The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-04-18

LedSam, for the single minute aIoneE
"By no MEANS" Francis answered.
"Tll wait in the office, if may"
Shopland suggested, rising to his feet.
Il want to have another word with
you before CO."
my business with Mr.. Ledsam Is of
q family nature" Sir Timothy said
alphabetically, as Shopland passed out.
Il will not keep him for more than a
moment"
Shopland closed the door behind
him. Sir Timothy waited until he
heard his departing footsteps. Then
he turned back to Francis.
"Mr. Ledsam," he said, Il have come
to ask you if you know anything of my
daughters whereabouts?"
Nothing whatever" Francis replied.
Il 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 hight.
When I arrived there, she was gone.
have heard nothing from her since"
'You spent the evening with herr"
ITO my great content"
what happened between your
Nothing happened. took the op-
portunity however, Of letting your
daughter understand the nature of my
feelings to her."
Dear me! May I ask what they
are?"
II will translate them into words"
Francis replied. 81 wish your daughter
to become my wife,
"You amaze mel" Sir Timothy ex-
claimed, with the old hooking smile
at his lips. How can you possibly con-
template association with the dsugh-
ter of man whom you suspect and
distrust as you do me?"
IF suspect and distrust you, it is
your own fault" Francis reminded him.
"You have declared yourself to be a
criminal and 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 murderer. / in
tend her to become my wife,"
did you encourage her to leave
me?"
Il 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
min6," he persisted, "as to where she
has gone and for what purpose?"
"Not the slightest in the world"
Francis declared. st am just as anx-
ious to hear from her, and to know
where she is, as you seem to be-"
Sir Timothy sighed.
IT am disappointed" he admitted. 81
had hoped to obtain some information
from you. 1 must try in another direc-
.ion."
"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 some
what difficult position" he replied
coldly. I'm certain sense I have d
fo,, IN fhn
ingenious nincompoop I 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 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"
Il have nothing whatever to do with
the details of Shopland's investiga-
tions." Francis protested. HE is in
search of Reggie Wilmore."
docs he think have secret dun
geons in my new abode? Sir Timothy
demanded, cor oubliettes in which I
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, ad-
mirable in it's way, needs the leaven Of
well-balanced discretion and sense of
humor," Sir Timothy observed. 1.-THE
latter quality is as rule singularly
absent among the mymidons of Scot
land Yard. I 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. II
xufIl ho FvoxI- NI.fS 1vkauA 80