Evening star., 1923-07-18
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Starr

you" was the firm reply. Il told you
that before l started"
II shall sit here and wait for you"
she decided" 1 rather like the neigh
borhood. There is gentleman In
shirt sleeves, leaning over the rail-
of the roof there. who has his eye
'on me. l believe l shall be a. success
here-which is more than ! can say of
a little further Westward.
Sir Timothy smiled slightly. He
had exchanged his hat for a tweed
cap. and had put on long dust
coat.
may know the measure of your sue
cess" he said. If there we're
"1f there were:" she asked. leaning
q little forward and looking at him
with touch of the old brilliancy In
her eyes.
> "Tf there were" he said, with a
little show of mock gallantry, "a
very jealously guarded secret might
: escape me. l think you will be quite
all right here" he continued. 1T is
an open thoroughfsre. and see two
policemen at the corner: Hasseil,
my chauffeur, too, is reliable fel-
low. We will be back within the
hour"
'We?" she repeated
He indicatd a man who had silently
made his appearance during the con-
.versation and was standing waiting
on the sidewalk.
d
wise you to wait If you insist-au
revoir,"
Lady Cynthia leaned back in a
corner OF the car. Through half
closed eyes she watched the two men
Son their way down the crowded
thoroughfare-Sir Timothy tall. thin
as a lath. yet with certain elegance
of bearing: the man at his side
shorter, his hands thrust into the
pockets of his coat, his manner one
of subServience. She wondered lam
'Huidly as to their errand in this un-
savory neighborhood. Then she clos
ed her eyes altogether and wondered
about many things.
walked along the crowded, squalid
street without speech. Presently
they turned to the right and stopped
in front of a public-house Of some
''This is the place." Sir Timothy
asked.
"Yes, sirt'
Both men entered. Sir Timothy
made his way to the counter ms
companion to a table near, where
.he took a seat and ordered drink
Sir Timothy did the same. He was
wedged in between heterogeneous
crowd of shabby, depressed but ap-
parentIy not ill-natured men and
women A man in a flannel shirt
and pair of shabby plaid trousers
which owed their precarious position
20 a pair of worn-ou braces, turned
q beery eye upon the newcomer.
I'll ave one with you. Suvnor, he
You shall indeed Sir Timothy
assented.
Strike me lucky but I've touched
9irst timei" the man exclaimed III
ave a double tot OF whisky, ne
added. addressing the barman. "Will
mt run to 1t, guvnor::'
Certainly" was the cordial reply.
"and the same to your friends, IL you
will answer q question.
Troop UP. lads" the man shouted,
'we've a tof ERE. He amt 'tec-1
know the cut of them. Out with the
question"
Serve every one who desires it
with drinks" Sir Timothy directed
the barman. my question is easily
answered. 'Is this the place which a
man whom 1 understand they call
Billy the Tanner frequents?
The question appeared to produce
an almost uncomfortable sensation.
The enthusiasm for the free drinks,
however. was only slightly damped,
and a small forest of grimy hands
was extended across the counter.
Don't you ask no questions about
Hn, guvnor." Sir Timothy's imme-
diate companion advised earnestly.
He'd kill you as soon as look at
quarrelsome mood, I've see i'm empty
this place and the whole street,
quicker than if mad dog was loose.
'E's fair and 'oly terror, e Is
'E about killed is wife, three nights
ago, but there amt a living soul as
ID dare TO stand in the witness-box
about it,
why don't the police take hand
m sae @tsr SIR I Tfmothy 1nS an is s
His new acquaintance. gripping
thick tumbcr Of spirits and water
with hand deeply incrusted with
the stains Of & his trade scot sGoffed; INV
three Of the police round these parts"
he declared. Police! You tell one
on 'em that Billy the Tanners on the
rampage, and you'll see 'em 'op II.
Cheero. guvnor. and don't yon se.
curious about Billy. II amt 'ealthy.
The swingdoor was suddenly
opened. a tousle-haired urchin SHOW
ed his face in.
BILLY the Tanners coming he
shouted. Gave all. He's been 'avin'
rare to-do in Smiths court"
Then a curious thing happened.
The little crowd at the bar seemed
somehow to melt away. Haif-a-
dozen left precipitately by the door.
Hall dozen more skunk through an
inner entrance into some room be-
yond Sir Timothy's neighbor set
down his tumbler empty. He was the
last to leave.
n still tongue in your cad. Billy
amt particular who 1t is Ed kill his
own mother if he felt like 1t Ell
swing some day. sure as | stand ere,
hue ell do bit more mischief nrSt.
'Op 1t with me, Guvnor. or get inside
there"
"Jim's right" the man behind the
bar agreed. Hes very nasty Gus
toner. Bill the Tanner. sir. II he's
coming down. I'd clear out for
moment. You can go in the guV-
nor's sitting-room, If you like.
''Sir Timothy shook his head.
BILLY the Tanner will not hurt
I came down to see him"
His new friend hesitated no longer,
but made for the door through which
most of his companions had already
disappeared. The barman Leaned
across the counter.
"Guvnor." he whispered hoarseiy,
q don't know what the game Is, but
I've given you the office. Billy won't
stand no truck from any one. hes
' q holy terror
Sir Timothy nodded.
.T quite understand" he said.
There was a moments ominous
ailence. The barman withdrew to
the further end of his domain and
busted himself cleaning some glasses
A man entered whose appearance
alone was calculated to inspire a
certain amount of fear. He was tall,
but his height escaped notice by
of his shoulders. He had a coarse
and vicious face. a crop of red hair
and an unshaven growth of the
same upon his face. He wore what
the neighborhood--a pair Of trousers
suspended by r belt. and dirty fan
mel shirt His hands and even his
chest. where the shirt fell away,