear The latter nodded.
In very few moment the preliminaries
were concluded, the fight begun.
CHAPTER XXXV.
Francis. glad of moment or two's
solitude in which to rearrange his some
what distorted sensations. found an
empty space in the stern Of the launch
and stood leaning over the rail. His
pulses were still tingling with the in
dubitable excitement of the last half
hour. 1t was all there, even now, be-
fore his eyes like cinematograph pic
ture-the duel between those two men.
duel Of knowledge, of strength, OF
science. of courage. From beginning to
end there had been no moment when
Francis had felt that he was looking on
at what was in any way degrading
or immoral spectacle. Each man had
fought in his way to win. Young VIII
more, graceful as panther, with
keen, joyous desire of youth for su-
premacy written in his face and in the
dogged lines of his mouth: the budding
champion from the East End less grace
full, perhaps, but with even more
strength and at least as much determi-
nation, had certainly done his best to
justify his selection. There were no
no undue feinting. no holding, few of
the tricks of the professional ring. It
was fight to finish. or until Harri-
son gave the word. And the better man
had won. But even that kuock out
blow which Reggie Wilmore had deliv-
cred after a wonderful feint had had
little that was cruel in it. There was
something beautiful almost in the
strength and grace with which it had
been delivered-the breathless eager
ness, the waiting. the end.
Francis felt a touch upon his arm and
looked around. tall. sad faced looking
woman whom he had noticed with a
vague sense of familiarity in the dane
ing room was standing by his side.
You have forgotten me, Mr.. Led
sam" she said.
"For the moment" he admitted.
81 am Isabel Culbridge," she told him,
watching his face.
Lady Isabel?" Francis repeated in
credulously. But surely
Better not contradict me-" she in
terrupted. Look again"
Francis looked again.
II am very sorry" he said: 1T is
She stood by his side and for few
moments neither of them spoke. The
little orchestra in the bows had COM
menced to play softly. but there was
.
handful of men and women generally
associated with midnight river picnic.
The moon was temporarily obscured
and it seemed as though some artists
hand had so dealt with the few electric
lights that the men, with their pale
faces and white shirt-fronts. and the
three or four women, most Of them, as
1t happened, wearing black, were like
some ghostly figures in some sombre
procession, Only the music kept up the
We in
ordinary excursion. Amongst the hu-
man element there was an air of tense
ness which seemed rather to increase
as they passed into the shadowy reaches
Of the river.
''You have been III, 1 am afraid?"
Francis said tentatively.
If you WILL, she answered, "but nv
Illness is of the soul I have become
one OF type she went on, ''of which
you win find many examples here. We
started life thinking that it was clever
to despise the conventional and the
known and to seek always for the dar-
ing lne.s and ~, the unknown; New experiences
wonderful husband. 1 broke his heart
and still looked for new things. I had
daughter OF whom I was fond-she
ran away with my chauffeur and left
me; son whom I adored, and he was
that he worshipped me, who spent
every penny / had and made me the
laughing -stok of town. am still look
ing for new things"
Sir Timothy's parties are generally
supposed to provide them" Francis OBJ
served.
The woman shrugged her shoulders
SO Tar they seen very much like
anybody"s else" she said. "The fight
might have been amusing, but no wom-
en- We're allowed. The rest was very
wonderful in It's way, but that is all. I
am still hoping for what we are to
see downstairs"
=. They heard Sir Timothy's voice q
few yards away, and turned to look
at MIN. He had just come from be-.
q Il :