Evening star., 1921-04-10

/ There was something so incredibly
| menacing in the soft. quiet voice that
Drummond looked at the speaker las
/ cinated He had a sudden feeling that
! he must be dreaming-that in mo-
ment or two he would wake up ana
| find that they had really been talking
about the weather the whole time.
Then the cynical gleam of triumph
in PeterSons eyes acted on him like
a cold douche; quite clearly that gem
tleman had misinterpreted his s1ience.
"Sour candor is as refreshing ne
answered genially, 'as your simlies
are apt. | shudder TO think of that
poor little fly, Mr.. Peterson. especial
ly with your chauffeur grinding ms
gears to pieces" He held open the
door for his visitor. and followed him
into the passage. At the other end
stood Denny. ostentatiousiy dustinG
bookshelf, and Peterson glanced at
him casually. 1t was characteristic
of the man that no trace of annoy
ance showed on his face. He might
have been any ordinary visitor taking
his leave.
And then suddenly from the room
outside which Denny was dusting
there came a low moaning and an in
coherent ba abble. 4 quick frown pass
ed over Drummond's face. and Peter
son regarded him thoughtfully.
"An invalid in the house,? he re-
marked How inConvenient for you.
He laid his hand for moment on the
soldiers arm Il sadly fear you're
going to make a fool of yourself. And
it will be such pity" He turned to-
ward the stairs. Don't bother. please;
can find my own way out
III.
Hugh turned back into his own
room, and lighting particularly
noisy pipe, sat down in his own spe-
cial chair, where James Denny found
him five minutes later, with his hands
deep in his pockets. and his legs
crossed, staring out of the window.
He asked him about lunch twice with
out result. and having finally been
requested to go to hell, he removed
himself aggrievedly to the Kitchen.
Drummond was under no delusions as
to the risk he was running. Under
rating his opponent had never been a
fault of his, either in the ring or IN
France and he had no intention of be-
ginning now. The man who could alb
duct an American millionaire and drug
him till he was little better than a
baby, and then use a thuEbscrew 10
enforce his wishes, was not likely TO
prove prescriptions in the future
In fact. the phit of that bullet still
rang unpleasantly in his ears
After a while he began half-uncon-
sciously to talk aloud to himself. 1t
was an old trick of his when he
wanted to make up his mind on sit
uation. and he found that it helped
him to concentrate his thoughts.
Two alternatives. old buck he re-
marked. stabbing the air with his
pipe. "One-give the Potts bird up at
Berners street; two-do not. Number
one-out of court at once. Prepos-
terous-absurd Therefore-number
two holds the field" He recrossed his
legs and elected a large "ineglassfull
of nicotine juice from the stem of
sank back exhausted and rang the
bell.
James" he said. as the door opened.
take a piece of paper and a pencil
if there's one with a point-and SIT
down at the table. I'm going to think
and I'd hate to miss out anything.
His servant complied. and for a
while silence reigned.
First" remarked Drummond. put
down-'They know where Potts is
"Is, sir, or are?" murmured Denny.
sucking his pencil.
"Is. you fool. It's a man. not a col
lection. And don't interrupt. for
heavens sake. Two-They will try
to get Potts."
yes. sir" answered Denny writing
busily.-
''Three-They will not get Potts
That is as far as I've got at the mo-
stands. Not bad for a qaurter of an
hour. my trusty fellah-what?"
That's the stuff to give the troops.
sir" agreed his audience. sucking his
teeth.
Hugh looked at him in displeasure.
marked severely. Now you've got to
do something else. Rise and with
your we'll known stealth approach the
window. and see if the watcher still
watcheth without"
The servant took a prolonged sur
vev. and finally announced that he
failed to see him.
Then that proves conclusively that
he's there" said Hugh. Write it
down. James: Four-'Owing to the
the house without being seem"
That's two withouts. sir" ventured
James tentatively: but Hugh, with a
sudden light dawning in his eyes, was
staring at the fireplace.
I've got it. James" he cried. I've
leave the house without being seen
I want him, James. l want him all to
myself / want to make much of him
and listen to his childish prattle. He
shall go TO my cottage on the river.
and you shall look after him"
Yes. sir" returned James. dutifully.
"And in order to get him there. we
must get rid of the watcher without.
How can we get rid of the bird-how
can We, James. I ask you? Why, by
l., 1, e., L.
for. Once let him think that Potts is
no longer within. unless he's an i'm
beetle he will no longer remain with
out"
~ see. sir" said James.
mo, you don't-vou don't see any
thing. Now trot along over, James,
and give my compliments to Mr.. Oar
rell. Ask him to come in and see me
for a moment. Say I'm thinking and
daren't move"
James rose obediently. and Drum
mond heard him cross over the pas
sage to the other suite of rooms that
lay on the same floor. Then he heard
the murmur Of voices. and shortly aft
erward his servant returned.
He is in his bath. sir. but hen come
over as soon as he's finished" He de-
!ivered the message and stood wait
ing. "Anvthing more sir?"
Yes. James. I feel certain that
there's lot But just to carry on
with, III have another glass Of beer"
As the door closed. Drummond rose
and started to pace up and down the
room. The plan he had in his mind
was simple. but he was man who
believed in simplicity
Peterson will not come himself
nor will our one and only Henry.
Potts has not been long in the coun-
try. which is all to the good And if
IL fails-we shan't he any worse off
than we are now. Luck-that's all:
and the more you tempt her. the kind