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Show ' ' THE BINGHAM NEWS ' . The Evil Shepherd By E. Phillips Oppenheim CP7iiki jr Little, Browa end Cerapanjr to his profession, although his work la connection with It had become lees spectacular. One morning, at the corner of Clargea street and Cureon street, about three weeks after his visit to the opera, he came face to face with Sir Timothy Brant. "Will you dine with me at Hatch End tonight?" the latter asked. "My daughter and I will be alone." "I should be delighted," Francis re-plied promptly. "I ought to tell you. perhaps, that I have called three times upon your daughter, but have not been fortunate enough to find her at home." Sir Timothy was politely apologetic. "I fear that my daughter is a little Inclined to be morbid," he confessed. "Society is good for her. I will under-take that you are a welcome guest." "At what time do I come and how shall I find your house?" Francis In-quired. "You motor down, I suppose?" Sir Timothy observed. "Good! In Hatch Knd anyone will direct you. We dine at eight. You had better come down as soon as you have finished your day's work. Bring a suitcase and spend the night." "I shall be delighted," Francis re-plied. "Do not," Sir Timothy continued, "court disappointment by overantlcl-patlo- n. You have without doubt heard of my little gatherings at Hatch End. They are viewed, I um told, with grave suspicion, alike by the moralists of the city and, I fear, the police. I ' i'i T "TO HAVE MY CMANCE" gyNOPflI8.-lFran- ol tedsam Je-- " fend Oliver HUdltch, a, business man, In a murder cae and In getting him off, only to be told by his wife that Hlldltch la an arcii-crlmln- idsam, din-ing with hla beat friend, Andrew Wllmoro, meets HUdltch and hla wife and la Invited to dine with them at their home. At dinner with the Hlldltohee, Oliver shows Led-is- m how he killed hla victim and eaya hla own death the aama way ' would make hla wife supremely happy. Returning home, Ledsam receives a phone oall from Mar-garet Hllclitch saying Oliver has been murdred. Ledsam geta the coroner to set Oliver's death down as Bulcide. He admits to Wllmoro that ha has developed' a keen Intareat in Margaret, lie meeta her father. Sir Timothy Brnut, the evil shepherd, who tells him a crime will be com-mitted before they leava the cafe. A murder la committed. Ledsam determines to aolva the myatery. He meets Margaret She refuaea him permission to call and warna him to have nothing to do with her father. Ledaam solves the murder myatery and Is congratu-lated by Sir Timothy. unique," he remarked. "Yon do not, attend them yourself." "You must remember that. I have had very few opportunities so far," she observed. "Besides, Cynthia has tastes which I 'tlo not share." "As, for Instance." "She goes to the Notional Sporting club. She once traveled, I know, over a hundred miles to go to a bull flght." "On the whole," Francis said, "I am glad that you do not share her tastes.", "You know her?" Margaret Inquired. "Indifferently well, Francis replied. "I knew her when she was a child, and we sei?m to come together every now and then at long Intervals. As a debutante she was charming. Lately It seems to nie that she has got Into the' wrong set." "What do you call the wrong set?" He hesitated for a moment. "I'lense don't think I am laying down the law," he said. "I have been out so little, the last few years, that I ought not, perhaps, to criticize. Lady Cynthia, however, seems to me to belong to the extreme section of the younger generation, the section who have a sort of craze for the un-usual, whose tnste in art and living Is distorted and bizarre. You know what I mean, don't you black drawing-r-ooms, futurist wall-paper- opium dens and a cocaine box! It's to some extent affectation, of course, but It's a folly that claims its' victims." She studied hlin for a moment at-tentively. His leanness was tho lean-ness of muscular strength and condi-tion, his face was full of vigor and determination. "You at least have escnped the ab-normal," she remarked. "I am not quite sure how the entertainments at the Walled House would appeal to you, hut If my father should Invite you there, I should advise you not to go." . "Why not?" he asked. ' She hesltnted for a moment. "I really don't know why I should trouble to give you advice," she said. "As a matter of fact, I don't care whether you go or not. In any case, you are scarcely likely to be asked." "1 am not sure that I agree with you," he protested. "Your