Evening star., 1921-04-21
Bulldog DrummOnd
BY CYRIL McEUE ('.Sapper"
A Novel Of Mystery, Love and Adventu,


know. An admirable invention of my
friend Kauffner's nation"
A gutteral chuckle came from one
of the men, and Hugh looked at him
grimly.
1.-The scum certainly would not be
complete" he remarked to Peterson,
without filthy Boche in it,
The German pushed back his chair
with an oath. his face purple with
passion.
"A filthy Boche," he muttered
thickly. lurching toward Hugh Hold
him the arms of. and will the throat
The intimidated rabbit rose protest.
ingly at this prospect of violence; the
Scared sportsman shot out of his
chair eagerly, the lust of battle in
his bloodshot eyes. The only person
was Peterson, and he, very distinct
ly, chuckled. Whatever his failings,
Peterson had sense of humor.
1t all happened SO quickly. At one
moment Hugh was apparently in
tent upon selecting a cigarette, the
next instant the case had fallen to
| the floor; there was dull, heavy
thud, and the Boche crashed back.
overturned a chair, and fell like a
log to the floor. his head hitting the
bloodshot being resumed his seat
little Imply: the intimidated bunny
gave a stifed gasp and breathed
heavily: Hugh resumed his search for
cigarette.
after which breezy interlude." re-
marked Peterson, "let US to business
get
Hugh paused in the act of striking
a match and for the first time gem
. uine smile spread over his face
There are moments, Peterson" he
murmured, when you really appeal
to me-.
Peterson took the empty chair next
to Lakington.
sit down." he said shortly. II can
only hope that 1 shall appeal to you
still more before we kill you"
Hugh bowed and sat down.
Consideration" he murmured, was
always your strong point. May / ask
how long l have to live?"
Peterson smiled genially.
"At the very earnest request of Mr..
Lakington you are to be spared until
tomorrow morning. At least, that is
our present intention. OF course,
there might be an accident in the
night. In house like this one can
: never tell. Or'-he carefully cut the
end off a cigar-.'you might go mad,
in which case we shouldn't bother
to kill you. In fact, il would really
suit our book better if you did. The
disposal of corpses. even in these
certain difticulties-not insuperable,
but nuisance. And so, IL you go
mad We shall not be displeased.''
Once again he smiled genially.
"As 1 said before, in house like
this. you never can tell"
The intimidated rabbit, still breath
; ing heavily, was staring at Hugh fas-
cinatedly. and after moment Hugh
| turned to him with courteous bow.
'Iaddie," he remarked. you've
been eating onions. Do you mind de-
tiecting the blast in the opposite di-
rection?"
His calm imperturbability seemed to
| madden darlington, who with a sud
den movement rose from mis- chair
and leaned across the table. while the
veins stood out like whipcord on his
usually expressionless face.
You wait" he snarled, thickly;
| you wait till I've finished with you.
You won't be so damned humorous
Hugh regarded the speaker Ian
guidly.
Your supposition is more than
probable" he remarked in a bored
| voice. II shall be too intent on get
ting into Turkish bath to remove
the contamination to think of laugh
ing"
Slowly Lakington sank back in his
chair. a hard. merciless smile on his
| lips: and for moment or two there
was silence in the room. 1t was
broken by the unkempt man on the
! sofa. who, without warning. exploded
| Unexpectedly.
"A truce to all this fooling." he
burst forth in a deep rumble; II con.
fess 1 do not understand 1t. Are we
! assembled here tonight. comrades, to
listen to private Quarrels and stupid
| talk?"
A murmur Of approval came from
| the others. and the speaker stood up
waving his arms.
Il know not what this young man
has done: care less. In Russia such
trifies matter not. He has the ap-
pearance Of a bourgeois. therefore he
| must die. Did we not kill thousands
aye. tens OF thousands Of his kid
ney, before we obtained the great
freedom? Are we not going to do the
same in this accursed country" His
voice rose to the shrill. strident note
of the typical tub-thumper. What
10 this wretched man." he continued.
waving a hand wildly at Hugh. that
he should interrupt tho great work