Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-04-18


two flights Of stairs into his sitting
room, mixed whisky-and- -sodas from
the decanter and syphon which stood
upon the sideboard, and motioned his
friend to an easy-chair. Then he gave
form to the thought which had been
haunting them both.
What about our friend, Sir Timothy
Brast?" he inquired. do you believe
now that he was mystifying us?'
Wilmore dabbed his forehead with
his handkerchief. 1t was a chilly eve
ming, but there were drops of perspira-
tion still standing there.
Francis" he confessed. ITS horri
BILE! l don't think realism like this at
tracts me. It's horriblel What are we
going to do?"
! Nothing for the present" was the
! brief reply. "If we were to tell our
story, we should only be laughed at.
What there is to be done tails to my
lot"
Had the police anything to say
about it?" Wilmore asked
only few words" Francis replied.
"ShOpland has it in hand. good man
! but unimagnative I've come across
him in one or two cases lately. You'll
find little bit like this in the papers
tomorrow The murder is believed to
have been committed by one of the
gang of desperadoes who have infested
the west-end during the last few
months You remember the assault at
Albany court yard, and the sandbag
ging in Shepherd market only last
week p
That seems to let Sir Timothy out"
: Wilmore remarked.
There are many motives for crime
besides robbery" Francis declared
/ Don't be afraid Andrew, that | am
going to turn amateur detective and
make the unravelment of this case all
the more difficult for Scotland Yard.
If Interfere, it will be on a certainty.
i Andrew, don't think I'm mad, but I've
/ taken up the challenge our great
philanthropist flung at me tonight I've
very little interest in who killed this
boy, Victor Bidake or why. but I'm
4
about it, and If he is posing as patron
OF crime on a great scale, sooner or
later | shall get him. He may think
himself safe, and he may have the
/ courage of BeelZebub-he seems rather
! that type-but if my presentiment
/ about him comes true, his numbers up.
/ can almost divine the meaning Of his
breaking in upon our conversation to-
night. He needs an enemy-he Is
thirSting for danger. He has found
IT."
Wilmore filled his pipe thoughtfully
At the first whiff of tobacco he began
to feel more normal.
| After ALL Francis" he said, aren't
We little Overstrung tonight? Sir
Timothy Brast is no adventurer. He
is prince in the city, a persona grata
wherever he chooses 10 go. He isn't
hanger-on in society. He isn't even de-
pendent upon Bohemia for his enter
tainment. You can't seriously imagine
that a man with his possessions ia
likely to risk his life and liberty In be-
coming the inspiration of band of
cutthroatsf'
pipe and had thrown himself into his
favorite chair. He smiled confidently
across at his friend
"A millionaire with brains," he ar
gued, 'fs just the one person in the
world likely to weary of all ordinary
/NfI Il;x
Der things about him already. Haven't
you heard about his wonderful parties
down at the Walled House?"
Wilmore struck the table by his side
with his clenched fist
by George, that's it !" he exclaimed.
"Who hasn't?"
'T remember Baker talking about
che last year." Francis continued,
never any details, but all kinds of
mysterious hints-a sort Of mixture be-
tween a Roman orgy and chapter
from the Arabian ights'-singers
from Petrograd, dancers from Africa
and fighting men from Chicago"
"The fellows magnificent, at any
rate" Wilmore remarked.
His host smoked furiously for mo-
,nent.
That's the worst Of these multi-mil-
lionaires," he declared. "They think
they can rule the world, traffic in hui
man souls, buy morals, mock at the
law. We shall seel"
do you know the thing that found
most interesting about him?" Wilmore
asked
His black opals," the other suggest
ed. You're by the way Of being COL
iector, aren't your
Wilmore shook his head.
"The fact that he is the father Of
oliver Hilditch's widow"
Francis sat quite still for moment.
Tlere was complete change In his ex-
nession. He looked like a man who
haB received shock.
II forgot that" he muttered.
Francis met Shopland one morning
about a week later on his way from
Claroaa atroQt RI his chamhpra in fho