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_ , =s= The Evil <3 £ By E. PHILUPS OPPENHEIM -YOU ARE A DEAR" SYNOPSIS. — Francis Led «am I . defend« Oliver Hlldltch. a busl ! neaa man. In a murder case and I aucceeds In getting him oft, only I to be told by his wife that Hll I ditch I« an arch-crlmlnal. Led I urn, dining with hla beat frl«nd. Andrew Wllmore, meet« Hlldltch and hla wife and 1 « Invited to [I dine with them at their home. At I dinner with the HlldUohea, Oliver I shows Ledsam how he killed his if victim and says hla own death I the same way would make hla I wife supremely happy. Return ! lng home, Ledsam receive» a I phone call from Margaret Hll I ditch saying Oliver has been mur I dered. Ledaam gets the coroner I to set Oliver's death down aa sui cide. He admit» to Wllmore that he has developed a keen Interest in Margaret He meets her fa ther, Sir Timothy Brast, the evil shepherd, who tells him a crime will be committed before they leave the cafe. A murder Is com mitted. Ledsam determines to solve the mystery. He meets Margaret. She refuses him per mission to call and warns him to have nothing to do with her fa ther. Ledsam solves the murder mystery and Is congratulated by Sir Timothy. Ledsam again meets Margaret and asks to have "his chance." Wllmore'* younger brother mysteriously disappears from Ledsam* office. Ledsam dines with Sir Timothy and Mar garet at their place on the Thames. Ledsam declares hla love to Margaret, who does not encourage him and disappears. Bhopland tells Francis that he can find nothing alarming about young .Wilmore'» Francis runs into Margaret and she yields and becomes engaged to him. CHAPTER XIII — 10 — Sir Timothy laid his hat upon Ihe sideboard and slowly removed tils gloves "I trust," he said, "that this pint ' bottle does not represent your cellar. I wilt drink a glass of wine with you, and with your permission make myself ■ pate sandwich. I was Just sitting down to luncheon when I received the Information which brought me here." Francis produced another bottle of wine from the sideboard and filled his visitor's glass. w You will drink, I hope, to our hap piness," he said. "I shall do nothing of the sort," Sir Timothy declared, helping himself with care to the pute, "f have no su perstitions about breaking bread with an enemy, or 1 should not have asked you to visit me at the Sanctuary, Mr. i -Ledsiam. I object to your marriage With my daughter, and I shall take what steps I can to prevent It" "Why?" Sir Timothy did not at on« reply. Re seemed to be enjoying hia sand wich; he also appreciated the flavor of his wine. "Your question," he said, "strikes me as being a little ingenuous. You w e a t t he p re sen t me of crimes beyond number. You en courage Scotland Yard defectives to make asses of themselves In my stream. Y'our myrmidons scramble onto Ihe top of my walls and try to bribe my servants to disclose the mys terles of my household. You have ac cepted to the fullest extent my volun teered statement that I am a patron •f crime. You are. In short—forgive me If I help myself to a little more of this pate—engaged In a strenuous at tempt to bring me to Justice." "None of these things affects your iaughter," Francis pointed out. "Pardon me," Sir Timothy objected. "You are a great and shining light of the English law. People speak of you •s a future chancellor. How can you contemplate an alliance with the wid ow of one criminal and the daughter et another?" "As to Margaret Cliver 1111 - tHtch's widow," Francis replied, were responsible for that, and no one elae. He was your protege; you gave your consent to the marriage. As to your being her father, that again Is ■ot Margaret's fault. I should marry her If Oliver Hlldltch had been three times the villain he was, and If you wqre the devil himself." "I am getting quite to like you, Mr. Ledsam," Sir Timothy declared, help ing himself to another piece of toast and commencing to butter It. "M ar garet, what have you to say about all ' you "I have nothing to *ay," she an swered. ''Francis Is speaking for me. J never dreamed that after what I have gone through I should be able to care for any one again In this world. I do care, and I am very happy about It. All last night I lay awake, making up asy mind to ran away, and this morn ing I actually booked my passage to Buenos Aires. Then we met—just out ride the steamship office—and I knew •t once that I was making a mistake. 4 shall marry Francis exactly when he wants me to." Sir Timothy passed hla glass towards i Me proppeed son-in-law _ ... _ _ "Might one suggest," he began— "thank you very much. This, is of course, very upsetting to me. I seem to be set completely at defiance.' It is a very excellent wine, Oita, and a won derful vintage" . Francis bant over Margaret. "flcaae finish your lunch, dear," he "ft is perhaps Just as well that your father came. W« shall know „ we aee.' Mum so," Sir Timothy agreed. I Copyright by Little, Brown and Comoaov There was a queer constrained si len« for several moments. Then Sir Tlmothy leaned hack In his chair and, with a word of apology, lit a cigarette. 