The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-03-21

ously upon the counter with his
knuckles.
I'VE can stand anything but sus-
pense," he declared. SECT on with
your shock-giving."
Il believe that the person RESPONSE
Bile for the death Of Victor Bidlake is
in this room at the present moment"
Francis declared.
Again the silence, curious, tense and
dramatic. Little Jimmy, the bartender,
who had leaned forward to listen,
stood with his mouth slightly open and
the cocktail-shaker which was in his
hand leaking drops upon the counter.
The first conscious impulse Of every
body seemed to be to glance suspi-
ciously around the room. The four
young men at the bar, Jimmy and one
waiter. Francis and Sir Timothy Brast,
were its only occupants.
Il say, you know, that's bit thick,
isn't it?' Sidney voss stammered at
last. Il wasn't in the place at all,
was in Manchester, but it's bit rough
on these other chaps, victor's pals
Il was dining at the Cafe Royal"
Jacks declared, loudly.
Morse drew a little BREATH
Every one knows that / was at
Brighton" he muttered.
Il went home directly the bar here
closed Jimmy said, in still dazed
tone. Il heard nothing about it till
the next morning"
"Alibis by the bushely Fairfax
laughed harshly. "As for me, / was
doing my shows every one knows that.
I was never in the place at ALL"
"The murder was not committed in
the place. Francis commented calmly.
Fairfax slid OF his stool. A spot of
color blazed in his pale cheeks, the
glass which he was holding snapped
in his fingers. He seemed suddenly
possessed.
Il say. what the h--l are you get
ting att" he cried. "Are you accusing
me-or any Of us-Victor's pals?"
II accuse no one,' Francis replied,
unperturbed. you invited a state
ment from me and made IT.,
Sir Timothy BrastA rose from his
place and made his way to the end
Of the counter, next to Fairfax and
nearest Francis. He addressed the
former. There was an inscrutable
smile upon his lips, his manner was
reassuring.
Young gentleman" he begged,
"pray do not disturb yourself. I Will
answer for-it that neither you nor any
of your friends are the objects Of Mr..
Ledsam's suspicion. Without doubt,
it is to whom his somewhat bold
statement refers.
They all stared at him, immersed In
another crisis, bereft of speech. He
tapped cigarette upon the counter
and lit it. Fairfax. whose glass had
just been refilled by the bartender, was
still CHASTITY pale, shaking with nerv-
BUSINESS and breathing hoarsely.
Francis. tense and alert In his chair,
watched the speaker. but said moth
ing.
You see," Sir Timothy continued,
addressing himself to the four young
men at the bar, II happen to have
two special diversions in life. One
is sweet champagne and the other am
ateur detectives-their stories, their
methods and everything about them.
/ CHANGED to sit upstairs in the res
taurant, within hearing Of Mr.. Ledsam
and his friend Mr.. Wilmore, the novel.
list, the other night, and l heard Mr..
Ledsam, very much to my chagrin,
announce his intention Of abandoning
career in which he has, If he will
allow me to say so,"--with a courte-
Gus bow to Francis-'attained con-
siderable distinction, to, indulge in. the
moth-eaten, famboyant and melodra-
matte antics Of the lesser Sherlock
Holmes. / fear that could not resist
the opportunity Of joking him about
his new avocation."
Every one was listening intently,
including Shopland, who had gust drift
ed into the room and subsidized into
a chair near Francis.
II moved my place, therefore, Sir
Timothy continued, "and I whispered
in Mr.. Ledsam's ear some rodomon-
tade to the effect that if he were
planning TO be the giant crime-detect-
or of the world, was by ambition the
archcriminal--or words to that effect.
And to give emphasis to my words,
I wound up by prophesying a crime
in the immediate vicinity of the place
within few hours"
"a somewhat significant prophecy,
under the circumstances, Francis re-
marked, reaching out for dish of
sailed almonds and drawing them to-
wards him.
Sir Timothy shrugged his shoulders
deprecatingly.
II will confess" he admitted, shat
I had not in my mind Ian affair of
such dimensions. My harmless re-
mark, however. has produced cataclys-
mic effects. The conversation to which
1 refer took place on the night of
young Bidlake's murder, and Mr.. Led
sam, with my somewhat, / confess,
u 4