Middletown transcript., 1921-06-11

ton, lnelr neilln frequently uoeS sui
fer"
"But this paper says he's getting
better" objected Drummond. "'Suf-
ficently recovered to conduct business
as usual.''
"If he is sufficiently recovered to
conduct business as usual, why did he
send his confidential secretary away
Yesterday morning on an urgent mis-
sion to Belfast?"
"Search me-" said Hugh. "Inci-
dentally, how do you know he did,"
81 asked at the Carlton this morn
ing" she answered. Il said I'd come
after a job as typist for Mr.. Potts.
They told me at the inquiry office that
he was i'll in bed and unable to see
| anybody. So l asked for his secre-
tary, and they told me what I've just
told you-that he had left for Belfast
that morning and would be away sew
eral days 1t may be that there's
nothing in it; on the other hand, it
may be that there's lot. And It's
only by following up every possible
clue" she continued fiercely, "that I
can hope to beat those fiends and get
daddy out Of their clutches"
Drummond nodded gravely, and IL!
not sneak. For into his mind aHd
flashed suddenly the remembrance of
that sinister. motiOnless figure seated
by the chauffeur. The widest guess
work certainly-no vestige of proof
and yet, having once come. the
thought stuck. And as he turned it
over in his mind, almost prepared to
laugh at himself for his creduity-
mil!ionaires are not removed against
their will, in broad daylight. from one
of the biggest hotels in London, to sit
in immovabIe silence in an open car
the door opened and an elderly man
came in.
Hugh rose, and the girl introduced
the two men. "An old friend, daddy
she said. "You must have heard me
speak of Captain DrummOnd."
"I don't recall the name at the mo,
ment, my dear" he answered cOurte'
ously-a fact which was hardly sur,
prising-'but fear I'm getting little
forgetful. You'll stop and have some
dinner, Of course"
Hugh bowed. II should like to, Mr.
Benton. Thank you very much. I'm
afraid the hour Of my call was a little
informal, but being round in these
parts, l felt 1 must come and look
Miss Benton up"
His host smiled absentmindedly
. and walking to the window, starec
through the gathering dusk at the
house opposite, half hidden in the
trees. And Hugh, who was watching
him from under lowered lids, saw hin
suddenly clench both hands in a ges
ture of despair.
, It cannot be said that dinner wa:
meal of sparkling gaiety. Mr.. Ben
: ton was palpably ill at ease, and be
yond a few desultory remarks SPOKE
hardly at all; while the girl, who sa
, opposite Hugh. though she made ont
: or two valiant attempts to break tn
long silences, spent most of the mel
in covertly watching her father. l
anything more had been required Il
] convince Drummond of the genuine
l ness of his interview with her at tn
5 Carlton the preceding day. the atmos
phere at this strained and silent part.
supplied it.
AS if unconscious of anything pecu
liar he rambled on in his usual in
consistent method, needless of Whetf
4 er he was answered or not; but al
the time his mind was busily working
He had already decided that Rolls
\ Royce was not the only car on tn
market which could breal down m;
teriously, and with the town so ia
away his host could hardly fail t
ask him to stop the night. And the
he had not yet quite settled how
he proposed to have closer look a
The Films.
At length the meal was over, an
the maid. placing the decanter IL
front of Mr.. Benton, withdrew frOr
the room.
you'll have glass of port, Captai
| DfunlnOllu. Ieliitti hCu biS ho'''' ~
moving the stopper, and pushing tn
bottle toward him. "An old pre-wa
wine which l can vouch for"
Hugh smiled, and even as he lifte
the heavy old cut glass, he stiffene
suddenly in his chair. \ cry-hal
shout, half scream, and stit1ed a
once-had come echOing through tn
open windows. With crash til
stopper fell from Mr.. Benton's nerve
less fingers. breaking the linger-bov
in front of him, while every vestiG
of color left his face.
"Its something these days to b
able to say that" remarked Hugl
e pouring out himself 4 glass. "Win
Miss Benton?" He looked at the cir
who was staring fearfully out of th
e window, and forced her to meet hi
e. eye. ut will do you good"
le His tone was compelling, and afte
4 moments hesitation, she pushe
4 the glass over to him. "Will you pot
a it out?" she said, and he saw that sf
IL was trembling all over.
"Did you-did you hear-anythingi
; With vain endeavOr. to speak calml
!! his host looked at Hugh.
~ ''That night-bird?" he anSwere
easily. "Eerie noises they make, don
:, :, they? Sometimes in France, whe
everything was still, and only II
ghostly green flares went kissing Vi
one used to hear 'em. Startled ner
Gus sentries out of their lives" H
talked on, and gradually the colt
:. came back to the other mans fac
~ | d. II,,nh noAiood thot ho oinod h