Middletown transcript., 1921-06-04

DrummOnd did not answer 1mmeQl-
ately. Against his saner judgment he
was beginning to be profoundly i'm
pressed, and, at the moment, he did
not quite know what to say.
"What about this other man?" he
asked at length.
81 can tell you very little about him.
she answered. "He came to The Elms
that is the name of Lakington's
house-three months ago. He is about
medium height and rather thick-set
clean-shaven, with thick brown hair
flecked slightly with white. His fore
head is broad, and his eyes are a
sort of cold grey-blue. But it's his
hands that terrify me. They're large
and white and utterly ruthless" She
turned to him appealingly. "Oh! don't
think I'm talking wildly" she i'm,
plored. "He frightens me to death
that man: far, far worse than Laking'
ton. He would stop at nothing to gain
his ends, and even Lakington himself
knows that Mr.. Peterson is his mas
ter"
Peterson !" murmured Drummond
1T seems quite sound old English
name."
The girl laughed scornfully. "Oh
the name is sound enough, if 1t was
his real one. AS it is, it's about as
real as his daughter"
"There is a lady in the case, then?''
"By the name of Irma," said the
girl briefly. "She lies on sofe In
the garden and yawns. She's no
more English than that waiter"
A faint smile flickered over her
companions face: he had formed a
fairly vivid mental picture Of Irma.
Then he grew serious again.
"And what is it that makes you
think there's mischief ahead?" he
asked abruptly.
The girl shrugged her shoulders
"What the novelIsts call feminine in
tuition, suppose" she answered
'That-and my father" She said the
last words very low. "He hardly ever
sleeps at night now: hear him pacing
up and down his room-hour after
hour, hour after hour. Oh! it makes
me mad. Don't you understand?
I've got to get him away from those
devils, before he breaks down COM
pletely."
Drummond nodded, and looked
away. While she had been speaking
he had made up his mind what course
to take, and now, having outsat every
body else, he decided that it was time
for the interview to cease. Already
an early diner was having a cocktail
while Lakington might return at ahy
moment. And If there was anything
in what she had told him, 1t struck
him that it would be as we'll for that
gentleman not to find them together.
II think" he said, "we'd better 60
My address is GOA Half Moon street
my telephone 1884 Mayfair. If any
thing happens, if ever you want me
at any hour of the day or nfght-rlne
me up or write. If I'm not in, leave a
message with my servant Denny. he
is absolutely reliable. The only other
thing is your own address"
'The Larches, near GOdalming," an.
swered the girl, as they moved toward
the door. "Oh! if you only knew the
glorious relief Of feeling ones got
some one to turn to -. She
looked at him with shining eyes. ahd
Drummond felt his pulse quicken sud
denly.
MAY l drop you anywhere?" hi
asked, as they stood on the pavement
but she shook her head.
"No, thank you. I'll go in that taxi
She gave the man an address, anG
stepped in, while Hugh stood bare
headed by the door.
Don't forget" he said earnestly
"Any time of the day or light. Ant
while l think of it-we're old friends
Can that be done? In case come ant
stay. you see."
She thought for a moment and ther
nodded her head. "All right she an
swered. We've met a lot in LondOr
uuElIlS Iuc WdEs
With a grinding of gear wheels the
taxi drove off, leaving Hugh with &
vivid picture imprinted on his mint
of blue eycs, and white teeth. and {
skin like the bloom of a sun-kisset
peach.
For moment or two he stood star
ing after it. and then he walked acrOs:
to his own car. With his mind still
along Piccadilly, while every now an(
then he smiled grimly to himself. Wa:
the whole thing an elaborate hoax
Somehow deep down in his mind, ht
wondered whether 1t was a joke
whether, by some freak Of fate, he ha(
stumbled on one of those strange lnys
teries which up to date he had re
garded as existing only in the realm:
1 of dime novels.
He turned into his rooms, and stoot
in front of the mantelpiece taking
off his gloves. 1t was as he wa!
about to lay them down on the table
that an envelope caught his eye, ad
dressed to him in an unknown hand
writing. Mechanically he picked 1t VI
and opened it. Inside was a single
half-sheet of notepaper, on which {
few lines had been written in a small
neat hand.
"There are more things in HEAVIER
and earth, young man, than capabil
ity for eating steak and onions, and {
desire for adventure. I imagine tina
you possess both: and they are usefu
assets in the second locality mentioned
by the poet. In heaven, however, ont
never knows-especially with regard t.
the onions. Be careful"
Drummond stood motionless for {