The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-09-03

like this one never can tell. Orr
he carefully cut the end off cigar
"you might go mad, in which case we
shouldn't bother to kill you. In fact
if you go mad, we shall not be dis
pleased"
Once again he smiled genially.
"As l said before, in a house like
this, you can never tell.
The inundated rabbit. breathing
heavily, was staring at Hugh fascln-
ated and after a moment Hugh turned
to him with a courteous bow.
''Laddie." he remarked, you've been
eating onions. Do you mind DETECTING
the blast In the opposite direction?'
His calm imperturbability seemed to
madden Lexington
"YOu wait" he snarled thickly; you
wait till I've finished with you. You
won't be so id humorous then. -
Hugh regarded the speaker languid-
ly.
"Your supposition is more than prob
able" he remarked, In a bored voice.
II shall be too intent on getting into
Turkish bath to remove the contain
ination to think Of laughing"
Slowly darlington sank back in his
chair, a hard. merciless smile on his
lips; and for a moment or two there
was silence in the room. 1t was broken
by the unkempt man on the sofa, who,
without warning, exploded unexpected
ly.
"a truce to all this fooling," he
burst forth in a deep rumble; Il con-
fess 1 do not understand it. Are we
assembled here tonight, comrades, to
listen to private Quarrels and stupid
talkr'
A murmur Of approval came from
the others, and the speaker stood up
waving his arms.
81 know not what this young man
has done: care less. In Russia such
trifles matter not. He has the appear
ance of bourgeois, therefore he must
die. Did we not kill thousands-aye,
tens Of thousands Of his kidney, before
we obtained the great freedom? Are
we not going to do the same in this
accursed country Kill him now
throw him In corner and let us pro-
ceed."
He sat down, amidst a murmur OF
approval, in which Hugh joined heart
lily.
"Splendid," he murmured. "A mag
nificent peroration. Am I right, sir,
In assuming that you are what is vul-
carly known as Bolshevist?"
The man turned his sunken eyes,
glowing with the burning fires Of fanat-
icism, on Drummond.
II am one Of those who are fighting
for the freedom of the world" he cried
harshly. 'for the right to live Of the
proletariat." He flung out his arms
wildly. ut IL freedom; it Is the dawn
Of the new age"
| Hugh looked at him with genuine
curiosity; 1t was the first time he had
actually met one Of these wild vision
aries In the flesh. And then the curl
osity was succeeded by very definite
Amusement: what had Peterson to do
with such as he9
For the moment his own deadly risk
was forgotten: growing excitement
filed his mind. Could 1t be possible
that here, at last, was the real object
Of the gang; could 1t be possible that
Peterson was organizing deliberate
plot to try and Bolshevize England!
J He looked up to find Peterson regard
ing him with faint smile.
TT Is a little difficult to understand,
isn't 1t. Captain Drummond" he said
carefully Ticking the ash of his cigar
II told you you'd find yourself in deep
water" Then he resumed the cOntem.
plation Of the papers in front Of him.
Hugh half closed his eyes, while a
general buzz Of conversation broke out
round the table.
Fragments Of conversation struck his
ears from time to time. The intimi
dated rabbit, with the light Of battle
in his watery eye, was declaiining on
the glories Of workmen's councils; o
bullet-headed man was shouting an In
spring battle cry about no starvation
wages and work for all.
81 Gan 1t be possible" thought Hugh
grimly, that such as these have tht
power to control big destinies?" And
then, because he had some experience
! Of what one unbalanced brain. whose
owner could talk. was capable o.
achieving; because he knew something
: about mob psychology. his half con
temptuous amusement changed to I
bitter foreboding.
sYou fo0l!" he cried suddenly t,
the Russian; and everyone ceased talk
ing. "You poor id boob! You-ant
your new earthi In Petrograd toda.
bread Il two pounds four shillings ,
: pound tea, fifteen pounds pound. d.
you call that freedom7" He gave |
) contemptuous laugh.
II Too surprised to speak, the Rus
sian sat staring at him; and 1t wa
/ Peterson who broke the silence witt
his suave voice.
/ .Your distress, ! am glad to say
4 II not likely to be one OF long dura
tion," he remarked. I'm fact, the tim
has come for you to retire for tn
] night, my young friend"
. IT. ~<ncd M avv.l1lnr. then ne wake,