The Lamar register., 1921-08-31

saw the American detective advancing
toward them along the corridor.
whats the trouble. captain?' he
asked as he Joined the group.
"A friend Of the management elected
to spend the night on the top Of my
cupboard. Mr.. Green" answered Drum
mond. -and got cramp halfway
through"
The American gazed at the wreck
age In silence. Then he looked at
Hugh. and what he saw on that
worthy's face apparently decided him
TO maintain that policy. In fact 1t
was NOT till the night-pOrter and his
attendant minions had at last. and
very dubiously. withdrawn, that he
again opened his mouth.
Looks like hectic night" he muir
INJURED. What happenedf" Briefly
Hugh told him what had occurred and
the detective whistled softly.
"Blowpipe and poisoned darts" he
said shortly. returning the tube to
Drummond Marrow escape - id
narrow Look at your pillow"
Hugh looked: embedded In the linen
were four pointed splinters similar to
the one he held In his hand; by the
door were three more, lying on the
floor.
An engaging little bird" he
laughed; but nasty to look at"
He extracted the little pieces OF
wood and carefully placed them in an
empty matchbox: the tube he put in
to his cigarette-case.
Might come in handy: you never
know" he remarked casually.
They might IL you stand quite STILL"
said the American. with a sudden.
sharp commsnd In his voice. Don't
move"
Hugh stood motionless. staring at
the speaker. who with eyes fixed on
his right forearm, had stepped for
ward. From the loose sleeve Of his
paJama coat the detective gently pulled
another dart and dropped It Into the
matchbox.
Not far on getting you that time.
captain" he cried cheerfuliy. Now
you've got the whole blamed outft."
THREE
II was the Comte lie Guy who
boarded the boat express AT the Care
du Nord the next day; ii was Carl
Peterson who stepped on the boat ex-
press at Boulogne. And il was only
Drummond's positive assurance which
convinced the American that the two
characters were the same man.
L.. - a % -.
boat reading a telegram v hen he first
saw Hugh ten minutes after the boat
had left the harbOr; and II he had
hoped for different result to the In
cident OF the night before no sign OF
1t showed on his face Instead he
waved cheerful greeting to Drum
mond.
This is a pleasant surprise" he re-
marked anably. Have you been to
Paris toof"
For a moment Drummoud looked at
him narrowly. Was II stupid bluff.
or was the man so sure Of his power
of disguise that he assumed with GER
tainty he had not been recognizedi
And It suddenly struck Hugh that,
save for tina; one tell-tale habit-a
habit which, In all probability. Peter
son himself was unconscious of-he
would not have recognized him.
Yes" he answered lightly. Il came
over to see how you behaved your
selfr
What a pity l didn't know - said
Peterson, with good-humored chuckle.
He seemed in excellent spirits, as he
carefully tore the telegram into tiny
pieces and dropped them overheard.
"We might have had another Of our
homely little chats over some supper.
Where did you stay7"
AT the Ritz. And your"
II always stop at the Bristol" an
swered Peterson. "Quieter than the
Ritz, j think"
FOUR
walk right in, Mr. Green" said
Hugh. as, three hours later, they got
out of taxi in Half Moon street.
This is my little rabbit-hutch."
He followed the American up the
stairs. and produced his latchkey. But
before he could even insert 1t In the
hole the door was flung open. and
Peter Darrell stood facing him with
evident relief in his face.
Thank the Lord you've come. old
son." he cried, with brief lock at
the detective. There's something do