'Xet us," he said, "consider the situ ation. Margaret Is my daughter. You wish to marry her. Margaret Is of age and has been married before. She Is at liberty, therefore, to make her own Choice. Von agree with me so far?" "Entirely," Francia assented. "If happens," Sir Timothy went on, "thnt I disapprove of her choice. She deslres to marry n young man who be longs to a profession which I detest. and whose efforts In life are directed towards the extermination of a class for whom I have every sympathy. To me he represents the smug as against the human, the artificially moral ns against the freethinker. He Is also my personal enemy. I am therefore naturally desirous that my daughter should not marry this young man." "We will let It go at that," Francis commented, "but I should like to point out to you that the antagonism be tween us Is in no way personal. You have declared yourself for forces with which I am at enmity, like any other 'decent-living citizen. Your declaration might at any time be amended." Sir Timothy bowed. _"The situation Is stated-** he »aid. *T ■ will jisk you this question as a matter of form. Do you recognize rny right to forbid you r manig# with my daughter, Mr Ledsam?" "1 most certainly do not," was the forcible reply. "Have I any rights at all?" Sir Tim othy asked. "Margaret has lived under my roof whenever It has suited her do so. Since she has taken up her residence at Curzon street she has been her own mistress, her banking account has known no limit whatso ever. I may be u person of evil dispo sition, hut I have shown no unklndness to her." "It Is quite true," Margaret admit ted, turning a little pule. "Since I have been alone, you have been kindness it self." "Then let me repeat my question," Sir Timothy went on, "have I the right to any consideration at all?" "Yes," Francis replied. "Short of keeping us apart, you have the ordi nary rights of a parent." "Then 1 ask you to delay the nouncement of your engagement, or taking any further steps concerning It, for fourteen days." Sir Timothy said. "I place no restrictions on your move ments during that time. Such hospital ity ns you, Mr. Ledsam, care to accept at my hands, Is at your disposal. I arn | bohemian enough. Indeed, to find noth an Ing to complain of in such little cele brations as you are at present Indulging In—most excellent pate, that. But I request that no announcement of your engagement be made, or any further a rrangements made conc e rning I t.- ft fourteen days." "I am quite willing, father," Marga ret acquiesced. .''And I, air," Francis echoed. "In which case," Sir Timothy con cluded. rising to his feet, lighting a cigarette and taking up his hat and gloves, "I shall go peaceably away. You will admit, I trust," he added, with that peculiar smile at the corner of hla Ups, "that I have not In any way tried to come the heavy father? I can even command a certain amount of respect, Margaret, for a young man who Is able to Inaugurate his engagement by an Im promptu meal of sucK perfection! 1 wish you both good morning. Any In vitation which Margaret extends, Led sam, please consider as confirmed by me." He closed the door softly. They heard his footsteps descending the stairs. Francis leaned once more over Margaret. She seemed still dazed, con fused with new thoughts, sponded, however, readily to his touch, yielded to his caress with an almost pathetic eagerness. "Francis," she murmured, as his arms closed around her, "I want to for get." She re There followed a brief period of time, the most wonderful of his life, the happiest of hers. They took ad vantage of Sir Timothy's absolute li cense, and spent long days at the Sanctuary, ideal lovers' days, with their punt moored at night amongst the lilies, where her kisses seemed to come to him with an aroma and won der born on the spot. Then there came a morning when he found a cloud on her face. She was looking at the great wall, and away at the minaret beyond. They had heard from the butler that Sir Timothy had spent the night at the villa, and that prepara tions were on hand for another of his wonderful parties. Francis, who was swift to read her thoughts, led her away Into the rose garden where ou« she had failed him. "You have been looking over the wall, Margaret," he said reproach fully.. --- ---— ss.' She looked at him with a little twitch at the cornera Of her Kpa. "Francia, dear," the confessed, "1 am afraid you are right I «snot even look toward» The Walled House without wondering why It was built— or catch a glimpse of that doraj with out stupid guesses ss to what may go on underneath." "I think very likely," he said sooth hare both