American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1921-05-14

oruiser; he could only mutter.
Hugh smiled "By the way, has any
one got n still neck In the house this
morning."
"StiH neck - echoed the man.
"Strike me pink II that amt funny
your asking, | mean. The bloke's sit.
ting up In is bed swearing awful.
Can't move IS cad at nll"
And who, might ask. Is the
blokeF said Drummond.
why Peterson, o. course. 90 else7
Breakfast at nine"
The door closed behind him. and
Hugh III n cigarette thoughtfully.
Most aSSurcdly he was starting In
! style; L0klugton's jaw one night, Pet
ersoh'S neck the second, seemed sum.
ciently energetic opening TO the game
Tor the verlest glutton. Then that
cheerful optimism which was the en-
w of his friends asserted itself.
"Supposln' Id Killed 'em," he muir.
INJURED, agh0St. Just supposln'. Why,
the bally show would have been over
and I'd have had to advertise again"
Only Peterson was In the dining
room when Hugh came down. lie had
examined the stairs on his way, but
he could see nothing unusual which
would account for the thing which had
whizzed past his head and changed sui.
lenly against the wall. Nor was there
any sign of the cobra by the curtalned
door; merely Peterson standing In a
sunny room behind II bubbling coffee
machine.
He turned politely toward his host.
and paused In disnay. Good heavens
Mr.. Peterson, is your neck hurting
your"
| ut Is" answered Peterson grimly.
"A nuisance, having n stiff neck.
Makes every one laugh, and one gets
no sympathy. Bad thing-laughter
E. At times anyway"
| Curiosity Is great deal worse
Captain Drummond. II was touch and
20 whether killed you last night"
IL think ! might say the same" re-
turned Drummond.
'Yes and no" said Peterson. From
the moment you left the bottom Of the
stairs, ! had your life In the palm Of
my hand. Had ! chosen to take II,
young friend, should not have
had this stlit neck"
concernedly
"Granted laddle, granted But had
not been of such kindly and for
bearing nature, you wouldn't have
had Il. either" He looked at Peter.
son critically. "Tm inclined to think
lt's great pity didn't break your
neck while was about It." Hugh
sighed and drank some coffee. II see
that | shall have to do II some day
and probably Lakington's us we'll. -.
BY the way, how Is our Henryf
trust his jaw Is not unduly incon
yenlencing him."
Peterson, with his coffee cup In hi,
hand was staring down the drive.
"Your car is little early. Captain
Drummond," he said at length. How
ever, perhaps II can walt two or thres
minutes while we get matters perfect
" clear. | should dislike you no
knowing where you stand" He turne,
round and faced the soldier. ''Yo'
have deliberately, against my advice
Aected to fight me and the INTEREST
| represent. SO be 1t. From now OF
the gloves are of. You embarked u
this course from spirit Of adventure
at the instigation Of the girl mex
door. She, poor little fool, Is con
cerned over that drunken waster-he
father. She asked you TO help her
you agreed and, amazing though
may seem, up TO now you have scores
u certain measure OF success. ad
nit It, and | admire you for It.
apologize now for having played tn
fool with you last night; you're tn
type of man whom one should kill Out
right-or leave alone"
lie set down his coffee cup and care
fully shipped the end off cigar.
you are also the type Of man VIII
will continue on the path he has star
tu iou uit Noihpict'iy III ti' uu'
you have no Idea whatever what 20
are up against" He smiled griml!
and turned abruptly on Hugh. "Yo
fOOl--you stupid young fool. DO 20
really imagine that you can beat me
The soldier rose and stood In iron
OF him.
II have few remarks OF my own
make" he answered, "and then "
might consider the interview closed.
ask nothing better than that the glove
should be 0ff-thOugh with your filth
methods Of lighting. anything 20
touch will get very dirty. As 20
say. ] am completely In the dark as
your plans; but l have pretty shrew
idea what TN up against. Men VIII
can employ a thumbscrew on a pot
/ defenseless brute seem to me TO |
! several degrees worse than an aborig
nal cannibal, and therefore II I p,
| you down as one of the lowest type
! OF degraded criminal l shall not |
very wide Of the mark. There's q
good you snarling at me. you swine
II does everybody good TO hear son
home truths--and don't forget II W,
, you who pulled on the gloves"
, Drummond lit cigarette; then h
a.