Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1924-04-10
CHAPTER KIN

Sir Timothy laid his hat upon the
sIdeboard and slowly removed hI;
gloves.
Il trust" he said, "that this pint
bottle does not represent your cellar
viii drink a glass of wine with you,
and with your permission make myself
pate sandwich. ! was just sitting
down to luncheon when / received the
information which brought me here"
Francis produced another bottle Of
wine from the sldebonrd and filled his
visitors glass.
''You viii drink, hope. to our hap
piness," he said
Il shall do nothing OF the sort"
Sir Timothy declared. helping himself
with care to the pate. II have no SUI
perstitlons about breaking bread with
an enemy. or should not have asked
you to visit me at the Sanctuary, Mr..
, Ledsam. object to your marriage
with my daughter. and / shall take
what steps can to prevent H."
~Whyf
Sir Timothy did not at once reply.
He seemed to be enjoying his sand
wichi he also appreciated the flavor
Of his wine
@Your question ne said. "strikes
me as being little Ingenious You
are at the present moment suspectfhE
me Of crimes beyond number You en-.
courage Scotland Yard detectives TO
make asses Of themselves in my
stream. Your myrmldons scramble
onto the top of my walls and try to
bride my servants to disclose the mys
teries Of my household You have &c
eepted to the fullest extent my volun.
teered statement that I. am patron |
Of crime. You are, In short--forgive
me II help myself to little more OF
this pate-engaged In a strenuous at
tempt to bring me to Justice
"None of these things affects your
Slaughter" Francis pointed out.
Pardon me-" Sir Timothy objected.
you are great and shining light OF
she English law. People speak Of you
as a future chancellor. How can you
contemplate an alliance with the Wild
ew OF one criminal and the daughter
Of another7n
AS to Margaret being oliver HIl-
ditchs widow" Francis replied, you
were responsible for that, and no one
else. He was your protege; you gave
your consent to the marriage. AS 10
your being her father, that again rs
not Margarets fault. should marry ,
Der II Oliver Hlldltch had been three
times the villain he was, and If you
were the devil himself" :
Il am getting quite TO like you, Mr.. I
Ledsam," Sir Timothy declared, help '
ing himself to another piece of toast r
md commencing to butter II, Mar $
yaret, what have you to say about all
hls?" :
have nothing TO say" she an c
wered. francis Is speaking for me. d
never dreamed that after what have a
rome through should be able to care h
or any one again In this world. / do 2
are, and / am very happy about 1t. b
III last night lay awake, making up b
~ mind to run away. and this morn n
ng actually booked my passage to Il
suenos Aires. Then we met--just out "
ode the steamship office-and knew s
( once that was making mistake. a
shah marry Francis exactly when he 3
Vanfs me to-.
Sir Timothy passed his glass towards "
ls proposed son-ln-law. 4
Might one suggest he began
thank you very much. This Is OF I,
curse. very upsetting to me- I seem
D be set completely at defiance II is a
very excellent wine. thls, and 8 won. e
0rfuI vintage v
Francla bent over Margaret o.
Please nnlsh your lunch. dear" he o.
egged ~ ss perhaps Just as well o.
hAg gonT father came. We shall know
AMFflg where We aFs. n
~zuAa sos Bir Timoshy sgreed -