father seems to have taken quite a fancy to me." "And you?" she murmured. "Well, I like the way he bought that horse," Francis admitted. "And I am beginning to realize that there may be something In the theory which he ad-vanced when he Invited me to accom-pany him here this evening that there Is a certuln piquancy In one's In-tercourse with an enemy, which friend-ship lacks. There may be complexi-ties In his character which as yet I have not appreciated." The curtain had gone up and the last act of the opera had commenced. She leaned back in her chair. Without a word or even a gesture, he understood that a curtain had been let down be-tween them. He obeyed her unspoken wish and relapsed Into silence. Her very absorption, after all, was a hope-ful sign. She would have him believe that she felt nothing, that she was liv-ing outside all the passion and senti-ment of life. Yet she was absorbed In the music. . . . Sir Timothy came a In 'er yet. She may not be much to look at but she's worth forty quid to me ay, and one to spit on !" Sir Timothy counted out some notes from the pocketbook which he had produced, and handed them to the man. "Here are fifty vounds," he said, "The mare Is mine." He culled over his footman and him to unharness the animal and tuke It to his private stable, In town. The man touched his hat and hastened to commence his task. Sir Timothy turned to Francis. "We might walk the last few yards. Sir. Ledsnm," he said. The latter acquiesced at once, and In a moment or two they were In the opera house, Margaret HUdltch, her chair pushed hack Into the recesses of the box, scarcely turned her heud at her fa-ther's entrance. "I have brought an acquaintance of yours, Murgnret," the latter . an-nounced, us he hung up his hut. "You remember Mr. .Led'sum?" Francis drew a little bcenth of re-lief as he bowed over her hand. For the second time her Inordinate com-posure hud been assailed'. She was her usual calm and Indifferent self almost Immediately, but the gleam of sur-prise, and he funded not unpleasant surprise, had been unmistakable. "Are you a devotee, Mr. Ledsam?" she asked. "I am fond of music," Francis an-swered, "especially this opern." She motioned to the chair In the front of the box. facing the stage. "You must sit there," she Insisted. "I prefer always to remain here, and my father always likes to face the audience. I really believe," she went on, "that he likes to catch the eye of the Journnlist who writes little gossipy Items, and to see his name In print." "But you yourself?" Francis ven-tured. "I fancy that my reasons for pre-ferring seclusion should be obvious enough," she replied, a little bitterly. "My da'ughter Is Inclined, I fear, to be a little morbid." Sir Timothy said, settling down In his place. Francis made no reply. A triangu-lar conversation of this sort was al-most Impossible. The members of the orchestra were already, climbing up to their places. In preparation for the overture to the last act. Sir Timothy rose to his feet. "You will excuse me for a moment," he begged. "I see a lady to whom I aiust pay my respects." Francis drew a sigh of relief at his departure. He turned at once to his companion. "Did you mind my coming?" he asked. "Mind Itr she repeated, with al-most Insolent nonchalance. "Why Francis nodded silently. His com-panion's careless words brought a sud-den dazzling vision Into his mind. Sir Timothy scrawled his name at the foot of his bill. "It Is one of my axioms In life, Mr. Ledsam," he continued, "thut there is more pleasure to be derived from the society of one's enemies than one's friends. If I thought you sufllciently educated In the outside ways of the world to appreciate this, I would ask If you cared to accompany me?" Francis did not hesltute for a mo-ment. , "Sir Timothy," he said, "I have the greatest detestation for you, and I am firmly convinced that you represent all the things In life abhorrent to nie. On the other hand, I should very much like to hear the last act of 'Louise,' and It would give me the greatest pleasure to meet your daughter. So long as there Is no misunderstanding " Sir Timothy laughed. "Como," he said, "we will get our hats. I am becoming more and more grateful to you, Mr. Ledsam. You are supplying something In my life which I have lacked. Yon appeal alike to my sense of humor and my Imagination. We will visit the opera together " CHAPTER IX The two men left Soto's together, very much In the fashion of two or-dinary acquaintances sallying out to spend