Middletown transcript., 1921-06-04

toy with another kidney" Drummond
looked across the table at his servant,
who was carefully arranging two or
three dozen letters in groups. i've
got journey in front Of me today,
and l require a large breakfast"
James Denny supplied the. def
cheney from dish that was standing
on an electric heater.
"Are you going for long, sir?'
Il don't know, James. 1t all de-
pends on circumstances. When,
when you come to think of it. is
undoubtedly one of the most fatuous
phrases in the English language. is
there anything in the world that
doesn't depend on circumstances?
"Will you be motoring, sir. or going
by train?' asked James prosaically.
Dialectical arguments did not appeal
to him.
"By car" answered Drummond.
"Pajamas and toothbrush"
"You won't take evening clothes,
sir?"
mo. l want my visit to appear un-
premeditated James, and If one goes
about completely encased in boiled
shirts, while pretending to be merely
out for the afternoon, people have
doubts as to ones intellect"
James digested this great thought IN
silence.
"Will you be going far, sir? ne
asked at length, pouring out second
cup Of coffee.
ITO Godalming. A charming spot,
1 believe. though I've never been there.
Charming Inhabitants, too, James. The
lady l met yesterday at the Carlton
lives at GOdalming."
Indeed, sir" murmured James nom
committally.
"You id old humbug," laughed
Drummond, "you know you're itching
to know all about it. I had very
long and interesting talk with her. and
one of two things emerges quite clear
ly from our conversation. Either,
James, am a congenital idiot, and
don't know enough to come in out of
the rain; or we've hit the goods. That
is what ] propose to find out by my
little excursion. Either our legs. my
| friend, are being pulled till they will
never resume their normal shape; or
that advertisement has succeeded be-
yond our widest dreams"
"There are a lot more answers in
this morning. SIR" Denny made a
movement toward the letters he had
been sorting. "One from a lovely
widow with two children"
Lovely" cried Drummond. "How
forward of her!" He glanced at the
letter and smiled "Care. James. and
| accuracy are essential in a secretary.
The misguided woman calls herself
lonely. not lovely. She will remain so,
as far as l am concerned. until the
other matter is settled"
"Will it take long, sir, do you
think?"
ITO get it settled?" Drummond lit
cigarette and leaned back in his
chair Listen, James, and I will out
line the case The maiden lives at
house called The Larches, near God
aiming, with her papa. Not far away
is another house called The Elms,
owned by gentleman Of the name
of Henry Lakington-a nasty man,
James, with nasty face-who was
also at the Carlton yesterday after
noon for a short time. And now we
come to the point. Miss Benton
that is the lady's name-accuses Mr..
Lakington of being the complete 1T
in the criminal line. She went even
so far as to say that he was the Sec
Ond most dangerous man In England.
Indeed, sir. More coffee, sir?"
"Will nothing move you, James?"
remarked his master plaintively.
'This man murders people and does
things like that. you know"
PERSONALLY. sir, I prefer a picture
palace. But l suppose there amt no
accounting for 'obbies. May I clear
away. sir?"
mo, James, not at present. Keep
quite still while go on, or I shall
get it wrong. Three months ago there
arrived at The Elms, the most dan
gerous man in England-the 1T OF
IT'S. This gentleman goes by the
name of Peterson. and he owns
daughter. From what Miss Benton
said, 1 have doubts about that daugh-
ter, James," He rose and strolled over
| to the window. "Grave doubts. How
ever, to return to the point, 1t ap-
| pears that some unpleasing conspiracy
is being launched by 1T, the 1T OF
IT'S, and the doubtful daughter, into
which Papa Benton has been unwtll-
ingly drawn. As far as I can make
out, the suggestion is that l should
unravel the tangled skein OF crime
and extricate papa"
In q spasm of uncomfortable ex-
citement james sucked his teeth.
'Lumme, it wouldn't 'alf 60 on the
movies, would it?" he remarked. BET
ter than them Red Indians and
things"
81 fear, James, that you are not in
the habit Of spending your spare time
at the British museum, as / hoped"
said Drummond. "And your brain
doesn't work very quickly. The
point IS not whether this hideous at
fair is better than Red Indians and
things-but whether it's genuine. Am
I to battle with murderers, or shall
I find a house party roaring with
laughter On the lawn7"
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