The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-06-02

ilAANo DNAA' 'AN -
sarily pulling books off shelves and
putting them back agaln-'if S be
that he does" she continued grimly,
"him and me Will have wordS-as I've
told him already this morning" She
stalked from the room, after staring
pointedly at the letters In Drummond's
hand, and the two men looked at one
another.
Its that there reference TO crime,
sir, that's torn it," said Denny In a
hoarse whisper.
Thinks I'm going to lead you
astray, does she, JamesY' He was
opening the first envGope, and sud
denly he looked up with a twinkle in
his eyes. Just to set her mind at
rest" he remarked grayely, you might
tell her that, as far as l can see at
present, / shall only undertake murder
In exceptional cases.
He propped the letter up against
the toast-rack and commenced his
breakfast. "Where Is P~udlington,
James? and one might almost ask
why is Pudlington? No town has any
right to such an offensive name" He
glanced through the letter and shook
his head. flush tush And the wife
Of the bank manager toO-the bank
manager Of P~udllngton, James! Can
you conceive Of anything so dreadful7
But I'm afraid Mrs. Bank Manager is
a puss-a distinct puss. It's when
they get on the soul-mate stunt that
the furniture begins to fly"
Drummond tore up the letter and
dropped the pieces into the basket be-
side him. Then he turned to his SER
want and handed him the remainder Of
the envelopes.
go through them, James, while l as
sault the kidneys, and pick two or
three out for me. / see that you will
have to become my secretary"
ID you want m to open them,
sir?" asked Denny doubtfully.
you've hit 1t, James-hit it in one.
Classify them for me in groups. Grim
inal; sporting; amatory-that means
OF or pertaining to love; stupid and
merely boring; and as a last resort,
miscellaneous" He stirred his coffee
thoughtfully. 81 feel that as a first
venture in our new career-Ours, l said,
James-love appeals to me irresistibly.
Find me a damsel In distress a beau
tiful girl, helpless In the clutches Of
knaves. Let me feel that | can fly to
her succor, clad in my new grey suit
ing"
He finished the last piece of bacon
and pushed away his plate.
Denny was engrosSed in a letter he
had just opened. A perplexed look
was spreading over his face, and sud-
denly he sucked his teeth loudly. 1t
was a sure sign that James was ex-
cited, and Drummond glanced up
quickly, and removed the letter from
his hands. "Pm surprised at you,
James," he remarked severely. "A sec
rotary should control itself. Don't
forget that the perfect secretary Is an
It; an automatic machlne-a thing in
capable Of feeling. :"
He read the letter through rapidly,
and then, turning back to the begin
ming. he read 1t slowly through again.
my dear Box X1O,-I don't know
whether your advertisement was a
joke: / suppose 1t must have been.
But l read it this morning, and It's just
possible, X1O, just possible, you mean
1t. And If you do, you're the man I
want. l car offer you excitement and
probably crime.
I'm up against 1t. X10. For q girl
I've bitten Off rather more than I can
chew. / a help-badly. VIII you
come to the Carlton for tea tomorrow
afternoon? l want to have a look at
you and see If l think you are genu-
Inc. Wear a white flower In your but
tonhole."
Drummond laid the letter down, and
pulled out his cigarette case. ITO
morrow, James," he murmured. "That
is today-this very afternoon. Verify
/ believe that we have impinged upon
the goods" He rose and stood look
Ing out of the window thoughtfully.
"You think it's genuine, sir?' said
James.
His master blew out q cloud of
smoke. 81 know 1t is" he answered
dreamily. Look at that writing; the
decision In 1.-THE character. She'll
be medium height, and dark, with the
sweetest little nose and mouth. Her
coloring James, will be"
But James had d~iscreetly left the
room.
TWO.
AT four o'clock exactly Hugh Drum
mond stepped out of his two-seater at
the Haymarket entrance to the Carl
ton. Fol a few moments after enter
ing the hotel he stood at the top OF
the stairs outside the dining room,
while his eyes travelled round the ia
Dles In the lounge below.
Slowly and thoroughly he continued
his search. 1t was early. Of course.
yet, and she might not have arrived,
out he was taking no chances.
Suddenly his eyes ceased wandering,
and remained fixed on a table at the
] lar end Of the lounge. Half hidden