the evening together. Sir Timo-thy's Ilolls-Uoye- e limousine was In at-tendance, and In a few minutes they were threading the purlieus of Covent Garden. It was here that an Incident occurred which afforded Francis con-siderable food for thought during the next few days. i It. was a Friday night, and one or two wagons laden with vegetable produce were already threading their way through the difficult thorough-fares. Suddenly Sir Timothy, who was looking out of the window, pressed the button of the car, which was at once brought to a standstill. Before the footman could reach the door Sir Timothy was out In the street. For the first time Francis saw him angry. His eyes were blazing. His voice Francis had followed him at once Into the street shook with passion. His hand had fallen heavily upon the shoulder of a huge enrter, who, with whip In hand, was belaboring a thin scarecrow of a horse. "What the devil are you doing?" Sir Timothy demanded. ' The man stared at his questioner, and the Instinctive antagonism of race vibrated In Ills truculent reply. The carter was a beery-face- untidy-lookin-brute, but powerfully hutlt and with huge shoulders. Sir Timothy, straight as a dart, without overcoat or ' CHAPTER VIII Continued. ' '4118 "I knew nothing," he said, "except this. They were neither of them young men of much stomach, and I knew that the one who was the greater coward would probably try to anticipate the matter by attacking the other first if he could. I knew that Fairfax was tho greater coward not that there whs much to choose between them and I also knew that ho was the Injured person. That Is really all there Is 'about It My somewhat theatrical statement to you was based upon prob-ability, and not upon any certuln fore-knowledge. As you see, It came off.'' "And the cause of their quarrel?" Francis asked. "There might have been a hundred reasons." Sir Timothy observed. "As a matter of fact. It was the eternal one. There Is no need to mention a woman's name, so we will let it go at thut." There was a moment's silence a strange, unforgettable moment for Francis Ledsam, who seemed by some eurlous trick of the Imagination to have been carried away Into an Impossible and grotesque world. The hum of eater conversation, the popping of corks, the little trills of feminine laughter, all blended Into one sensual and unmusical chorus, seemed to fade from his ears. He fancied himself in some subterranean place of vast di-mensions, through the grim galleries of which men and women with evil faces crept like animals. And tower-ing above them, unreal In size, his scornful face an epitome of sin, the knout which he wielded symbolical and He Went Over and Read a Few Lines Written in a Bey's Hasty Writing. am 'not Inviting you to one of those gatherings. They are for people with other tastes. My daughter and I have been Spending a few days alone in the little bungalow by the side of my larger house. That Is where you will find us The Sanctuary, we call It." "Some day," Francis ventured, "1 shall hope to be asked to one of your more notorious gatherings. For the present occasion I much prefer the ea tertalnment you offer." "Then we are both content," Sir Timothy snld, smiling. "Au revoir!" Francis walked across Green park, along the Mall, down Horse Guards I'urade, along the Embankment to his rooms on the fringe of the Temple. Here he found his clerk awnltlng his arrlvnl In some disturbance of spirit. "There Is a young gentleman here to see you, sir," he announced. "Mr. Reginald Wilmore his mime Is, I think." "Wllmoro?" Francis repeated. "What have you done with him?" "He is In your room, sir. He seems very Impatient. He has been out two or three times to know how long I thought you would be." Fnincis passed down the stone pas-sage and entered lils room, a large, shady apartment at the back of the building. To his surprise It was empty. He was on the point of calling to his clerk when he saw that the writing paper on his desk had been disturbed. He went over and read a few lines written in a boy's hasty writing: "Hear Mr. Ledsam: "1 am In a very strai ge predlcan ent and I have come to usk your advice. You know my brother Andrew well, and you may remember playing tennis with nie lust yenr. I am compelled " At that point the letter terminated abruptly. There was a blot and a smudge. The pen lay where It seemed to have rolled on the floor. The Ink was not yet dry. Francis called to his clerk. "Angruve," he said, "Mr. Wilmore Is not here." The clerk looked around In obvious surprise. "It isn't five minutes since he came out to my otllce, sir!" he exclaimed. "1 heard him go buck again afterward." Fnmcls shrugged his shoulders. Reginald Wilmore, brother of Andrew, mysteriously disappear. (TO UK CoNTINl'EH.) any covering to his thin evening clothes, looked like a stripling In front of him. j "I'm whlppln' 'er, If yer want to know," was the corter's reply. "I've got to get up the 'ill, 'aven't I? Gam and mind yer own business!" "This is my business," Sir Timothy declared, laying his hand upon the neck of the tiorse.