Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-08-15
"THE EVIL SHEPHERD"
BY E. Phillips Oppenheim
Illustration by Brown

A,v Unc elIIIeu. "A woman ucgan ~
sob. A fat, unhealthy-looking man in
front of Francis reeled over in dead
faint. Two other of the guests near
had risen from their seats and were
shouting aimlessly like lunatics. Even
Francis was conscious of that tenn
porary Imprisonment Of the body due
to his lacerated nerves. Only the
clinging Of Lady Cynthia to his arm
kept him from rushing from the spot.
"You are faint" he whispered
hoarsely.
"Upstairs-air," she faltered.
They rose to their feet. The sound
Of Sir Timothy's voice reached them
as they ascended the stairs.
"On deck, everyone, If you please"
he insisted. Refreshments are being
served there. There are inQuisitive
people who watch my launch, and it
Is inadvisable to remain here long"
People hurried out then as though
their one desire was to escape from
the scene Of the tragedy. Lady Gym
thia, still clinging to Francis arm, led
him to the furthermost corner Of the
launch There were real tears in her
eyes, her breath was coming in little
sobs.
"Oh, it was horrible |" she cried.
Horrible! Mr.. Ledsam-I can't help
it never want to speak to Sir Tim
othy again -
One final horror arrested for mo-
a dull splash in the river. Something
had been thrown overheard. The or
chestra began to play dance music.
Conversation suddenly burst out. Ev-
eryone was hysterica1. A peer of the
realm, red-eyed and shaking like an
aspen leaf, was drinking champagne
out Of the bottle. Everyone seemed to
be trying to outvie the other in loud
conversation, in outrageous mirth.
Lady Isabel, with a glass of cham
pagne in her hand, leaned back toward
Francis.
"Well," she asked, show are you
feeling, Mr Ledsamf"
"As though I had spent half an
hour In H." he answered.
She screamed with laughter.
Hear this man." she called out,
"who will send any poor ragamuffin to
the gallows If his fee Is large enough
OF course" she added, turning back
to him, II ought to remember you are
a normal person, and tontghts enter
tainment was not for normal persons.
For myself 1 am grateful to Sir Tim
othy. For a few moments of this
aching aftermath Of life, / forgot"
Suddenly all the lights around the
launch famed out, the music stopped.
Sir Timothy came up on deck. On
either side Of him was man in ordi-
nary dinner clothes. The babel of
voices ceased. Everyone was oppressed
by some vague likeness. A breathless
silence ensued.
Ladies and gentlemen" Sir Tim
othy said, and once more the smile
upon his lips assumed its most mock
ing curve, "let me introduce you to the
two artists who have given us tonight
such a realistic performance, SignOr
Giuseppe Elito and Signor Carlos Mar
huQ tLC SOOo AOA IuAC1 AC WCAI
on, ito witness this very marvellous
performance In a small music hall at
Palermo, and was able to induce the
two actors to pay US visit over here.
Steward, these gentlemen will take q
glass Of champagne"
The two Sicilians raised their
glasses and bowed expectantly to the
little company. They received, how
ever, much greater tribute to their
performance than the applause which
they had been expecting. There
reigned everywhere a deadly, stupefied
silence. Only half-stifled sob broke
from Lady Cynthia's lips as she
leaned over the rail, her face buried
in her hands, her whole frame shaking.