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Show '" twwredV s- t-.i.. Iw'' There was a moment's Intense si-lttce, si-lttce, a silence pregnant with reml-fiacent reml-fiacent drama. "riease look at me," he begged, a Bttle abruptly. She turned her head In some surprise. sur-prise. Francis was almoKt handsome In the clear spring sunlight his face alight with animation, his deep-set gray eyes full of amused yet anxious p.,fK3.?vlv per and to be taking but the scantiest notice of the conversation at the bar. "It Just, shows," Peter Jacks declared, de-clared, "that crime Is the easiest game in the world. Given a reasonable amount of Intelligence, and a murderer's murder-er's business Is about as simple as a 8undw!chmnn's." "The police," Gerald Morse, a pale-faced pale-faced anemlc-looklng youth, declared, "rely upon two things, circumstantial evidence and motive. In the present case there Is no circumstantial evidence, evi-dence, and as to motive, poor old Victor Vic-tor was too big a fool to have an enemy In the world." Sidney Voss. who was up for the Sherldun club and had once been there, glanced respectfully across at Francis. "You ought to know something about crime and criminals, Mr. Ledsam," he suld. "Have you any theory about the affair?" Francis set down the glass from which he had been drink Ins, and, folding fold-ing up the evening paper, laid It by the side of him. "As a matter of fact," he answered calmly, "I have." The few words, simply spoken, yet In their way charged with menace, thrilled through the little room. Fairfax Fair-fax swung round upon his stool, a tall, aggressive-looking youth wtiose good-looks good-looks were half eaten up with dissipation. dissi-pation. His eyes were unnaturally bright, the cloudy remains In his glass Indicated absinthe. "Listen, you fellows!" he exclaimed. "Mr. Francis Ledsam, the great criminal crim-inal barrister, Is going to solve the mystery of poor old Victor's death for us!" The three other young men all turm-d around from the bar. Their eyes and whole attention seamed riveted rivet-ed upon Francis. No one seemed to notice the newcomer who passed quietly quiet-ly to chair In the background, although al-though he was a person of some note ami Interest to nil of them. Imperturbable Imper-turbable and Immaculate as ever, Sir Timothy l'.rast smiled amiably upon the little gathering, summoned a wult-er wult-er and ordered a dry martini. "I can scarcely promise to do tbat," Francis said slowly, his eyes resting for u second or two upon each of the four faces. "Kxuct solutions are a little lit-tle out of my line. I think I can promise prom-ise to give you a shock, though, If you're strong enough to stand It." There was another of those curiously curious-ly charged silences. The bartender paused with the cocktail-shaker still In bis rind. Voss began to beat nerv- Francis, tense and alert In his cl watched the speaker, but said D Ing. "You see," Sir Timothy contln addressing himself to the four y men at the bar, "I happen to I two special aversions In life. Is sweet chumpagne and the other ateur detectives their stories, t methods and everything about t) I chanced to sit upstairs In the taurant, within hearing of Mr. Led and his friend Mr. Wllmore, the n 1st, the other night, and I heard Leusum, very much to my chai announce his Intention of ahando a career In which he has, If he allow me to say so," with a coi mis bow to Francis "attained siderable distinction, to Indulge IB moth-eaten, flamboyant and melt matic antics of the lesser Slier Holmes. I fear that I could not n the opportunity of Joking him al his new avocation." . i Every one was listening inte', Including Shopland, who had Just d ed Into the room and subsided , a chair near Francis. "I moved my place, therefore," Timothy continued, "and I whlspe In Mr. Lcdsam's ear some rodoiu tnde to the effect that if he w planning to he the giant crime-det or of the world, I was by ambition archcrimlnul or words to that eff And to tfve emphasis to my wot I wound up by prophesying a frt In the Immediate vicinity of the pi within a few hours." "A somewhat significant proph under the circumstances," Fre.ncls marked, reaching out for a dish suited almonds and drawing them wards him. Sir Timothy shrugged his should deprecutlngly. "I will confess," he admitted, "t I had not In my mind un affair such dimensions. My harmless mark, however, has produced catacl mic effects. The conversation to wh I refer took place on the night young Uldluke's murder, and Mr. I. sam, with my somewhat, I conftt bombastic words In his memory, I pitched upon me as the bloodthln murderer." "Hold on for a moment, sir," Pet Jacks begged, wiping the pcrplratl from his forehead. "We've got have another drink quick. Poor o Bobby here looks knocked all of heap, and I'm kind of Jumpy myse You'll Join us, sir?" "I thank you," was the courteoi reply. "I do not is a rule Indulge "In Your Way You Havs Been Kind to Me," She Admitted. solicitude. Even as she appreciated these things and became dimly conscious con-scious of Ms eager Interest, her perturbation per-turbation seemed to grow. "Well?" she ventured. "Ho I look like a person who knew what he was talking about?" he asked. "On the whole. 1 should say that you did." she odmllted. "Very well, then," he went on cheerfully, cheer-fully, "believe me when I say that the shadow which depresses you all Hie time now will pass. I say this confidently," con-fidently," lie added, his voice soften-lg, soften-lg, "because I hope to he allowed to lelp. Haven't you guessed that 1 am )ery glad indeed to see you again?" They had passed through Lsns-owne Lsns-owne passage and wsre In the quiet ed of Curzon street. |