The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-08-25

neck Wnlle WIS dDOul H. O6A-
sighed and drank some coffee. L see
that I shall have to do it some day.
and probably Laklngton's as we'll ..
Bv the way, how is our HenryF L
trust his jaw is not unduly incon-
veniencing him.
Peterson, with his coffee cup in his
hand. was staring down the drive.
your car is a little early, Captain
Drummond," he said at length. How
ever. perhaps it can wait two or three
minutes while we get matters perfect
" clear. 1 should dislike you not
knowing where you stand" He turned
round and faced the soldier. You
have deliberately. against my advice,
elected to fight me and the interests
I represent. So be it. From now on
the gloves are on. You embarked on
this course from a spirit OF adventure
at the instigatiOn OF the girl next
door. She, poor little fool, is con-
cerned over that drunken waster-her
father She asked you 70 help her
you agreed, and. amazing though 1t
may seem, up to now you have scored
a certain measure OF success. l ad-
NIT it, and l admire you for 1t.
apologize now for having played the
fool with you last night; you're the
type OF man whom one should Kill out
right-Or leave alone"
He set down his coffee cup and care
fully shipped the end off a cigar
You are also the type of man who
will continue on the path he has start
ed. You are completely in the dark;
you have no idea whatever what you
are up against" He smiled grimly,
and turned abruptly on Hugh. You
foOl-yOu stupid young fool. DO you
really imagine that you can beat me?"
The soldier rose and stood in front
of him.
Il have a few remarks of my own to
make" he answered, land then we
might consider the interview closed. l
ask nothing better than that the gloves
should be off-though with your filthy
methods of fighting, anything you
touch Will get very dirty. As you
say. l am completely in the dark as TO
your plans; but 1 have a pretty shrewd
idea what I'm up against. Men who
can employ 4 thumbscrew on Il poor
defenseleSs brute seem TO me to be
several degrees worse than an aborigi-
nal cannibaI. and therefore if ! put
you down as one Of the lowest types
OF degraded criminal 1 shall not be
very Wide OF the mark. There's no
good you snarling at me- you swine:
it does everybody good TO hear some
home rruthS-and don't forget il was
you who pulled off the gloves"
Drummond lit a cigarette: then his
merciless eyes fixed themselves again
on Peterson.
There is only one thing more" he
continued. You have kindly warned
me of my danger; let me give you
word of advice in my turn. I'm going
to fight you; if I can. I'm going TO
beat you. Anything that may happen
TO me is part of the game But if
anything happens to Miss Benton dur
ing the course of operations, then. as
surely as there is a God above. Peter
son, I'll get at you somehow and muir
der you with my own hands"
For a few moments there was ST.
lence, and then with a short laugh
DrummOnd turned away. "Shall we
meet again sOOn?" He paused at the
door and looked back.
Peterson was still standing by the
table, his face expressionless. VERY
soon. indeed. young man. he said
quietly. Very soon indeed. :"
Hugh stepped out into the warm
sunshine and spoke to his chauffeur
Take her out into the main road.
Jenkins" he said, land wait for me
outside the entrance TO the next house.
I shan't be long"
Then he stroIled through the gar
den toward the little wicket-gate
that led to The Larches. Phyllis
The thought of her was singing in his
heart TO the exclusion of everything
else. Just few minutes with her;
just the touch of her hand, the faint
smell Of the scent she uSed-and then
back TO the game
He had almost reached the gate,
when. with a sudden crashing in the
underground. Jem Smith Numbered out
into the path. His naturally rudy
face was white, and he stared round
fearfully.
"Gawd! sir" he cried. mind out.
Ave yer seen it,"
seen what, JemT' asked Drum
mond
THAT there brute Els escaped;
and if e meets a stranger" He
left the sentence unfinished, and
stood listening. From somewhere
behind the house came a deep
throated, snarling roar: then the
clang of a paddock shooting home in
metal, followed by a series Of heavy
thuds as if some big animal was hurI-
ing itself against the bars of a cage.
They've got it," muttered Jem.
You seem to have a nice little
crowd of pets about the house." re-
marked DrummOnd, putting a hand on
the mans arm as he was about TO