The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-04-18
CHAPTER xlI-continued.

My dear Ledsam," he said, 81 do
hope that you will excuse this early
call. / could only have been an hour
behind you on the road. dare say
you can guess what have come to
see you about. Can we have a word
together?"
Certainly" was the ready reply.
ssYou remember my friend Shopland.
Sir Timothy? 1t was Mr.. Shopland
who arrested young Fairfax that night
at Solos,
ri remember him perfectly Sir
Timothy declared. II fancied, direct
ly ] entered, that your face was ia
miliar,' he added, turning to Shop
/1and. II am rather ashamed of my
|Aself about that night. My little out
burst must have, sounded almost RI
diculous to you two. TO tell you the
truth, quite failed at that time to
give Mr.. Ledsam credit for gifts which
/ have since discovered him to pos
sess."
"Mr. Shopland and ] are now dis
cussing another matter" Francis went
on, pushing a box of cigarettes toward
{ Sir Timothy, who was leaning against
the table in an easy attitude. Don't
go, Shopland, for minute. We were
consulting together about the disap-
pearance of young man, Reggie Will
more, the brother of friend Of mine
Andrew Wilmore, the novelist"
disappearance" Sir Timothy re-
peated, as he lit cigarette. "That is
rather vague term"
"The young man has been missing
from home for over week." Francis
said, "and left, no trace whatever Of
his whereabouts. He was not in finan-
cal trouble, he does not seem to have
been entangled with any young wom-
an, he had not Quarreled with his peo-
pie, and he seems to have been on the
best of terms with the principal at the
house, of business where he was en-
pl0yed. His disappearance, therefore,
is, to say the least of it, mysterious"
Sir Timothy assented gravely.
1.-THE lack Of motive to which you
allude;y he pointed out, makes the
case interesting. Still, one must re-
member that London is certainly the
city Of modern mysteries. II new
Arabian Nights were written, 1t
might well be about London, / dare
say Mr.. Shopland will agree with me-"
ne continued, turning c0urteously to-
ward the detective, shat disappear
ances Of this sort are not nearly so
uncommon as the uninitiated would
believe. For one that is reported in
the papers. there are. half dozen
which are not"
"Where do you suppose they disap-
pear to?" Francis inquired.
"Who can tell?" was the speculative
reply. For an adventurous youth
there are thousand doors which lead
to romance. Besides, the lives of none
Of us are quite so simple as they SEEM
Even youth has its secret chapters.
This young man, for instance, might
s be on his way to Australia, happy in
the knowledge that he has escaped
from some murky chapter of life
which will now never be known. He
may write to his friends, giving them
q hint. The whole thing will blow
0ver.n
There may be cases such as you
suggest Sir Timothy" the detective
said quietly. "Our Investigations. so
far as regards the young man In ques-
zion, however, do not point that way"
Sir Timothy turned over his ciga-
rette to look at the name of the
maker.
Excellent tobacco" he murmured.
"By-the-bye, what did you say the
young mans name was?"
Reginald Wilmore." Francis told
him.
"A good name" Sir Timothy MUIR
INJURED II am sure wish you both
every good fortune in your quest.