The Raymer enterprise., 1921-11-10

cupboard. Mr.. Green" answered Drum
mond, "and got cramp halfway
through"
The American gazed ut the wreck
age In silence. Then he looked at
Hugh, and what he saw on that
worthy's face apparently decided him
to maintain that policy. In fact, 1t
was not till the night-porter and his
attendant minlons had at last, and
very dubiously, withdrawn, that he
again opened his mouth.
Looks like hectic night" he mur-
INJURED. "What happened7" Briefly
Hugh told him what had occurred and
the detective whistled softly.
"Blowpipe and poisoned darts" he
said shortly, returning the tube to
Drammond. Marrow escape I'D
narrow! Look at your pillow"
Hugh looked: embedded in the linen
we're four pointed spllnters similar to
the one he held 10 his hand; by the
door were three more, lying on the
floor.
IAN engaging little bird" he
laughed; "but nasty to look at"
He extracted the little pieces Of
wood and carefully placed them in an
empty matchbox: the tube he put In
to his clgarette.case.
Might come in handy: you never
KNOW" he remarked casually.
"They might II you stand quite STILL"
said the American, with a sudden,
sharp command In his voice. Don't
move"
Hugh stood motionless, staring at
the speaker, who with eyes fixed on
his right forearm, had stepped for
ward. From the loose sleeve Of his
pajama coat the detective gently pulled
another dart and dropped 1t into the
matchbox.
mot far of getting you that time,
captain" he cried cheerfully. "Now
you've got the whole blamed outfit"
THREE
It was the Comte de Guy who
boarded the boat express at the Care
du Nord the next day; It was Carl
Peterson who stepped off the boat ex-
press at Boulone. And 1t was only
Drummond's positive assurance which
convinced the American that the two
characters were the same man.
He was leaning over the side of the
boat reading a telegram when he first
saw Hugh ten minutes after the boat
had left the harbor; and II he had
hoped for different result to the In.
cident Of the night before, no sign Of
It showed on his face. Instead he
waved cheerful greeting to Drum
mond,
This IL pleasant SURPRISE" he re-
marked affably. "Have you been to
Paris, too?''.
For moment Drummond looked at
him narrowly. Was It a stupid bluff,
or was the man so sure Of his power
Of disguise that he assumed with GER
tainty he had not been recognlzed7
And 1t suddenly struck Hugh that,
save for that one tell-tale habit-a
habit which, in all probability, Peter
son himself was unconscious of-he
would not have recognized him.
"Yes," he answered lightly. II came
over to see how you behaved your
self"
what . pity I didn't know!" said
Peterson, with good -humored chuckle.
he seemed in excellent spirits, as he
carefully tore the telegram into tiny
pieces and dropped them overheard.
I'VE might have had another Of our
homely little chats over some supper.
Where did you stayr"
AT the Ritz. And your
Il always stop at the Bristol" an.
swered Peterson. "Quieter than the
Ritz, I think"
FOUR
walk right In. Mr.. Green" said
Hugh, %. three hours later. they got
out Of taxi In Half Moon street.
This IL my little rabbit-huteh."
He followed the American up the
stairs, and produced his latchkey. But
before he could even insert It In the
hole the door was flung open. and
Peter Darrell stood facing him with
evident relief In bis face.
THANK the Lord you've come, old
son." he cried, with a brief look at
the detective. there's something do.
Ing down ct Godalming don't like"
He followed Hugh into the sitting
room.
"At twelve o'clock today Toby rang
up. He was talking quite ordinarily
you know the sort OF rot he usually
gets on his chest when suddenly be
stopped quite short and said, MY God
What do you wantf could tell he'd
looked mp, because bis voice was muf-
fled. Then there was the sound Of a
scuffle, ! heard Toby curse. then moth.
Ing more. ! rang and rang and rang
no answer"
,"What did. you dor Drummond,
with q letter In his hand which be
had taken on the mantelpiece. was lis
tening grimly.
"Algy was here. He motored straight
of to see II he could find out what
was wrong. ! stopped here to tell
you"