exaggerated the seriousness of your father's bobbles. We know that he has a wonderful gymnasium there, but the only defl nite rumor 1 have ever heard about the place Is that men fight there who have a grudge against one another, and that they are not too particular about the weight of the gloves. Thai doesn't appeal to us, you know, Mar garet, hut It Isn't criminal." If that were all !" she murmured. I dare say It Is." he declared. "Lon don, as you know. Is a hot-bed of gos sip. Everything that goes on Is rldlc ulously exaggerated, and I think that It rather appeals to your father's cu rious sense of humor to pose as ihe law-breaker." She pressed his arm a little. The (?ay was overcast, a slight rain was beginning to fall. "Francis," she whispered, "we had a perfect day here yesterday, the sun has gone and I am shivery." He understood in a moment. "We'll lunch at Hanelagh," he aug It Is almost on the way up. Then we can aee what the weather Is like. If It Is bad, we can dine in town tonight and do a theater." Now gosted. "You are a dear," she told him fer vently. "1 am going In to get ready." Francis went round to the garage for his car, and brought It to the front. While he wag sitting there. Sir Tim othy came through the door in the wall. He was smoking a cigar and he wits holding an umbrella to protect his white flannel suit. He was as usual wonderfully g/oomed and turned ed. out, hut he walked as though he were tired, and his smile, as he greeted Francis, lacked a little of Its usual lighthearted mockery. In the distance they could hear the sound of hammering on the other side of the wall. Francis moved his head In tlmt'dlrectlon, ''I hear that they are preparing for another of your wonderful entertain ments over there," lie remarked. "On Thursday," Sir Timothy assenf I shall have something to say to you about It later on. "Am I fo take It that I am likely to receive an Invitation?" Francis asked. "I shopld think it possible," was the calm reply. "What about Margaret? "My entertainment would not appeal to her," Sir Timothy declared. "The women whom I have been In the huhlf of asking are not women of Margaret's type." "And Lady Cynthia?" Sir Timothy frowned slightly. "I find myself tn some difficulty regards Lady Cynthia," he admitted. "I am the guardian of nobody's mor als, nor ara I the censor of their tastes, but my entertainments are for men. The women whom I have hitherto asked hove been women in whom I have taken no personal Interest. They to forui a 'picturesque background for my rooms, in the samel way that I look to the gardeners to supply the floral decorations. Cynthtn's Instincts, however, somewhat adventurous. scarcely be content to remain a deco- ( ration. as Lady are She would "The Issuing of yonr Invitations," Francis remarked, "Is of course matter which concerns nobody else except yourself. If you do decide to favor me with one. I shall be delight ed to come, provided Margaret has no objection " "Such a reservation promises well for the future." Sir Tlmothv observed. with gentle sarcasm. "Here come Margaret, looking very well, I am glad to see " a Margaret came forward to greet her father before stepping Into the They exchanged only a few sentences. But Francis, whoae tigerest 11"theirF relations was almost abnormally keen, fancied that he - could - detect signs of some change In their de meanor towards one another. The cold propriety of deportment which had characterized her former attitude towards her father, seemed to have given place to something more uncer tain» to something less formal, some thing wjilch left room even for | measure of cordiality. She looked at him differently. It was as though some evil thought which lived In her heart concerning him had perished. "You are busy over there, father?" she asked. cur. a are ( "In a way," he replied. "We preparing for some festivities on | Thursday." Her face fell. "Another party?" "One more." he replied. "Perhaps the last for the present, at any rate." She waited as though expecting him to explain. He changed the subject, however. "By-the-bye. **I think you are wise to run up to town this morning." he said, glancing up at the gray akfes. If you dine at Curzon street tonight, do ask Hedges u> serve you some o t the "99 Cllquot. A marvelous wine, as you doubtless know, Ledsam, but It abould be drunk. Au revoir!" Francis, after a pleasant lunch «t Ranelagh. and having arranged with Margaret to dine with her In Ourson street, spent an hour or two that aft ernoon si his chambers. leaving. Just before five, he came face to fa« with Shopland descending from a taxi "Are yon busy. Mr. Ledaam?" the As he was ... lutter Inquired. "Can yp U sp ùré half an hour 7" "An hour, If you like," Francis as sented. Shopland gave the driver an ad dress and the two men seated them selves in the taxicab. "Any news?" Francia asked curt onsiy, "Not yet, was