Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1924-05-07

Shopland suggested, rising TO his foot
i want to have another word with
you before l co.
My business with Mr.. Ledsam is of
family nature" Sir Timothy said
apoiogetically, as Shopand passed ON
VIII not keep him for more than
moment"
Shopand closed the aoor behind
him. Sir Timothy waited until he
heard his departing footsteps. Then
he turned back to Francis.
Mr.. L%asam," he said, 81 have come
TO ash you if you know anything of nv
daughters whereabouts?
Nothing whatever" Francis replied
1 was on the point of ringing you up
to ask you the same question"
DID she tell you that she was leav-
ing the Sanctuary?"
"She gave me not the slightest init.
nation of it," Francis assured his
questioner; ''in fact, she invited me to
meet her in the rose garden last night.
When | arrived there she was gone.
| have heard nothing from her since"
You spent the evening with herr"
ITO my great content"
What happened between you?"
Nothing happened l took the Cd
portunity. however, of letting your
daughter understand the nature of nv
feelings to her"
Dear me May l ask what they
are?"
i will translate them into words"
Francis replied. Il wish your daughter
to become my wife"
"You amaze mew Sir Timothy ex-
claimed, with the old hooking smile
at his lips. "How can you possibly con-
template association with the daugh.
ter of man whom you suspect and
distrust as you do me?"
III | suspect and distrust you, it is
your own fault" Francis reminded him.
"You have declared yourself TO be a
criminal and a friend of criminals.
am inclined to believe that you have
spoken the truth. | care for that fact
just as little as care for the fact that
you are millionaire, or that Margaret
has been married to a murderer. / in
tend her to become my wife,"
did you encourage her to leave
me?"
81 did not. l had not the slightest
idea that she had left the Sanctuary
until Lady Cynthia told me, halfway
to London this morning"
Sir Timothy was silent for several
moments.
Have you any idea in your own
mind," he persisted, "as to where she
has gene and for what purpose?"
mot the slightest in the world"
Francis declared. 81 am just as anx-
ious to hear from her, and to know
where she is, as you seem to be-"
Sir Timothy sighed
81 am disappointed" he admitted IT
had hoped to obtain some information
from you. must try in another direc-
ton.
"Since you are here, Sir Timothy"
Francis said, as his visitor prepared to
depart, may I ask whether you have
any objection to my marrying your
daughter?"
Sir Timothy frOwned.
"The question places me in a some
what difficult position" he replied
coldly. in a certain sense I have a
liking for you. You are not quite the
ingenious nincompoop l took you for
on the night of our first meeting. On
the other hand, you have prejudices
against me. My harmless confession
of sympathy with criminals and their
ways seems to have stirred up cloud
of suspicion in your mind. You even
employ a detective to show the world
what a fool he can look, sitting in a
punt attempting to fish, with one eye
on the supposed abode of crime"
II have nothing whatever to do with
the details of Shoplands investiga-
tions," Francis protested. He is In
search of Reggie Wilmore."
Does he think | have secret dun
geons in my new abode?" Sir Timothy
demanded, "or oubliettes in which
keep and starve brainless youths for
some nameless purpose? Be reason
able, Mr.. Ledsam. What the devil
benefit could accrue to me from abduct-
ing or imprisoning or in any way lay
ing my criminal hand upon this young
man?"
None whatever that we have been
able to discover as yet,' Francis adj
mitted.
"A leaning towards melodrama, adj
mirable in it's way, needs the leaven of
well-balanced discretion and sense OF
humor," Sir Timothy observed. The
latter quality is as a rule singularly
absent among the mymidons of Scot
land Yard l do not think that Mr.
Shopland will catch even fish in the
neighborhood of the Walled House. As
regards your matrimonial proposal. let
us waive that until my daughter re-
turns"
"As you WILL" Francis agreed. Il
will be frank to this extent, at any
rate. If can persuade your daughter
to marry me, your consent will not al