The Raymer enterprise., 1921-09-01

Il viii De dlScretlOn ltseU, ne a.
sured her firmly.
II suppose I shall have to trust
you" she said. "Haye you seen the
evening papers todayY
II looked at the ones that come ou,
in the morning labeled six p. M; be-
fore | had lunch.' he answered. "Is
there anything Of INTEREST,""
She handed him copy of the
Planet. Read that little paragraph
In the second column" She pointed
to 1t, as he took the paper. and Hugh
read It aloud.
"Mr. Hiram c. Potts-the celebrat.
ed American millionaire-Is progress.
ing favorably. He has gone Into the
country for few days, but Is suf.
fciently recovered to conduct business
as usual" He laid down the paper
and looked at the girl sitting opposite.
"One Is pleased" he remarked In a
puzzled tone, "fOr the sake of Mr..
Potts. To be III and have q name
like that Is more than most men
could stand. But don't quite
see
THAT man was stopping at the
Carlton, where he met Lakington,"
said the girl. ''He Is a multi-mil.
lionaire, over here In connection with
some big steel trust: and when multi.
milllonaIrcs get friendly with LakIng-
ton, their health frequently does suf.
fer"
But this paper says he's getting
better" objected Drummond. "'Suf.
fclently recovered to conduct business
as usual.'"
III 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 Belfast?"
Search me-" said Hugh. "lnci.
dentally. how do you know he didY'
81 asked at the Carlton this morn.
Ing" she answered. II said I'd come
after job as typist for Mr.. Potts.
They told me at the inquiry office that
he was III in bed and unable to see
anybody. So I asked for bis secre-
tary. and they told me what I've Just
told you-that he had left for Belfast
that morning and would be away sev.
eral days. It may be that there's
nothing In 1t: on the other hand. II
may be that there's a lot. And It's
only by following up every possible
clue" she continued fiercely, ''that I
can hope to beat those fends 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 vestlge 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-
millionalres are not removed against
their will, In broad daylight. from one
Of the biggest hotels In London. to sit
In immovable silence In an open car
the door opened and an elderly man
came In.
Hugh rose, and the girl introduced
the two men. IAN old friend. daddy"
she said. "You must have heard me
speak Of Captain Drummond."
II don't recall the name at the mo-
ment, my dear" he answered courte-
ously--a fact which was hardly sur
prising-"but I fear I'm getting q little
forgetful. You'll stop and have some
dinner Of course"
Hugh bowed. II 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 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 a ges-
ture Of despair.
II cannot be said that dinner was
q meal Of sparkling gaiety. Mr.. Ben
ton was palpably Ill at ease, and be-
yond a 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. II
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 II 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-
terlously. and with the town 80 far
away, his host could hardly fail to
ask him to stop the night. And then
he had not yet quite settled how
he proposed to have a closer look at
Tho Elms.