New-York tribune., 1918-02-03

ried downstairs, and found in his study a
purposeful looking young man with the
two zigzag stripes on his sleeve of lieu
tenant in the Royal Reserve.
<'Mr. Drummond?" he inquired.
"The same" said Mr.. Drummond. firmly
yet cautiously.
"You expected visit from a Mr.. Bur-
nett yesterday, believer"
81 had been expecting him till got his
wire"
"His wirep' exclaimed Lieutenant Top
ham. "Did he telegraph to you?"
eyes; he said he couldn't come"
"May I see that telegram"
Caution had always been Mr.. Drum
mond's most valuable asset
"Is it important?" he inquired.
Extremely" said the lieutenant, a
trifle brusquely
Mr.. Drummond went to his desk and
handed him the telegram. He could see
Topham's eyebrows rise as he read it.
"Thank you," he said when he had fin
ished. "May keep it,"
Without waiting for permission he put
it in his pocket and with grave air said
II am afraid have rather serious news
to give you about Mr.. Burnett
"Dear mel" cried Mr.. Drummond. "It's
not mental trouble, hope? That was a
queer wire he sent me-"
"He didn't send you that wire," said
Lieutenant Topham.
"What" exclaimed Mr.. Drummond.
"Really-you don't say so? Then who
did,"
"That's what we've got to fi1d out"
The lieutenant glanced at the door and
added:
II think we had better come a little
further away from the door"
! They moved to the further end of the
room and sat down.
"Mr. Burnett had been knocked on the
head and then nearly drowned" said the
lieutenant.
MIR. DRUMMOND cried aloud in hor-
AvA ror. Topham made warning gest-
ure.
"This is not to be talked about at pres
ent," he said in a guarded voice. "The
facts simply are that I'm in command of
a patrol boat, and last night we were off
the Berwickshire coast when we found
your friend in the water with bad wound
in his head and piece of cord tied round
his feet"
"You mean some one had tried to mur-
dershim?" cried Mr.. Drummond.
nd J.
dryly.
"And him minister, tool" gasped Mr..
Drummond.
$50 we found later'
"But you'd surely tell that from his
clothes?"
"He had no clothes when y. found him."
'No clothes on! Then DO you
mean?"-
eve took him straight back to the base,"
continued the lieutenant quickly, "and
finally he came round and was able to talk
a little. Then we learned his name and
heard Of you, and Captain Blackjack asked
me to run up and let you know he was
safe and also get you to check one or two
of his statements. Mr.. Burnett is natur-
ally a little light-headed at present"
Mr.. Drummond was persistent gentle
man.
"But do you mean you found him with
no clothes on right out at sea?"
"No; close under the cliffs"
"Did you see him fall into the water?"
1--WE heard cry and picked him up
shortly afterward," said the lieutenant,
rather evasively, Mr.. Drummond thought.
However, the main thing is that he will
recover all right. You can rest assured
he is being we'll looked after"
"Pd like to know more about this,' said
Mr.. Drummond, with an air of determi-
nation.
$50 would we," said Topham dryyly, "and
I'd just like to ask you one or two ques-
tions, if may. Mr.. Burnett was on his
way to the Windy Islands, I believer"
"He was. He had got all his papers and
everything ready to start tonight"
"You feel sure of that?"
"He wrote and told me so himself"
Lieutenant Topham nodded in silence.
Then he inquired:
"Do you know Mr.. Taylor"
"Taylor? I know John Taylor"--
"Who comes from Lancashire and keeps
a motor carr"
"No," said Mr.. Drummond. II don't
know that one. Why"
"Then you didn't send long telegram
to Mr.. Burnett yesterday telling him that
Mr.. Taylor would call for him in his motor
car and drive him to your house?"
Certainly mott" cried Mr.. Drummond
Indignantly. II never sent long tele-
pram to any one in nv life tell Won I