The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-08-19

SoatS Us StSti tAuots anu " ittu ihuiti'
millionalres get friendly with Laking,
ton. their health frequently does suf.
l;fer."
But this paper says he's getting
BETTER objected Drummond. "'Suf-
ficiently recovered to conduct business
as usual.@
IF he is sufficiently recovered to
conduct business as usual, why did he
send his confidential secretary away
yesterday morning on an urgent mis-
sion to Belfastg'
search me- said Hugh. "Inci-
dentally. how do you know he didT
II asked at the Carlton this morn,
ing" she answered. Il said I'd come
after a job as typist for Mr.. Potts
They told me at the inquiry Office that
he was i'll in bed and unable to see
anybody. SO / asked for his secre
tary, and they told me what I've just
told you-that he had left for Belfast
that morning and would be away sew
eral days. 1t may be that there's
nothing in it; on the other hand, II
may be that there's lot. And it's
only by following up every possible
clue" she continued fiercely, that
can hope to beat those fiends and get
| daddy out Of their clutches"
Drummond nodded gravely. and did
not speak. For into his mind had
| flashed suddenly the remembrance OF
that sinister motionless figure seated
by the chauffeur. The widest guess
work certainly-no vestige of proof
and yet, having once come, the
thought stuck. And as he turned IT
over in his mind, almost prepared to
laugh at himself for his credulity-
millionaires are not removed against
their will, in broad daylight, from one
of the biggest hotels in London, to sit
in imrnOvable silence In an open car
the door opened and an elderly man
came in.
Hugh rose, and the girl introduced
the two men. "An old friend. daddy
she said. "You must have heard me
speak of Captain Drummond."
81 don't recall the name at the mo-
ment. my DEAR" he answered courte-
ously-a fact which was hardly sur
prising- "but fear I'm getting little
forgetful You'll stop and have some
dinner, of course"
Hugh bowed. 81 should like to, Mr..
Benton. Thank you very much. I'm
afraid the hour of my call was little
informal, but being round in these
parts, / felt I must come and look
Miss Benton up"
His host smiled absentmindedly,
and walking to the window, stared
through the gathering dusk at the
house opposite. half hidden in the
trees. And Hugh, who was watching
him from under lowered lids, saw him
suddenly clench both hands in ges-
ture of despair.
It cannot be said that dinner was
meal of sparkling gaiety. Mr.. Ben
ton was palpably i'll at ease, and be-
yond few desultory remarks spoke
hardly at all; while the girl, who sat
opposite Hugh, though she made one
or two valiant attempts to break the
long silences, spent most of the meal
in covertly watching her father. If
anything more had been required to
convince Drummond of the genuine
ness of his interview with her at the
Carlton the preceding day, the atmos-
phere at this strained and silent party
supplied it.
AS if unconscious of anything pecu-
liar he rambled on in his usual in
consistent method, needless of wheth-
er he was answered or not; but all
the time his mind was busily working.
He had already decided that Rolls
Royce was not the only car on the
market which could break down mys-
+eriously, and with the town so far
away, his host could hardly fail to
ask him to stop the night. And then
The had not yet quite settled how
he proposed to have a closer look at
The Elms.
At length the meal was over, and
the maid. placing the decanter in
front of Mr.. Benton. withdrew from
the room.
you'll have glass of port. Captain
Drummond?' remarked his host, re
moving the stopper, and pushing the
bottle toward him. IAN old pre-war
wine which ] can vouch for
Hugh smiled, and even as he lifted
the heavy old cut glass, he stiffened
suddenly in his chair. A cry-half
shout, half scream, and stifed at
once-had come echoing through the
open windows. With crash the
stopper fell from Mr. Benton's nerve
less fingers, breaking the fnger-bowl
in front of him. while every vestige
of color left his face.
"It's something these days to be
able 10 say that" remarked Hugh,
pouring out himself glass. wine,
Miss Benton?" He looked at the girl,
who was staring fearfully out of the
window, and forced her to meet his
eye. at will do you good.
His tone was compelling, and after
moments hesitation, she pushed
the glass over to him. "Will you pour
1t out?" she said, and he saw that she
was trembling all over.
did you-did you hear-any
With vain endeavor to speak calmly,
his host looked at Hugh.
.sThat night-bird?" he answered
easily. "Eerie noises they make, don't
they? Sometimes in France, when
everything was still, and only the
ghostly green flares went kissing up,
one used to hear EN-. Startled nery-
Gus sentries out of their lives" He
talked on, and gradually the color
came hack to the other mans face.