- - "I nm on official of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. You are laying yourself open to a line for your treat-ment of this poor brute." "I'll lay myself open for a fine for the treatment of something else. If you don't quid 'old of my 'oss," the carter retorted, throwing his whip back Into the wagon and coming a step nearer. "D'yer 'ear? I don't want any swells Interferln' with my business. You 'op It. Is that strlte enough? 'Op It, quick!" Sir Timothy's anger seemed to have abated. There was even the begin-ning of a smile upon his lips. All the time his hund caressed the neck of the horse. Francis noticed with amazement that the poor brute had raised Its head and seemed to be mak-ing some faint effort at reciprocation. "My good man," Sir Timothy said, "you seem to be one of those brutal persons unfit to be trusted with an animal. However " The corfer had heard quite enough. Sir Timothy's tone seemed to madden him. He clenched his fist and rushed In. "You. take that for Interferln. you big toff!" he shouted. The result of the man's effort at pugilism was almost ridiculous. His arms appeared to go round like wind-mills beating the air. It really seemed ns though he hnd rushed upon the point of Sir Timothy's knuckles, which tiad suddenly shot out like the piston of an engine. The carter lay on his back for a moment. Then he stag-gered viciously to his feet. "Don't," Sir Timothy begged, as he suw signs of another attack. "I don't want to hurt you. I have been ama-teur champion of two countries. Not quite fnlr, is It?" "Wot d'yer want to come Interferln' with a chilli's business fur?" the man growled, dabbing his cheek with B filthy handkerchief but keeping ut a respectful distance. "It happens to be my business also," Sir Timothy replied, "to Interfere whenever I see animals Now I don't want to be unreasonable. That animal lias done all the work It oiifiht to do In this world. How much Is she worth to you?" I. "That 'ess," be said, "ain't what she was, It's true, but there's a lot of work should It affect nie In any way? My father'! friends come and go. I have no Interest In any of them." "lint," he protested, "I want you to be Interested In me." - fihe moved a little uneasily In her place. Her tone, nevertheless, re-mained Icy. "Could you possibly manage to avoid personalities In your conversation, Ms. Ledsam?" she begged. "I have tried already to tell you how I feel about such things." She was certainly difficult. Francis realized that with a little sigh. "Were you surprised to see me with your father?" he asked, a little in-anely. "I cannot conceive what you two have found In common," she admitted. "Perhaps our Interest In you," he replied. I have Just seen him perform o quixotic but a very fine action," .Francis snld. "He stopped a carter from thrashing his horse, knocked him down, bought the horse from him and sent It home." She wns mildly Interested. "An nmlable side of my father's character which no one would sus-pect," she remnrked. "The entire park bf bis country house at Hntton Knd Is given over to broken-dow- ani-mals." "I am one of those," he confessed, "who find this trait amnidng." "And I nm another," she remarked coolly. "If any one settled down seri-ously to try and understand my father, he would need the spectacles of a Pe Qiltnif-y- , the outlook of a Voltaire, and the callousness of a Horgla. You see, be doesn't lend himself to any of the recognized standards." "Neither do you." be said boldly. She looked away from him across the boose, to where Sir Timothy was titlk'nir to a man and woman In one of the (rroend-lloo- r boxes. Francis recog-nized them with pome surprise an arh'iilnirel dnkr and bis daughter l.ndy Cynthia Milton, one of the most beautiful and famous young women in London. "Your father goes far afield for his friends." Francis :emnrkml. "My father has no friends," she re-plied. "He has many acquaintances. 