The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-08-06

the gloves are of. You embarked on
this course from a spirit of adventure
at the instigatiOn Of the girl next
door. She, poor little fool, is con-
cerned over that drunken Waster-her
father. She asked you to help her-
you agreed. and, amazing though II
may seem, up to now you Lave scored
a certain measure of success. 1 ad-
nit it, and | admire you for II.
apologize now for having played the
fool with you last night; you're the
type of man whom one should kill out
right-or leave alone"
He set down his coffee cup and care
fully shipped the end off cigar.
You are also the type of man VINO
will continue On the path he has start
ed. You are completely in the dark /;
you have no idea whatever what you
are up against" He smiled grimly,
and turned abruptly on Hugh you
fool-you stupid young fool. Do you
really imagine that you can beat me!'
The soldier rose and stood in front
of him.
II have few remarks of my own to
make" he answered, land then we
might consider the interview closed. l
ask nothing better than that the gloves
should be off-though with your filthy
methods of fighting, anything you
touch will get very dirty. AS you
say, am completely in the dark rs to
your plans; but have pretty shrewd
idea what I'm up against. Men VINO
can employ thumbscrew on a poor
defenseless brute seem to me to be
several degrees worse than an aborigi-
nal cannibal, and therefore II put
you down as one Of the lowest types
of degraded criminal l shall not be
very wide of the mark. There's no
good you snarling at me, you swine;
it does everybody good to hear some
home truths-and don't forget it was
you who pulled off the gloves"
Drummond lit cigarette; then his
merciless eyes fixed themselves again
on Peterson.
There is only one thing more" he
continued. "You have kindly warned
me of my danger; let me give you a
word of advice in my turn. I'm going
to fight you; if l can, I'm going to
beat you. Anything that may happen
to me is part of the game. But If
anything happens to Miss Benton dur
ing the course of operations. then. as
surely as there is a God above. Peter
son, I'll get at you somehow and muir
der you with my own hands"
For few moments there was ST.
lence. and then with short laugh
Drummond turned away. "Shall we
meet again soon?" He paused at the
door and looked back.
Peterson was still standing by the
table. his face expressionless. "very
soon, indeed, young man." he said
quietly. every soon indeed. ;"
Hugh stepped out into the warm
sunshine and spoke to his chauffeur.
take her out into the main road,
Jenkins" he said, "and wait for me
outside the entrance to the next house.
1 shan't be long"
Then he strolled through the gar
den toward the little wicket-gate
that led to The Larches. Phyllis
The thought Of her was singing In his
heart to the exclusion Of everything
else. Just a few minutes with her;
just the touch of her hand, the faint
smell Of the scent she used-and then
back to the game.
He had almost reached the gate.
when, with a sudden crashing in the
underground, Jem Smith Numbered out
into the path. His naturally ruddy
face was white, and he stared round
fearfully.
"Gawd! SIR" he cried, mind out
Ave yer seen it?"
"Seen what, Jemr' asked Drum
mond.
THAT there brute. Els escaped:
and IL e meets a stranger" He
left the sentence unfinished. and
stood listening. From somewhere
behind the house came deep
throated. snarling roar; then the
clang Of a paddock shooting home in
metal, followed by series Of heavy
thuds as II some big animal was hurl-
ing itself against the bars Of cage.
They've got It," muttered Jem.
"You seem to have a nice little
crowd Of pets about the house." re-
marked Drummond, putting a hand on
the mans arm as he was about to
move off. what was that docile
creature we've just heard calling to
fits young?"
The ex-pugilist looked at him sui.
lenly.
Never you mind, sir; 1t amt M
business Of yours. An II I was you
I wouldn't make it your business to
find out"
A moment later he had disappeared
into the bushes, and Drummond was
left alone. Assuredly cheerful
household, he reflected; Just the spot
for a rest-cure. Then he saw q figure
on the lawn Of the next house which
banished everything else from his
mind and opening the gate. he walked
eagerly toward Phyllis Benton.