, 1924-05-28
CHAPTER xIx-continued.

However, I pass on. There Is an
other class of contest which frequent
ly takes place here. Two boxers place
themselves unreservedly in my hands.
The details of the match are arranged
without their knowledge. They com
into the ring without knowing whom
they are going to fight. Sometimes
they never know, for my men wear
masks. Then we have private matches.
Ihere Is one tonight. Lord MeadOw
son and l have a wager of n thousand
guineas. He has brought tonight from
tne East end a who, according
TO the terms of our bet, has never be-
FORE engaged In a professional contest.
L have brought an amateur under the
same conditions. The weight Is with
In a few pounds the same, neither has
ever seen the other, only in this case
the fight Is with regulation gloves and
under 0ueensberry rules"
Who is your amateur, Sir limo
thy!' Wilmore asked /harshly.
Your brother. Mr.. Wilmore." was
the prompt reply. you shall see the
nght IL l have your promise not to at
tempt In any way to interfere"
Wilmore rose to his feet.
d you mean to tell me-" he de
manded, that my brother has been
decoyed here. kept here against his
will. to provide amusement for your
guests?"
Mr.. Wilmore, I bee that you will
be reasonable" Sir Timothy expos
tulated. 81 saw your brother box at
his gymnasium in Holborn. My agent
made him the offer of this fight. One
Of my conditions had to be that he
came here to train and that whilst he
was here he held 10 communication
whatever with the outside world. My
trainer has Id cas- of his own and this
he insists upon. Your brother in the
end acquiesced. He was at first diff
cult to deal with as regards this con-
dition, and ne did. In fact. I believe,
Mr.. Ledsap., pay a visit to your office.
with the object Of asking you to be-
come an intermediary between him
and his relatives"
III began a letter to me- Francis
interposed. "and ther my%steriously
disappeared"
The mystery is easily exr lained."
Sir Timothy continued. "My trainer,
Roger Hagen. a Varsity blue, and the
best heavyweight Of his year. occupies
TIN chambers above yours. He saw
from the window the arrival of
Reginald wilmore-which was accord
Ing TO instructions. as they were to
come down 10 Hatch End together
went down the stairs to meet him,
and. to cyt a long story short. fetched
him out of your office. Ledsam, with
out allowing him to finish his letter.
Tb.s absolute isolation seems n curl
oss condition. perhaps. but Hagen in
ssts upon 1t, and ! can assure you
that he knows his business. The mys-
fey. as you have termed 1t. OF his
disappearance that morning. IS thai
he Went upstairs with Hagen for sew
erai hours to undergo a medical ex-
acniration. instead of leaving the build
ing forthwith"
queer thing I never thought Of
Hagon." Francis remarked. AS a
matter of fact. l never see him In the
Temple. and I thought that he had
left"
1A1N "Nhs hlNtiN utu
when my brother will be free to re-
tnrn Z his homer"
Tonight. directly the fight Is over"
Cir Timothy replied. SHOULD he be
successful, he will take with him a
sum Of money sufficient to start him In
any business he chooses to enter"
wilmore frowned slightly.
but surely" he protested, that
would make him a professional pugll-
lstT"
Not ut ALL" Sir Timothy replied.
~For one thing. the match Is a pri.
rate one in a private house. and for
another the money is a gift. There
Il no purse. II your brother loses. he
vets nothing. VIII you see the fight,
Mr.. WiImoreT'
.Yes, | will see H." was the some
what reluctant assent.
-You will give me your word not to
Interfere In any wayT'
81 shalt not interfere" wilmore
promised. III they are wearing regu-
latiou gloves. and the weights are
about equal. and the conditions are
what you say. II is the last thing ]
should wish TO do"
Capital sir Timothy exclaimed.
snow TO pass on. here Is one other
feature OF my entertainments con.
corning which | have something to say
"a series OF performances which
takes place on my launch nj odd times.
There Is one fixed fo- tonight. ] can
ray little about II except that II Is
unusual. I am going to ask you. Lady