The Raymer enterprise., 1921-09-29

here already today"
Hugh had expected this, and smiled
genially.
Precisely. my stout fellow" he re.
marked, "but I'll lay a small amount
Of money that they were newspaper
men. Now, I'm not. And I think that
If you will have this note delivered
to Mr.. Potts, he will see me-"
He sat down at a table. and drew
sheet Of paper toward him. Two
facts were certain: First, that the
man upstairs was not the real Potts |;
second, that he was one of Petersons
gang. The difficulty was to know ex.
actly how to word the note. There
might be some mystic password, the
omission Of which would prove him
an impostor at once. At length he
took pen and wrote rapidly; he
would have to chance It.
urgent. A message from head.
quarters"
He sealed the envelope and handed
1t with the necessary five shllllngs
for postage to the man. Then he sat
down to wait After what seemed an
intermlRable delay he saw the mes
senger crossing the lounge.
'Mr. Potts will see you, SIR"
Hugh followed his guide along 4
corridor. and paused outside door
while he went into room. He heard
murmur Of voices. and then the
man reappeared.
'Thls way, SIR" he said, and Hugh
stepped inside. to stop with an invol-
untary gasp Of surprise. The man
seated In the chair was Potts. to all
intents and purposes, The likeness
was extraordinary. and had he not
known that the real article was at
GOring he would have been com
pletely deceived himself.
The man waited till the door was
closed: then he rose and stepped
forward suspiciously.
II don't know you," he said. "Who
are your
"Since when has every one EN-
ployed at headquarters known one
anotherY Drummond returned guard.
edly. "And. incidentally, your like
ness to our lamented friend Is won
derful. 1t very nearly deceived even
me-"
The man. not ill-pleased. gave a
short laugh.
It'll pass, think. But It's risky.
These cursed reporters have been
badgering the whole morning. 4.
And II his wife or somebody comes
over. what then7 1t wasn't like
Rosca to bungle In Belfast. He's
never left a clue before, and he had
plenty Of time to do the job prop
erly."
"A name inside a breast-pocket
might easily be overlooked" remarked
Hugh, seixing the obvious clue.
Are you making excuses for himT
snarled the other. "He's failed, and
failure Is death. Such Is our rule.
Would you have 1t alteredT'
Most certainly not. The issues are
far too great for any weakness. :"
You're right, my friend-you'rs
right. Long live the Brotherhood"
He stared out Of the window with
smouldering eyes. and Hugh preserved
q discreet silence. Then suddenly the
other broke out again. Have
they killed that insolent puppy Of 4
soldier yeti"
"Er-not yet" murmured Hugh
mildly.
"They must find the American at
once" The man thumped the table
emphatically. ut was important be-
fore-at least his money was. Now
with this blunder-It's vital"
Precisely" said Hugh. Precise
ly."
ave already interviewed one man
from Scotland Yard. but every hour
increases the danger. However, you
have a message for me. What Ia it?"
Hugh rose and casually picked up
his hat. He had got more out of the
interview than he had hoped for and
there was nothing to be gained by
prolonging 1t. But 1t struck him that
Mr.. Potts impersonator was a man
Of unpleasant disposition, and that
tactically fianking movement to the
door was indicated. And, being Of
an open nature himself, It Is possible
that the real state Of affairs showed
for q moment on his face. BE that
as II may, something suddenly aroused
the others suspicious, and with q
snarl Of fury he sprang past Hugh to
the door.
'Who are your He spat the words
out venOmously, ut the same time
whipping an. ugly-looking knife out Of
his pocket.
Hugh replaced his hat and stick
OH the table and grinned gently.
"I am the insolent puppy Of SOL
dier, dear old bird" he remarked.
watching the other warily. "And II
was you I'd put the toothpIck away.
You might hurt Yourself"
As he spoke he was edging, little by
little, toward the other man, who
crouched snarling by the door. His
eyes, grim and determined, never left
the others face; his hands, apparently
hanging listless by his sides. were
tinpling with the ioy NJ whaf he knew