the cautious reply. "It will not be long, however." "Before you discover Reggie Wll more?" The detective smiled In a superior way. "I am no longer particularly Inter ested In Mr. Reginald Wllmore." he declared. elusion that his disappearance Is not a serious affair." "I have come to the con "It's serious enough for bis rela Ilves," Francis objected. "Not If they understood the situa tion." the detective rejoined. "Assure them from me that nothing of quence has happened to that young ninn. I have made Inquiries at the gymnasium in Holborn. and In other directions. I am convinced that his absence from home is voluntary, and that there is no cause for alarm to his welfare." "Then the sooner yon make your way down to Kensington and tell hfs mother so. the better," Francis said, a little severely. "Don't forget that I put you onto this." "Quite right, sir," the detective ac quiesced, "and f am grateful to you. Tb« feet of If lx that tn m a kin g my preliminary Investigations with re gard to the disappearance of Mr. Wll I oinsp as upon thing. Before many weeks are past, hope to be able to unearth one the greatest scandals of modern times." I "The devil !" Francis muttered, He looked thoughtfully, almost- anx lously at his companion. face reflected to the full his usual | confidence. He had the air of a man j buoyant with hope and with stifled Shopland's self-satisfaction. ■I am engaged," be continued, | ''upon a study of the methods and I Xreat criminal. I Think that when Pince my prisoner in the bar, Waln ( ,vr| R ht and these other great artists in crime will fade from the memory." "Is Sir Timothy Brast your man?" habits—of one who I believe to be I Frund8 asked quietly, Hls companion frowned porten 1 tously, "No names." he begged. "Considering that It was I who first put you on to him," Francis expos tulated, "I don't think you need be so sparing of your confidence." "Mr. Ledsam." the detective assured hlm, "I shall tell you everything that J I* possible. At the same time, I will I when you say that It was you who Arat directed my attention towards j Sir Timothy Brast. Since that time. to an onlooker, have become a ll|Ue | pu**llng." ( cfl ting fashion, be frank with you. You are right your own relations with him. "I sec." Francis murmured. "You've been spying on me?" Shopland shook Ms head ln^depre "A study of Sir Timothy during the ( * aa * month. he said, "has brought you many a time Into the focus." — Francis for the first time v as con scious of an utterly new sensation with regard to his companion. during , I " m through half-closed eyes ~ an Insignificant-looking mile ^'hes though neat. were III S? 0 **""* nnd t e ^ aQ offpn se. Th f ere ,n the J a « "> **■ n °ï Um "' U "' bu < «»• wert * 8,na 1 nnd c nnM*g and the mouth dogged. Francis looked away out of the window. A sudden flash of realization had come to him, a wave of unreasoning but positive dislike. "When do yon hope to bring your case to an end?" he asked. The man smiled once more, and the very smile Irritated his companion. "Within He man e course of the next few good many cases, and I acknowledge myself your debtor, but In the matter of Sir Timothy Brast, you win for give my saying with all respect, air, that our to ' n days, sir "And the charge?" The detective turned around. "Mr. Ledsam," he said, "we have been old friends, If you will allow me to use the word, ever since I was pro moted to my present position in the for«. Yon have trusted me with a e replied. apart." "Will you tell me why you have ar rived at that conclusion?" Francis asked. "It was I who first incited you to set a watch upon Sir Timothy, It was to you I first mentioned «rtaln suspicions I myself had with regard to hlm. I treated yon with every con Aden«. Why do you now withhold yours from me?" "It is quite true, Mr. Ledsam," Shop land admitted, "that It was you who first pointed out Sir Timothy as an interesting study for my profession, but that was a matter of months ago. If you will forgive me saying so, your relations with Sir Timothy have al tered sin« then. You have been his guest at the Sanctuary, and there Is rumor, sir—you will pardon me If I seem to be taking a liberty—that you are engaged to be married to his daughter, Oliver Hiidltch s widow." "Ton formed as to my affairs, Shopland.' Francis remarked. to be tolerably well In = a "Oniy so its regards yonr aiwo dations with Sir Tliyothy," was the deprecating reply. "If you will ex cuse me. sir. this is where I should -like to descend." "Ton have no message for Mr. WU more. then?" Francis asked. "Nothing definite, sir, but yon can assure him of this. His brother Is not likely to come to any particular harm. I have do absolute Information to of fer, but It Is ray Impression that Mr. Herald Wllmnre will be-home be fore a week Is past, air." Good afternoon. Shopland stepped out of the taxicab and, raising his hat, walked