1 doubt whether be has a single con-fidant. I expect Cynthia Is trying to persuade blm to Invite her to his next party at the Walled House," "I should think she would fall, won't she?" he asked. "Why should you think that?" Francis shrugged bis shoulders slightly. "Your father's entertainments hnve the reputation of being somewhat back and seated himself silently. It was not until the tumult of applause which broke out after the great song of the French ouvrler that a word passed between them. Not another word was spoken until the curtain fell. Francis lingered for a moment over the arrangement of her cloak. Sir,Timothy was already out-side, talking to some acquaintances. "It has been a great pleasure to see you like this unexpectedly," he said, a llttl wistfully. "I cannot Imagine w hy," she an-swered, with an undernotn of trouble In her tone. "Kemember the advice I gave you before. No good can come of any friendship between my father and you." "There Is this much of good In It, at any rate," he answered, as he held open the door for her. "It might give me the chance of seeing you some-times." "That Is not a matter worth consid-ering," she replied. "I find It very much worth consider-ing," he whispered, losing his bend for a moment as they stood close together In the dim light of the box, and a sud-den sense of the sweetness of hr' thrilled bis pulses. "There Isn't any-thing In the world I want so much as to see you oftener to have my chance." There was a momentary glow In her eyes. Her lips quivered. The few words which he saw framed there he fancied of reproof remained un-spoken. Sir Timothy was waiting for them at the entrance. "I hnve been asking Mrs. Hllditch's permission to call In Curzoii street," Francis said boldly. . "I am sure my daughter will be de-lighted," was the cold but courteous reply. Margaret herself nuide no comment. The car drew up an I she stepped Into It a tall, slim figure, wonderfully graceful In her unrelieved Mack, her hair gleaming as though with some sort of burnish, as she passed under-neath the electric light. She looked back Ht Min with H smile of farewell us he stood bareheaded upon the steps, n smile which reminded him somehow of her father, a little sar-donic, a little tender, having In It some faintly challenging quality. The ear n.l'cd ay. CHAPTER X Francis Ledsam was himself ngaln, tho llghtest-lie.irte- and most popular ns'inber of his club, still a brilliant fig- - rn In the courts, although his appear-ace- s there were less frequent, still rvctlr-- Hie greater portion of his time "You 'Op It Is That Strlte Enough? 'Op It, Quick!" ghastly, driving his motley flock with the leer of the evil shepherd, was the man from whom he had olready teamed to recoil with horror. The pic-ture came and went In a flush. Fran-cis found himself accepting a courte-ously offered cigar from bis compan-ion. "Tou see, the story Is very much like many others," Sir Timothy mur-mured, as he lit a fresh cigar himself and leaned back with the obvious en-joyment of the cultivated smoker, "In every country of the world, the animal woiTd as well as the human world, the mrtie resents bis female being taken from him. Directly he ceases to resent It, he becomes degenerate. Surely you must agree with nie, Mr. Ledsam?" "It comes to this, then," Francis pronounced deliberately, "that you stiige-matiiige- the whole affair." Sir Timothy smiled. "It Is my belief, Mr. Ledsam," be said, "that you grow more and mere Intelligent every hour." Sir Timothy glanced presently at his thin gold watch and put It hack In his pocket regretfully. "Alas!" be sighed. "I fear that I nuiBt tear myself away. I particularly want to hear the last net of 'Louise.' The new Frenchwoman sings, and my (laughter Is alone. You will excuse me," ohshis After Every Meal irs tbe longest-lasting- 1 confection you can buy --and It's a help to di-gestion and a cleanser L 4 for the mouth jur and teeth. bcncUtaswcUa pleasure. Spring Joys! Fresh Salads and VCHT Sjg IewStyle SALAD DRESSING What is better than fresh spring salads niade with new greens or young, tender vegetables? Such and good You Salad when Style can old : at all 4 fgood today! stores. N. 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Alberta, did not need to he taught what a smudge lire wns for. The moment It was started they crowded up Into the smoke to escape the tormenting files. This made Is easy to round thera up for the next day's Journey. Mnl.e Is cultivated by the Peruvians at a height of 7,000 feut above the sea. |