Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1924-04-03


Sh0pfHnd suggested. rising TO his feet
Il want to have another word Will
you before 60"
my business with Mr. Ledsam Is Of
family nature" Sir Timothy said
npologetlcally. as Shopland passed out
Il will not keep him for more than q
moment"
shopland closed the door behind
him. Sir Timothy waited until he
heard his departing footsteps. Then
he turned back to Francis
@alr Ledsam." he said, Il have come
to ask you II 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 rot the slightest init
nation Of IT," Francis assured his
questioner; "ln fact. she Invited me to
meet her In the rose garden last night.
When / 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 rhe OPP
portunity. however, Of letting your
daughter understand the nature Of my
feelings to her"
Dear me May ask what they
areY"
will translate them into words,
Francis replied. Il wish your daughter
10 become my wife.
"You amaze mep Sir Timothy ex-
claimed. with the old hooking smile
at his lips. How can you possibly con.
template association with the daugh-
ter Of a man whom you suspect and
distrust as you do meT
III I suspect and dlstrust you. It is
your own fault" Francis reminded him.
.You have declared yourself TO be
criminal and friend Of criminals. |
am Inclined to believe that you have
spoken the truth. I care for that fact
just as little as care FOR the fact that
you nre millionaire. or that Margaret
has been married to murderer. In
tend her to become ray wife,"
ibid you encourage her to leave
mel"
"I.did not. 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
Mind he persisted, "as to where she
has gone and for what purposeT
"Not the slightest In the world,
Francis declared Il am just as anx-
lous to hear from her. and to know
where she IS. as you seem to be.
Sill Timothy sighed
Il am disappointed, he admitted. Il
had hoped to obtain some Information
from you. must try In another dlrec
tion."
.since you are here. Sir Timothy"
Francis said as his visitor prepared to
depart, .may ! ask whether you have
any objection to my marrying your
daughter?"
Sir Timothy frowned.
"The question places me in some
what dlflcult position" he replied
coldly. I'm a certain sense have
liking for you. You are not quite the
ingenious nincompoop 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 a 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 investlga-
TONS" Francis protested. "He Is In
search of Reggie wilmore."
docs he think have secret dun
geons In my new abodeg" Sir Timothy
demanded, "or oubliettes In which
keep and starve braInless youths for
some nameless purpose7 Be reason
AAla AANQcUtAlt hAAl LIT ANfN
benefit could accrue to me from abduct-
ing or Imprlsoning or In any way lay
ing my criminal hand upon this young
man7"
None whatever that we have been
able 70 discover as yet" Francis adj
mitted.
"A leaning towards meIodrama. adj
mlrnble In its way, needs the leaven Of
well-baianced discretion and sense Of
humor,n Sir Timothy observed. The
latter quality Is as a rule singularly
absent among the mymIdons Of Scot
land Yard. I do not think that Mr.
Shopland win catch even FISH in the
neighborheed ef che Walled House AS
regards your matrimonial proposal let
us waive that until my daughter re
turns"
AS you will. Francis agreed. Z
viii be frank 70 this extent, al any
rate. n can persuade your daughter
to marry me. your consent will not az
faftf cha rsuftos