quietly away. Francis directed the man to drive to Clarges street, drove off. he was conscious of a fold ed piece of paper In the corner where his late companion had been seated. He picked It up, opened it. realized that It was a letter from a firm of lawyers, addressed to Shopland. and deliberately read It through, dated from a small town not far from Hatch End: As they It was Mr. John Phillips of this firm, who la coroner for the district, has desired to answer the enquiry contained in your official letter of the 13 th. number of Inquests held upon bodies recovered from the Thames In the neighborhood to which you allude, dur Ing the present year, has been seven. Four of these have been Identified. Concerning the remaining three noth Ing ha* ever been heard. Such partie ulars as are on our file will be available to any accredited representative of the police at any time. me Tbs The taxicab came to a sudden stop. Francis glanced up. Very breathless, I Shopland put his head In at the win dovv j Faithfully yours, PHILLIPS & SON. "I dropped a letter," he gasped. Francis folded It up and handed It to him. --«What about these thr ee ■mirtsn ri. I lied people. Shopland r be asked. I looking at him intently. I The man frowned angrily. There I of man angrily. There was a note of defiance in his tone he stowed the letter away In his pock etbook. "There were two men and one worn an," he replied, "all three of the up per classes. The bodies were recov ered from Wilson's lock, some three hundred yards from the Walled House." ''Do they form part of your case?" Francis persisted. — r Shopland stepped hack.* "Mr. Ledsam," he said, "I told you, some little time ago, that so far us this particular case was concerned 1 had no confidences to share with you. I am sorry that you saw that letter. Since you did, however, I hope you will not take It as a liberty from one In my position if I advise you most strenuously to do nothing which might impede the course of the law. Good day, sir!" I a CHAPTER XIV Francis, in that pleasant, half-hour before dinner which he spent ln Mar garet's sitting-room, spoke to her of her father's kindness to the carter's horse, of the dogs' home near War dour street. She listened sympa thetically to his description of the place —"1 mn not -fat—any- way s u rpr ise d at the Incident," she remarked. "My fa ther spends at least an hour of every day, when he is down at Hatch End, amongst the horses, and every time a fresh crock Is brought down, he is ns Interested as though it were a new toy." "It Is a remarkable trait in a very remarkable character," Francis com mented. I could tell you many things that would surprise you," Margaret con tinued. "fine night, for Instance, when we were staying at the Sanctuary, lie and I were going out to dine with some neighbors and he heard a cat mewing in the hedge somewhere. He stopped the car, got out himself, found that the cat has been caught in a trap, released It. and sent me on to the dinner alone whilst he took the animal hack to the veterinary sur geon at the Walled House. He was sim ply white with fury whilst he was ty ing up the poor thing's leg. I couldn't help asking him what he would have done If he could have found the farm er who set the trap. He looked up at me and I was almost frightened. 'I should have killed him,' he said—and. I believe he meant It. And, Francis, the very next day we were motoring to London and saw a terrible acci dent. A motbr bicyclist came down a side road at full speed and ran info a motor-lorry. My father got out of the car, helped them lift the body from under the wheels of the lorry, and came back absolutely unmoved, 'Serve the silly young fool right I' waa his only remark. • He was so horribly callous that I could scarcely hear to Do you understand sit hy tala side, that?" "It isn't easy," he admitted. There was a knock at the door. Margaret glanced at the clock. "Whatever your father may be—you are the woman who is poing to bs my wifs." (TO BIB CONT INUX EU Magyar Superstition. Among the Magyars It is s popular superstition that a woman who .has a craving for salt In the early morning must be a witch, and on no account should her taste be gratified. Crtbbage. According to John Aubrey, In bis "Brief Liven," tbe gam« ef cHbbnge was Invented by Sir John Suclcllsg who lived tram 1022 to 160. = WRKUYS - After Every Meal If* the longesl-lag dag ronfectton yoa cn hay —and ITs « help to di geotfaNB and m cleanser A * tor the mouth Wrtglcy's as wtUas ■ Ii register. Any bandy person can make holes In a tin can in which to fasten a Keeping Air Moist In homes heated by hot air furnaces, with registers In the floor, It is a good plan to keep cans of water hung in the wire bale, and this can be hung on a narrow strip of wood laid across the furnace pipe. Just below the floor level. 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