Middletown transcript., 1921-07-09

"Oh. not work, dear old boy. D-n
it, man-you know me better than
that, surely!"
"People are so funny nowadays" !"
returned Longworth gloomily. What
is this job?"
Together the two men strolled into
the luncheon-room, and long after the
cheese had been finished, Algy Long
worth was still listening in silence to
his companion.
"Aty dear old bean," he murmured
ecstatically as Hugh finished, my very
dear old bean. l think it's the most
priceless thing ever heard Enroll
me as member Of the band. And,
incidentally, Toby Sinclair is running
round IN circles asking for trouble.
Let's rope him in"
"Go and find him this afternoon,
Algy," said Hugh rising. "And tell
him to keep his mouth shut. I'd
come with you. but it occurs to me
that the wretched Potts, bathed in
tears at the Carlton, is in need of
sympathy So long. old dear. You'll
hear from me in a day or two"
Drummond sauntered along PAIL
Mall. He had told Longworth more
or less on the spur Of the moment,
knowing that gentleman's capabilities
to nicely. Under cloak Of as
sumed flippancy he concealed an iron
nerve which had never yet failed
him; and, in spite Of the fact that he
wore an entirely unnecessary eye
glass, he could see further into
brick wall than most OF the people
who called him a fool.
1t was his suggestion Of telling Toby
Sinclair that caused the smile. For
Drummond's mind which seemed to
him to be good. If Sinclair-why not
two or three more equally trusty
sportsmen? Why not gang of the
boys?
Toby possessed V. c., and good
One-for there are grades of the V. c.,
and those grades are appreciated to
a nicely by the recipients brother
officers if not by the general public.
The show would fit Toby like glove.
4. Then there was Ted Jern-
ingham, who combined the roles of
an amateur actor of more than aver
age merit with an ability to hit any
thing at any range with every con-
ceivable type of firearm. And Jerry
Seymour in the Flying corps. {.
Not bad thing to have flying man
up ones sleeve. And pos
sibly some one versed in the ways of
tanks might come in handy.
The smile broadened to grin;
surely life was very good. And then
the grin faded, and something sus-
piciously like frOwn took its place.
For he had arrived at the Carlton,
and reality had come back to him.
"Ir. Potts will see no one, SIR" re-
marked the man to whom he adj
dressed his question. "You are about
the twentieth gentleman who has been
here already today"
Hugh had expected this, and smiled
genially.
Precisely, my stout fellow" he re-
marked, "but I'll lay small amount
of money that they were newspaper
men. Now, I'm not. And think that
if you will have this note delivered
to Mr.. Potts, he will see me-"
He sat down at table. and drew
a 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 Peterson's
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 a pen and wrote rapidly; he
would have to chance it.
urgent. A message from head
quarters"
He sealed the envelope and handed
it with the necessary five shillings
for postage to the man. Then he sat
down to wait. After what seemed an
interminable delay he saw the mes
senger crossing the lounge.
"Mr. Potts will see you, sir"
Hugh followed his guide along a
corridor, and paused outside door
while he went into a room. He heard
q murlnur of voices, and then the
man reappeared.
''This 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