The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-04-25
CHAPTER XIII
10

Sir Timothy laid his hat upon the
sideboard and slowly removed his
gloves.
II trust" he said, shat this pint
bottle does not represent your cellar.
/ will drink glass of wine with you,
and with your permission make myself
a pate sandwich. was just sitting
down to luncheon when received the
information which brought me here."
Francis produced another bottle of
wine from the sideboard and filled his
visitors glass.
"You will drink, hope, to our hap
piness," he said.
II shall do nothing Of the sort. "
Sir Timothy declared. helping himself
with care to the pate. II have no SUI
.perstitions about breaking bread with
an enemy, or I should not have asked
you to visit me at the Sanctuary, Mr..
Ledsam. I object to your marriage
with my daughter, and shall take
what steps can to prevent It,"
"Why?"
Sir Timothy did not at once reply.
He seemed to be enjoying his sand
witch; he also appreciated the flavor
of his wine.
"Your question:. ne said. strikes
me as being a little Ingenious. You
are at the present moment suspecting
me Of crimes beyond number. You en-
courage Scotland Yard detectives to
make asses Of themselves in my
stream. Your myrmidons scramble
onto the top Of my walls and try to
hribe my servants to disclose the mys
teries of my household. You have ac
&epted TO the fullest extent my volun.
teered statement that I am a patron
of crime. You are, in short-forgive
me If help myself to a little more of
this pate-engaged in strenuous at
tempt to bring me to Justice"
"None Of these things affects your
daughter" Francis pointed out.
Pardon me-" Sir Timothy objected.
sYou are great and shining light of
the English law. People speak of you
as future chancellor. How can you
contemplate an. alliance with the wild
ow of one criminal and the daughter
of annther?'
"As TO Margaret being Oliver Hill
ditch's widow" Francis replied, "you
were responsible for that, and no one
else. He was your protege; you gave
your consent to the marriage. AS to
your being her father, that again is
not Margaret's fault. l should marry
her If Oliver Hilditch had been three
times the villain he was, and If you
were the devil himself"
81 am getting quite to like you, Mr..
Ledsamr Sir Timothy declared, help
ing himself to another piece of toast
and commencing to butter it. Mar
garet, what have you to say about all
this?"
II have nothing TO say" she an
swered. Francis is speaking for me.
I never dreamed that after what have
gone through I should be able to care
for any one again in this world I do
care, and I am very happy about 1t.
All last nightsI lay awake, making up
my mind to run away. and this morn
Ing actually booked my passage to
Buenos Aires. Then we met-just out
side the steamship office-and knew
at once that I was making a mistake.
I shall marry Francis exactly when he
wants me to-"
Sir Timothy passed his glass towards
his proposed son-in-law.
might one suggest" he began
.thank you very much. This, is of
course, very upsetting to me. l seem
to be set completely at defiance. 1t is
a very excellent wine, this, and Won
derful vintage"
Francis bent over Margaret.
please finish your lunch. DEAR" he
begged. 1T is perhaps just as well
that your father came. We shall know
exactly where we are"
Just So" Sir Timothy agreed.