The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-03-14


and fighting men from Chicago"
"The fellows magnificent. at any
rate" Wilmore remarked.
His host smoked furiously for a mo.
ment.
That's the worst Of these multl-mii-
lionaires," he declared. "They think
they can rule the world. traffic In hn-
man souls, buy morals, mock at the
law. We shall see r.
do you know the thing that found
most interesting about himy' Wilmore
asked.
His black opals," the other suggest.
ed. You're by the way Of being col
lector, aren't your
Wilmore shook his head.
"The fact thAt he is the father Of
Oliver Hilditch,s widow"
Francis sat quite still for a moment.
There was q complete change In his ex-
preston. He looked like man who
has received shock.
Il forgot that" he muttered.
= .
l Francis met Shopland one morning
about a week later. on his way from
Charges street to his chambers in the
Temple The detective raised his hat
and would have passed on, sbut Francis
accosted him.
amy progress, Mr.. ShopIand?" he
inquired.
The detective fingered his small,
sandy nustache. He was an insignifi-
cant-looking little man. understood.
with thin frame and watery eyes. His
mouth. however, was hard, and there
were tell-tale little lines at its corners
"None whatever, am sorry TO say.
Mr.. Ledsam." he admitted. "At pres
ent we are quite in the dark"
"You found the weapon, / hear?'
ShOpland nodded.
1T was Just an ordinary service re-
volver. dating from the time Of the
! war. exactly like hundred thousand
others. The inquiries we were able to
/ make from 1t came to nothing
\ Where was 1t picked up9"
I'm the middle Of the waste plot Of
ground next to Soto's. The murderer
evidently threw it there the moment he
had discharged AZ. He must have been
wearing rubber-soled shoes. for not a
soul heard him CO."
Francis nodded thoughtfully.
II WONDER" he said, after slight
pause, whether 1t ever occurred to
you to interview Miss Daisy Hyslop,
the young lady who was with Bidlake
on the night of his murder?'
II called upon fer the day after
ward, he detective answered
"She had nothing to say"
Nothing whatever"
Indirectly, Of course" Francis CON
tinued, ''the poor girl was the cause Of
his death. n If she had not insisted
upon his going out for taxicab. the
man who was lettering about would
probably have never got hold Of him."
The detective glanced up furtively
at the speaker. He, seemed to reflect
for moment
II gathered" he said, ''in CONVERSE
ton with the commissionaire, that
Miss Hyslop was little impatient
that night. 1t seems, however. that
she was anxious to get to ball which
was being given down In Kensington."
There was a ball, was there?'
Francis asked.
''Without a doubt" the detective re-
piled. ut was given by a Miss Clara
Bultiwell. She happens to remember
urging Miss Hyslop to come on as
early as possible"
They were walking along the Mall
now, eastward. The detective. who
seemed to have been just saunterer.
had accommodated himself to Francis
destination.
"Let me see. there was nothing
stolen from the young mans person,
was there?" Francis asked presently.
Apparently nothing at all, sir"
/ "And gather that you have made
every possible inquiry as to the young
mans relations with his friends?"
$50 far as one can learn, sir, they
seem to have been perfectly amicable."
"Of course" Francis remarked pres
emily, ''this may have been quite a
purposeless affair. The deed may
have been committed by a man who
was practically lunatic. without any
motive or reason whatever"
Precisely so. sir" the detective
agreed.
"But. all the same. l don't think 1t
was"
Neither do /, sir"
Francis smiled slightly.
"Shopland." he said. ''if there is no
further external evidence to be col
lected, suggest that there is only one
person likely to prove Of assistance"
"And that one person. sir7"
Miss Daisy Hyslop."
1.-THE young lady whom have al
ready SEEM"
Francis nodded.
1.-THE young lady whom you have al
ready SEEM he assented. AT the
same time, Mr.. Shopland, we must re-
member this. If Miss Hyslop has any
knowledge of the facts which are be-