Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1924-03-06

/ certainly not soul In S0tos that nigh
who did not know that Bobby Fairfal
had been arrested IA the bar below 20
| the murder OF Victor Bidlake, has
taken poison and died on the way t
the police station. Yet the same NUM-
Der Of dinners were ordered anG
eaten, the same quantity OF wint
drunk. The management considered
that they had shown marvellous dell
cacy OF feeling by restraining the or
chestra from their usual musical gym
nastics until after the service OF din
ner Conversation. in consequences
buzEed louder than ever. One specula
ton in particular absorbed the atten
ton OF every single person In the room
why had Bobby Fairfax, at the
zenith Of very successful career
risked the gallows and actually &C
copied death for the sake Of killing
Victor Bidlake, a young man with
whom. so far as anybody knew, he
had no cause OF quarrel whatever
There were many theories. many peo-
pie who knew the real facts and
whispered them into a neighbours ear,
only to have them eontradlcted a few
moments later. Yet. curiously enough,
the two men who knew most about II
were the two most silent men In the
room. for each was dining alone.
Francis. who had rGmained only In the
hope that something Of the sort might
happen. was conscious OF a queer
sense Of excitement when, with the
service Of coffee, Sir Timothy, glass
In hand, moved up from table lower
down and with word Of apology took
the vacant place by his side. II was
what he had desired. and yet he felt
thrill almost OF fear at Sir Timothy's
murmured words He felt that he was
In the company Of one who, II not an
enemy. at any rate had no friendly
feeling towards him.
my congratulations Air. Ledsam,"
Sir Timothy said quietly. ''You APP
pear to have starteA your career with
a success"
only a partial one" Francis ac-
knowiedged, "and as a matter Of fact
deny that / have started In any new
career. II was easy enough to make
use OF a fiuke and direct the intelll-
gence Of others towards the right per
son. but when the real significance OF
the thing still eludes you, one can
scarcely claim a triumph"
Sir Timothy gently knocked the ash
from the very fine cigar which he was
smoking.
"stIll. your groundwork was good"
he observed.
Francis shrugged his shoulders.
THAT" he admitted. was due to
chance"
~shHiI we exchansa netesr Sir TIM
othy suggested gently. ''It might be
interesting"
"As you WILL" Francis assented.
There is no particular secret In the
way stumbled upon the truth. was
dining here that night as you know.
with Andrew wllmore, and while he
was ordering the dinner and talking
to some friends. went down to the
American bar to have cocktail. Miss
Daisy Hyslop and Fairfax were seat.
ed there alone and talking confidential
ly. Fairfax was insisting that Miss
Hysl0p should do something which
puzzled her. She consented reluctant.
~, and Fairfax then hurried on to the
theater. Later on. Miss HyslOp and
the unfortunate young man occupied 9
table close to ours, and I happened
70 notice that she made point OF leav-
ing the restaurant at q particular time.
While they were waiting In the vesti-
6uIs she grew very impatient. was
standing behind them and / saw her |
glance at the clock just before she In
sisted upon her companions going out
himself 10 look for taxieab. Ergo. /
one inquiries at Fnirfax's fheater. For l
that exact three-quarters Of an hour
he is OF the stage At that point my |
interest in the matter ceases. Scotland |
Yard was quite capable Of the rest.
disappointing" Sir Timothy muir.
INJURED. II thought at FIRST that you
we're oyer-modest. I ind that was
mistaken. II was chance alone which
YET you on the right track.
"weil. there is my story. at any
ate" Francis declared. with how
much Of your knowledge Of the affair
ire you going to indulge meT
Sir Timothy slowly revolved his
randy glass.
"lvell" be said. Il viii tell you this.
he two young men concerned, Bid.
AXE and Fairfax, were both guests of
nine recently at my country house
hey had discovered for one another q
cry fierce and reasonable antipathy.
With that recurrence 70 primltivism
18th which / have always been q
earty sympathlzer, they agreed. In
tead Of going round their little world
laking sneering remarks about each
Their, to fight II out"
AT your suggestion, ! presumeT
rancis interposed.
Precisely Sir Timothy assented.
/ recommended that course. and
fered them facilities for bringing the
after 10 a crisis. The fight, indeed.
as "a have come Off fho dav after fho