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

shopland gave the driver an ad
dress and the two men seated them
selves in the taxicab.
ANY news7" Francis asked curl
ously.
mot yet" was the cautious reply
1T VIII not be long, however"
Before you discover Reggie VII
more7"
The detective smiled in a superior
way.
Il am no longer particularly inter.
ested In Mr. Reginald Wilmore." he
declared. Il have come to the con
clusion that his disappearance is not
d serious affair"
IT'S serious enough for his reIa-
lives" Francis objected.
mot II they understood the situa-
tion." the detective rejolned. Assure
them from me that nothing of :conse-
Quence has happened to that young
man. have made Inquiries at the
gymnasium IN Holborn. and in other
directions. am convinced that his
absence from home is voluntary, and
that there is no cause for alarm as
to his welfare"
Then the sooner you make your
way down to Kensington and tell his
mother so, the better" Francis said.
a little severely. Don't forget that
put you onto this"
quite right SIR" the detective nc
quiesced. land am grateful to you.
The fact Of II Is that IN nahing my
preliminary investigations with re-
gard to the disappearance of Mr.. VIII
more, I have stumbled upon a bigger
thing. Before many weeks are past, l
hope to be able to unearth one of
the greatest scandals of modern
times"
"The deylll" Francis muttered.
He looked thoughtfully, almost anx-
lousy at his companion. Shopland's |
face reflected to the full his usual
He had the air Of man
Duoyant with hope and with stlfied
dissatisfaction.
Il am engaged" he continued,
upon study Of the methods and
habits of one who / believe TO be a
,reat criminal / Think that when /
'lace my prisoner In the bar, Vain
wright and these other great artists
n crime will fade from the memory"
rs Sir Timothy Brast your man?'
'rancis asked quietly.
His companion frowned porten-
ously
''NO Names" he begged.
considering that II was I who first
ut you on to him." Francis expos
1lated, Il don't think you need be so
pairing Of your confidence"
"AIr. Ledsam," the detective assured [
I'm. II shall tell you everything that c
possible. At the same time, / Will /
: frank with you. You are right h
hen you say that II was you who d
-st directed my attention towards {
n Timothy Brast Since that time. p
,wever,- yoHr own relations with him,
an onlooker. have become a little 4
izzling." L
II see" Francis murmured. "You've d
en- spying ON me7" a
Shopland shook his head In depre- II
ting fashion. II
"a study of Sir Timothy during the t
II month" he said, has brought you
any time into the focus" ~ IT
Francis for the first time vas con- N
ous Of an utterly new sensation
tn regard TO his companion. He W
Itched him through half-ciosed eyes I'll
m tpofonfdcont lo.b-g~c ttser. -.
lose clothes, though neat, were III al
osen, and whose tie was an offense. so
ere was nothing in the face TO de- m
te unusual intelligence. but the eyes ST
re small and cunning and the 70
nth logged. Francis looked away a
of the window. sudden fash OF to
Ilization had come to him. a wave an
unreasoning hut positive dislike. &c
When do you hope to bring your pi.
e TO an end?" he asked. ini
ne man smiled once more. and the he
Y smile lrrltated his companion. do
Within tbe course OF the next few er
8, sir" he replied. me
And the charger" sh,
he detective turned around. /
Mr.. Ledsam,' he said, 1--WE have thu
n old friends, II you viii allow me TO
use the word. ever since l was pro- del
ed TO my present position in the sid
e. You have trusted me with a a
d many cases. and ] acknowledge the
Ielf your debtor, but In the matter fro
Sir Timothy Brast, you win for. an,
, my saying with all respect, sir. Sc
our ways seem to lie a little his
IT." cal
Win you tell me why you have ar sit
d at that conclusfonT' Francis tina
ID 1T was l who first melted .
to set watch upon Sir Timothy Z
as 10 you first mentioned certain Ma
liclons l myself had with regard
I'm. treated you with every con-
ice. Why do you now withhold
3 from meT"
{ is quite true. Mr.. Ledsam.- Shop
admitted. "that II was you who -
pointed out Sir Timothy as an